Franks73

Just received the center grill piece for my 73. The chrome edges looks great! Before I spend a couple of hundred bucks for new left and right grill pieces, is there a cost effective way to dress up the original pieces I still have with a chrome look? I'm guessing no.

toobroketoretire

A "couple of hundred"? Ha, try $1400 to $1500. Those grills are VERY expensive.

Mooser

Not for the 73's
M

Alan 71

Hi F,
There appear to be abs reproductions of the 73 grills with a 'chrome' edge for about $110. Might those be satisfactory for you?
You might try 'improving' your current grills' edges with the most 'silvery' paint you can find and a tiny brush….and if that doesn't work you could consider the others.
Regards,
Alan

Redhook98

I have used this approach on a few other projects. You can get a silver/chrome paint pen and it goes on smooth. Run over it with a clear coat paint pen and it gets nice and shiny. Not quite chrome, but indistinguishable from 5 feet.

I was about to do this with my 73 until I looked closely at the grills. Someone had lightly poof-canned them some time ago. Some 000 and 0000 steel wool and I have brand new looking chrome grill edges once again.

Easy Mike

Have you considered having your originals replated/restored?

Franks73

Thanks for the suggestions. My originals are a little rough. I will try your approach, see how it goes.

Franks73

I think for about $250 shipped I can get repops. It's only the leading edge of the grill pieces that have a chrome finish. Just trying to stop spending a little, and get to drive the beast.

GUSTO14

Frank, contact Lyle Chamberlain (Forum Member "LYLE"). His specialty (among others) is the '73 Corvette. He's at Carlisle every year with a plethora of items unique to the '73 Corvette and always brings a few sets of grills. He's a terrific individual to talk to and I've learned a great deal from him regarding the re-plating process on these items. The bottom line is that new metal ones are virtually nonexistent and about your only option is to re-plate originals. The results are directly related to the condition of the originals due to the base material.

I bought a set of the reproductions years ago to replace my heavily corroded originals and within 10 years they were disappointing to look at. While they don't corrode like the originals, the chrome fades and the fins take on a somewhat wavy appearance.



Good luck... GUSTO

Ontario73

I have the reproduction grilles and they look great (so far anyway). For the price I would be willing to replace them in another 10 years if necessary!

jward486

So I understand correctly...the front grill of the 73 had chrome edging from the factory? Wondering if mine are original but have worn off?

vettz73

Try scraping the edge of the grill. You may find that PO spray-painted the entire grill which then covered up the chrome edge.

73 Grills are made from pot metal and are prone to pitting.

Franks73

My originals are fairly pitted, I cleaned them as well as I could, then sprayed them. Did not notice a chrome edge. The new center section I just received is metal, and the chrome looks very nice. Starting to think that if the L and R pieces are this nice, just spend the $$. Why stop now? ChaChing! My car the money pit! I'm sure the pain will recede once I get to drive her!

AdamMeh

If you're trying to paint a thin area like the front edges of a grill, shoot them first in the color that is needed. Once that dries, paint the rest of the grill black from the backside. This will keep you from getting black paint on the new (insert paint color here) that you sprayed on the front edges.


Adam

homestead

What about using some chrome pin striping tape? Paint it black and then put the stripes on. You could even fill the pits with filler before paint and striping. Just some thoughts...

Franks73

Hello Sir. When you say "abs" does that mean plastic? The center grill section I just got feels and sounds like metal. I found it for about $150. I need to check with that vendor to see if the L and R pieces are the same construction. They were $100 in the catalog. Thanks again for all the great input you share on this forum, I am sure you have helped a great many people with your knowledge.

Alan 71

Hi Frank,
Yes, abs refers to a type of styrene plastic.
I'm out of my league here (73) but from what I read the original grills were cast metal while the reproductions are made of abs.
Perhaps a 73 person will verify!
Regards,
Alan

Franks73

Thanks again for all the input. Mid America has the L and R grill sections with chrome, made out of metal for $100 each. If they are as nice as the center piece I got, they are nice. I might still try to salvage my originals.

Ontario73

Alan (as usual) is correct! My reproduction grilles are plastic and the originals are/were pot metal. The reproductions are very reasonably priced and look the part from 5' away. I have actually had a couple of 73 owners kneel down to have a look at shows because theirs were in bad shape due to corrosion. They are not a NCRS parts, but, fit the bill in the looks department.

Franks73

Looked closer at my original grill. Saw a glint of chrome where some of my spray had chipped off. Maybe I can salvage the originals.