Grilles for a 73
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,406
Likes: 418
From: Chester Virginia
Grilles for a 73
First question:Were just the horizontal rib tips chromed or were the outside surround edges chromed also? Second question: How can you tell the difference between cast aluminum, use for 74 grilles, and pot metal, used for 73 grilles.
My 73 was made in late July and it appears the grille light ribs were originally black, meaning 74 pieces instead of 73 pieces. Just trying to figure out how to fix the grille appearance as if it were new.
Roger
My 73 was made in late July and it appears the grille light ribs were originally black, meaning 74 pieces instead of 73 pieces. Just trying to figure out how to fix the grille appearance as if it were new.
Roger
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Re: Grilles for a 73 (RMS73)
Roger,
On the chromed '73 grills, the entire grill was first chromed, then the paint was removed from all leading edges of the grill including the outside edges. On very late '73 and all of '74 grills, I believe the black paint was applied directly on the cast metal, meaning that there is no chrome underneath.
I don't think there was any change of casting material from '73 to '74.
If your car is very late '73 as you mentioned, you should have all black grills.
On the chromed '73 grills, the entire grill was first chromed, then the paint was removed from all leading edges of the grill including the outside edges. On very late '73 and all of '74 grills, I believe the black paint was applied directly on the cast metal, meaning that there is no chrome underneath.
I don't think there was any change of casting material from '73 to '74.
If your car is very late '73 as you mentioned, you should have all black grills.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,406
Likes: 418
From: Chester Virginia
Re: Grilles for a 73 (Mike Ward)
Mike:
Thanks for the information.
The pot metal vs cast aluminum came from a restoration book by Richard Prince. Don't know if he is right or not.
My Corvette's 'birthday' is July 20. I have noticed a few 74 pieces on it.
Roger
Thanks for the information.
The pot metal vs cast aluminum came from a restoration book by Richard Prince. Don't know if he is right or not.
My Corvette's 'birthday' is July 20. I have noticed a few 74 pieces on it.
Roger
Drifting
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,351
Likes: 3
From: Fremont, CA, USA
Re: Grilles for a 73 (RMS73)
"RMS73"------
ALL 73-74 grilles were of zinc diecast ("pot metal") construction. The 73's were completely chrome plated, painted black, and then had the black paint somehow removed (or masked) for the leading edges. The "paint-over-chrome" is one of the reasons that the black paint on these grilles is often seen "flaking" off.
For 1974 the PRODUCTION grilles may or may not have been chromed prior to the application of the black paint. However, every one of the SERVICE 74 grilles that I've seen has had the black paint applied over a chromed grille and the "flaking" paint is often seen even on these grilles. I don't know why the supplier of these grilles would have chromed the 74 substrate grilles prior to painting them black. Perhaps, in SERVICE-only it was just easier to standardize on the substrate grilles.
ALL 73-74 grilles were of zinc diecast ("pot metal") construction. The 73's were completely chrome plated, painted black, and then had the black paint somehow removed (or masked) for the leading edges. The "paint-over-chrome" is one of the reasons that the black paint on these grilles is often seen "flaking" off.
For 1974 the PRODUCTION grilles may or may not have been chromed prior to the application of the black paint. However, every one of the SERVICE 74 grilles that I've seen has had the black paint applied over a chromed grille and the "flaking" paint is often seen even on these grilles. I don't know why the supplier of these grilles would have chromed the 74 substrate grilles prior to painting them black. Perhaps, in SERVICE-only it was just easier to standardize on the substrate grilles.
