70 Grill Resto?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
70 Grill Resto?
Was doing some carb work and got a bad case of the "while I'm in there". Long story short.. I have the center grill in my hands and it needs to be restored. The car is out of the Pittsburgh PA area (14 years there) and the grill is pretty nasty. No actual corrosion but the black is gray. I could just wipe it down and paint it but I know better. Might as well do it right. Any tips on doing a resto on this? I don't want to reinvent the wheel so I'm asking ya'll. Somebody must have done one.
I have a mediablasting system but using the wrong media will destroy this part. Walnut shells? Butter?
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I have a mediablasting system but using the wrong media will destroy this part. Walnut shells? Butter?
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Your center grill sounds like it's exactly as it left the factory. It was as dull, charcoal black color from the start. I have an 'original' that I found at a flea-market, and the one from my '71 that looked just the same.
If you want it to look like factory-new, I'd recommend that you just wash it and reinstall. If you think it needs new paint (I wouldn't, if it's not chipped/dinged up), find a "flat" paint color that is not quite black...a dark charcoal, perhaps. I've not looked for that color, so I don't know what to recommend--but it's not BLACK.
When I worked on the one from my car, it got painted the same color as the side grilles (cast iron color), then used a detail brush to paint a 'chrome' color on the front edges. My center grille was then extended about 4" out so that it looks like one full grille set.
If you want it to look like factory-new, I'd recommend that you just wash it and reinstall. If you think it needs new paint (I wouldn't, if it's not chipped/dinged up), find a "flat" paint color that is not quite black...a dark charcoal, perhaps. I've not looked for that color, so I don't know what to recommend--but it's not BLACK.
When I worked on the one from my car, it got painted the same color as the side grilles (cast iron color), then used a detail brush to paint a 'chrome' color on the front edges. My center grille was then extended about 4" out so that it looks like one full grille set.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton Alberta
When I restored mine I found that prepping was such a PITA. If you can be patient and do a good job of masking, then I found that Eastwoods Charcoal Grey Wheel Paint was an incredibly close match to what was on there originally. It has just the right amount of "metallic" luster/sparkle.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton Alberta
I recall reading a restoration article in the NCRS Restorer a while back and I am pretty sure that the main difference between the side and center grilles is primarily the lack of chrome edging on the center grille and that typically the "flash" to the paint caused it to look somewhat different than the side grilles.
The recommended practice is to use the same paint on all 3 grilles.
I could be wrong. I'd have to see if I could dig up that article to confirm. And I even seem to recall people saying they had seen a slight variance in color, but just to play devil's advocate - any idea why they would set the center grille apart by using an entirely different color?
I looked at a pic of my car with an earlier unrestored grille and it appears to have the same color/tone as the left and right ones.
The recommended practice is to use the same paint on all 3 grilles.
I could be wrong. I'd have to see if I could dig up that article to confirm. And I even seem to recall people saying they had seen a slight variance in color, but just to play devil's advocate - any idea why they would set the center grille apart by using an entirely different color?
I looked at a pic of my car with an earlier unrestored grille and it appears to have the same color/tone as the left and right ones.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
It's currently all splotchy.. and no charcoal... just a faded, uneven gray from the winter salt up in PA. It does have a "glittery" undertone to it though, probably because the metal surface is textured, not smooth. The paint is probably missing from the "peaks" of the texture, making it look "speckled". I already cleaned it very thoroughly.. with a toothbrush no less. I will have to do something with it. Can't leave it the way it is... it looks real spoogy. The NCRS methodology would probably fit the bill. Curious as to what they did.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 12
From: Kalispell MT
There is a guy...
If you don't want to do it yourself, and you want it NCRS correct...
Richard Fortier. Do an advanced search to his name and he will pop up. Has all of the correct masking and I believe he used to own Paragon.
If you don't want to do it yourself, and you want it NCRS correct...
Richard Fortier. Do an advanced search to his name and he will pop up. Has all of the correct masking and I believe he used to own Paragon.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
I'm going to be cleaning up the grilles on my '70 Very soon...ideally I'd like to get the left side rechromed (to match the right which was replaced after an accident) but with estimates coming in at around $300 I think a little freshening will have to do for now.
