1973 Front Grills
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 231
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From: Newcastle Ontario
1973 Front Grills
OK...This may seem a tad obvious, but what the heck, I'll ask anyway. The front grills on the '73 vette are black with silver on the face of the vents. Either over the years due to age or someone just painted them, mine are just black. (like the '74). What products or suggestions do you guys have to put them back to the original look? I have them off the car so I thought this would be a good time to fix 'em up.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,214
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From: Casa Grande AZ
Re: 1973 Front Grills (sweet73)
I'm unfamiliar with the '73 grill. Not sure if they are plastic or metal.
Anyway, I've run into a few grills on cars (not vettes) that someone had just painted all black for no obvious reason. On the chromed plastic ones, just wiping them with laquer thinner on the front edge produced nice shiny chrome. On the metal ones it seemed easier to use a razor blade to scrape the paint off of good chrome. Possibly there was an era when blacked out grills were the rage? Maybe you'll be lucky and find good chrome under there.
If '73 was not chrome but silver paint then I would think you have some masking ahead of you. I was able to get a 5 gallon bucket of spray on masking from the local sign guy. That stuff is great. I'm not talking about that thin stuff for stopping over-spray. This stuff goes on thick, is thinned with water, takes overnight to dry, and is easily cut with a razor blade to leave an excellent edge. Might be the way to go if you need to paint silver over black.
Anyway, I've run into a few grills on cars (not vettes) that someone had just painted all black for no obvious reason. On the chromed plastic ones, just wiping them with laquer thinner on the front edge produced nice shiny chrome. On the metal ones it seemed easier to use a razor blade to scrape the paint off of good chrome. Possibly there was an era when blacked out grills were the rage? Maybe you'll be lucky and find good chrome under there.
If '73 was not chrome but silver paint then I would think you have some masking ahead of you. I was able to get a 5 gallon bucket of spray on masking from the local sign guy. That stuff is great. I'm not talking about that thin stuff for stopping over-spray. This stuff goes on thick, is thinned with water, takes overnight to dry, and is easily cut with a razor blade to leave an excellent edge. Might be the way to go if you need to paint silver over black.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,125
Likes: 9
From: Crescent City, CA
Re: 1973 Front Grills (sweet73)
The grills were chromed, then painted black on the sides.
The chrome tends to peel. I have seen some that the person used chrome paint (model car) that did not look half bad.
Just an option, as rechroming is expensive. Good (nos) on ebay are going for $175 and you can not buy them anymore. Plastic repos are $95 in the cats.
Just my 0.02
Terry
The chrome tends to peel. I have seen some that the person used chrome paint (model car) that did not look half bad.
Just an option, as rechroming is expensive. Good (nos) on ebay are going for $175 and you can not buy them anymore. Plastic repos are $95 in the cats.
Just my 0.02
Terry
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 418
From: Chester Virginia
Re: 1973 Front Grills (sweet73)
Late '73's have grilles that are all black. I found a chrome paint in a tube at a hobby shop that is close to chrome, not as shiny but close. There is a product called Rub&Buff that is also close to chrome. Unless your get on the ground and look closely I think either of these products will give your the look you want. My 73 was made in late July and the grilles are all black.
Roger
Roger
