Painting '72 grills
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12,468
Likes: 1,548
From: Camp Verde AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2017 C1 of Year Finalist
Painting '72 grills
I noticed these were sprayed from the back.
I got some of the rustoleum textured paint in Dark Pewter and it looks like a perfect match in color and texture.
I have almost finished stripping one grill. I know the factory didn't spend (much) time masking these, so what i thought i would try is:
Get some light clear greases and use my finger to rub grease on the fronts of the fins, which will also go perhaps 1/16" down the sides if the fins, and also the area at the bottom in front of the fins, so no paint or over spray will stick to the greased areas.
Paint from the rear, at angles, like the factory appeared to, let dry and wipe off greased areas with a lightly mineral spirits dampened soft cloth to remove the grease and overspray, then mask and paint the matte black area around the turn signal,and spray some chrome silver inside the reflector.
This should eliminate any time consuming tape masking on the fins, and give a factory appearance.
The most time consuming part will be masking for the matte black recess.
I will report back on how well this works.
Doug
I got some of the rustoleum textured paint in Dark Pewter and it looks like a perfect match in color and texture.
I have almost finished stripping one grill. I know the factory didn't spend (much) time masking these, so what i thought i would try is:
Get some light clear greases and use my finger to rub grease on the fronts of the fins, which will also go perhaps 1/16" down the sides if the fins, and also the area at the bottom in front of the fins, so no paint or over spray will stick to the greased areas.
Paint from the rear, at angles, like the factory appeared to, let dry and wipe off greased areas with a lightly mineral spirits dampened soft cloth to remove the grease and overspray, then mask and paint the matte black area around the turn signal,and spray some chrome silver inside the reflector.
This should eliminate any time consuming tape masking on the fins, and give a factory appearance.
The most time consuming part will be masking for the matte black recess.
I will report back on how well this works.
Doug
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
I think using grease is not only going to give you very bad lines but at the transition area where the grease meets bare metal you are going to find the paind lifting and you will have to start over. I would use painters tape. It will probably take less time and you will only have to do it once.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12,468
Likes: 1,548
From: Camp Verde AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2017 C1 of Year Finalist
One side is finished and came out very well, IMO. And probably doesn't look that much different than anew $700 grill. I passed on getting it chromed because it really didn't need it unless i was going for concours type stuff.
I used the tape for masking.
The Dark pewter wanted to wick under the tape, as I needed to apply it thick enough to get the texture part going, but it dries real fast, so After it was fairly dry, but not completely set, which only took about 15 minutes, i used some 0000 steel wool, lightly oiled, and cleaned the wicked paint off of the front of the fins, and blended the tape line away on the lower shelf.
The hardest part was masking for that black surround strip around the lens.
The Rustolem textured Dark Pewter was perfect (or at least pretty close, as i don't have a new original to compare to), in both texture and color.
Now on to the other side.
Doug
I used the tape for masking.
The Dark pewter wanted to wick under the tape, as I needed to apply it thick enough to get the texture part going, but it dries real fast, so After it was fairly dry, but not completely set, which only took about 15 minutes, i used some 0000 steel wool, lightly oiled, and cleaned the wicked paint off of the front of the fins, and blended the tape line away on the lower shelf.
The hardest part was masking for that black surround strip around the lens.
The Rustolem textured Dark Pewter was perfect (or at least pretty close, as i don't have a new original to compare to), in both texture and color.
Now on to the other side.
Doug
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12,468
Likes: 1,548
From: Camp Verde AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2017 C1 of Year Finalist
PS: don't forget the chrome aluminum paint in the bulb reflector area, that is factory also.
Doug
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,237
Likes: 4,330
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
I believe the original grills had semi-flat black paint in a 'groove' that runs around the perimeter of the parking lens.
It ends even with the last row of 'egg crates' which don't have the chrome edge exposed.
Regards,
Alan
I believe the original grills had semi-flat black paint in a 'groove' that runs around the perimeter of the parking lens.
It ends even with the last row of 'egg crates' which don't have the chrome edge exposed.
Regards,
Alan
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Racer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 251
Likes: 36
From: Jefferson Ohio
72 Grille Paint
I masked off the chrome with narrow tape and painted as explained above.
I used a spray can of SEM BUMPER COATER paint and it looks almost identical to the original paint.
The Paint number is 39273 Charcoal Metallic.
I used it on restoring my 72 LT1.
Jim
I used a spray can of SEM BUMPER COATER paint and it looks almost identical to the original paint.
The Paint number is 39273 Charcoal Metallic.
I used it on restoring my 72 LT1.
Jim
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 12,468
Likes: 1,548
From: Camp Verde AZ
C1 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
2017 C1 of Year Finalist
Here is the finished product. Maybe not exactly as original, but way cheaper than buying new grills.
Haven't done the center grill yet, it looks to be a darker color? Please advise.
Thanks,
Doug
Haven't done the center grill yet, it looks to be a darker color? Please advise.
Thanks,
Doug