I don't know exactly what the OE color is but it's a kind of mid-grey metallic. I picked up a can of Dupli-Color cast iron that I'm going to use on the surround areas, and I'll likely touch up the front edges of the 'eggcrate' portion with some silver which I will seal over with clearcoat. Certainly not factory, and not quite as nice as I'd like, but I think it will look OK...
I don't know exactly what the OE color is but it's a kind of mid-grey metallic. I picked up a can of Dupli-Color cast iron that I'm going to use on the surround areas, and I'll likely touch up the front edges of the 'eggcrate' portion with some silver which I will seal over with clearcoat. Certainly not factory, and not quite as nice as I'd like, but I think it will look OK...
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
I do remember that name from the last century.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 32
From: Damascus MD
Grill Paint
Alan's solution is a good one as always. His work is amazing.
If you want it exactly as the factory it should also have a texture.
There is a paint formula floating around somewhere.
I was lucky in that a local paint shop still had the formula and was able to mix up some lacquer. It came out about as close to the factory as you could get.
I took a grill with me and on the un-exposed surfaces the paint was well preserved to ensure an excellent match.
I can related to the oh by the ways
Bill
If you want it exactly as the factory it should also have a texture.
There is a paint formula floating around somewhere.
I was lucky in that a local paint shop still had the formula and was able to mix up some lacquer. It came out about as close to the factory as you could get.
I took a grill with me and on the un-exposed surfaces the paint was well preserved to ensure an excellent match.
I can related to the oh by the ways
Bill
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton Alberta
That's the stuff I used ! Sorry for misleading you there earlier with the Eastwoods Charcoal Wheel Paint - I have so darn many cans of their stuff I forgot which one I used. Alan is correct - this gets you soooo close to the original finish no one would notice. It also has that metallic lustre in it that you notice only upon close inspection.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
The mounting hardware for the 71-72 is different than for a 70 but it is similar. I have the original front end hardware except for 1 screw and 1 U-Nut which I am trying to source. The vendors I have contacted so far do not have the kits correct.
Here is the assembly manual center & side grill hardware list for a 70 which matches the car:
9427651 (6) Screw (as in your pic)
3846854 (4) U-Nut (as in your pic)
9411467 (6) Nut
9427761 (2) U-Nut
3949982 (2) Screw
9428069 (2) U-Nut
I am missing (1) 9427651 and (1) 9428069. The 9428069 is the issue.
Thanks again for the Eastwood part number.
Tom
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Yes.. that is what I found on the 70 as well (3974009/010). I have only one 9428069. The kits appear to have only the 3846854, no 9428069. I tried Auveco but could not find it there either. Hillman might have it but I can't find their product list online. The kits sold by our favorite vendors split the sets into 1970 and 1971/72. I can bubba it (I already purchased the bubba parts JIC) but I'm trying not to. I don't like finding things bubba'd on my cars.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 804
Likes: 69
From: Tulsa Ok
Have you thought about bead blasting and powder coating?
I use this method on quite a few of my C3's and 67 chevelle parts...
a black textured or charcoal textured powder coat might be something to look at...
Not exactly as from factory, but I always like the results and they are a lot less scratch / chip resistant....
just my .02 ..
Gary
I use this method on quite a few of my C3's and 67 chevelle parts...
a black textured or charcoal textured powder coat might be something to look at...
Not exactly as from factory, but I always like the results and they are a lot less scratch / chip resistant....
just my .02 ..
Gary
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Bead blasting might be the best way to clean it up. I don't have any beads at the moment. Who sells beads?
Edit:
Ahhh.... I see Northern Tool has glass beads. There's one 10 minutes from me.
Edit:
Ahhh.... I see Northern Tool has glass beads. There's one 10 minutes from me.
Last edited by Tom454; Feb 11, 2013 at 12:20 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
Tom, I had the side grilles on my '70 blasted with PLASTIC media awhile back, and it got all the old paint and traces of corrosion off without harming any of the chrome edging...if you can get access to some of that I think it would be a little safer...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
