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Topic: Chrome front grills??

in Forum: C3 Body


Chrome front grills??

Posted: 3/5/08 7:39pm Message 1 of 9
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Vette(s): 1973 Coupe -black/red motion stripe, 427 big block,aluminum heads,solid roller cam, 500HP Nitrous plate, QA1 coilovers, 4" drop, 18's 275 F 335 R Racing seats w/ 5 pt. harness. REAL STREET
Has anyone tried chroming front grills? How did they look? Any pictures? I am not sure if pot metal can be chromed. Am I better off just painting them?


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Chrome front grills??

Posted: 3/5/08 9:02pm Message 2 of 9
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
The front edges of the grills on your '73 should be chromed to start with. The grills were chromed, and then blacked out except for the leading edges of the horizontal part. In '74, the same grills were used, but they were not chromed...just solid black.
To answer your question tho...if you have the original style, cast aluminuminum grills, they can be chromed...they were from the factory.

Then again...I may be incorrect...I do know the front edges of the grills were silver on the '73 cars, but after thinking aboot it, I'm not 100% sure they were chromed. I'll have to check now to find out. Either way, they can be chromed, if you wanted them like that.Adams' Apple2008-03-06 11:04:49


Joel Adams
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Chrome front grills??

Posted: 3/6/08 10:13am Message 3 of 9
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Victor, NY - USA
Joined: 7/12/2004
Posts: 6841
Vette(s): 2004 Commemorative Edition Coupe, Auto w/HUD. 13K miles in 2015. Sold 1982 Red Coupe
I think they would look great.
You can get chrome paint if you just wanted to test the look.



 
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Chrome front grills??

Posted: 3/6/08 1:25pm Message 4 of 9
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Waterford, MI - USA
Joined: 9/13/2002
Posts: 1754
Vette(s): 1973 Red coupe
The 73 grilles were chromed and then the centers were blacked out. Then can be stripped and rechromed but if there are lots of pits it will not look good. Most of the chrome has peeled off my grilles and they are pitted real bad. No one makes replacement ones out of meteal, just plastic. Those can be chromed too.


Brian - NCM Lifetime Member

73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System

Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans
Borgeson Steering box
 


Chrome front grills??

Posted: 3/6/08 2:16pm Message 5 of 9
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Dorr, MI - USA
Joined: 8/21/2002
Posts: 2581
Vette(s): 71 Colonnade Hardtop Coupe Torch Red with black interior originally L48 built to push around 360hp

Brian's right. When I painted My Girl I taped off the chrome edges, but it didn't look very good as they were pretty pitted. So I just painted them black. I think it looks pretty good that way. I'm not sure if they can be chromed as they are pot metal and usually pretty rough. If you notice I did tape off the edges of the side grills and painted them black. I didn't like the idea at first, but its kinda growing on me. Different.

my7T12008-03-06 14:19:18


Chrome front grills??

Posted: 3/6/08 7:48pm Message 6 of 9
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Mounds View, MN - USA
Joined: 5/24/2007
Posts: 1031
Vette(s): 70 LT1 coupe, 69 350 HP coupe, 69 390HP 427 coupe, 71 LS5 convert, 85 coupe, 93 coupe
On "My Classic Car" a week or so ago, they interviewed a big muscle car supplier, and said they now have a process that allows them to chrome anything.  They first paint on a microscopic coat of silver, then plate on top of that.  I am sorry I don't remember the name.

Larry



Chrome front grills??

Posted: 3/7/08 6:47am Message 7 of 9
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Horse Cave, KY - USA
Joined: 10/22/2007
Posts: 488
Vette(s): 1968 convertible; 1980 L-82
[QUOTE=krz-fasC3]Has anyone tried chroming front grills? How did they look? Any pictures? I am not sure if pot metal can be chromed. Am I better off just painting them?[/QUOTE]
 
BEFORE you make the leap, check with your plater.  The grills are pot metal (also called white metal) and may dissolve in the plater's tank.  ASK FIRST because original '73 grills are as rare as hen's teeth.
 
Smile
6880Mike2008-03-07 06:52:15


Chrome front grills??

Posted: 3/15/08 7:32pm Message 8 of 9
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Canada
Joined: 3/9/2008
Posts: 164
Vette(s): 70 VETTE 350/300HP, AUTOMATIC, ALL STOCK EXCEPT FOR MILD CAM,LAGUNA GREY, 3:55 POSI GEARS

Chrome front grills??

Posted: 3/17/08 9:40am Message 9 of 9
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Mounds View, MN - USA
Joined: 5/24/2007
Posts: 1031
Vette(s): 70 LT1 coupe, 69 350 HP coupe, 69 390HP 427 coupe, 71 LS5 convert, 85 coupe, 93 coupe
I found the name of the plater from My Classic Car.  It is Paul's Plating, http://www.paulschrome.com/ .  He says he can plate anything without damage.  


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