The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 1949 Pickup- Chrome Grill Bars

Is there anyplace where you can buy just the chrome bars for the front grill? The frame of my grill is restorable but the bars are dinged and dented. Thanks

If you are talking about the horizonal bars on the front grill, I doubt if you'll find them by themselves. Odds it will be a complete grill.

A good chrome shop can fix all that. My grill had some dings and cracks. Also, it was slightly crocked. Now it's perfect.....and shiney!

I agree with Steppenwood.
Anyone can hang that cheap cheesy reproduction Taiwan grill in their truck.

Nothin' beats a rechromed original grill.

And, anyone can hang a rechromed grille in a truck.

Metal Man, I put a after-market grille on my truck and it worked out great... go here to see pics of it.

Whenever you can recondition an original part, DO IT!

Repos are never as good as original stuff.

Alan is right. I would rather use the original American steel too. That's what restoring old trucks (and it's parts) is all about.

If I had an original grill which could be restored I would also do it, but you also need to look at the cost pending the condition of your grill. Some may not have a grill worthy to restore and chrome so they would need to find another one and hope it would be restoreable. It can be a vicious circle sometimes.
Be american, buy american but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. Do whatever way you can to accomplish the job you want.

Cmayna, Heah, that does work. I have seen some rechromed parts that aren't that great either. The after-market grille that I purchased is very rigid as orginial, the chrome looks great,it fit perfect and it is triple chromed. I payed the money and I am happy. Amen!!

There is always gonna be guys that actually "restore" the original iron.

And

There is always gonna be guys
that toss the original & take the easiest & cheapest way out.

Hell, you can go down to the "Truck Shop" & buy the whole truck piece by piece in cheap Taiwan pieces if thats your style.

Most discerning restorers I deal with will not even consider bolting parts made in the orient on an old America Bolt.
NOS & good used original parts are the only accepted form of parts replacement with this crowd .

Different strokes for different folks.

I have reconditioned and rechromed 3 AD grills - average cost per grill is about $400. While it is cheaper and albeit easier to buy a repop. The definition of the sheet metal - especially on the ends of the bars is simply lacking in the repop grill. It is a matter of personal taste - and for me, I just like the look, fit and finish of the original sheet metal better.

I can tell a repop grill from original from about 15-20 feet.

If I decided to buy a repop grill, I would be sure to clear-coat it before install -- no worry about rust appearing later that way.

I could not agree more with the guys who tell you to restore yours or find one that is restorable. I'm working on a 49 Chevy right now and try to find orig parts whenever possible. MT is a great source. Check the swap meet

Horvath brings up a real good subject. Even if it's a reconditioned original grill, is it a good idea to clear coat it to help prevent rusting? When I redo my grill I'll be questioning this idea.

CHROME is for sissies!! :p :p

Craig,

If you have the chrome done by a good shop, it will be good for decades if you keep a good coat of chrome polish on it. Same can be said for quality repops. My only experience with chrome on repops was a taillight that I bought for my '35. I didn't really take any notice of it until I noticed that rust was eating through the chrome. I found an original at a swap meet that still had good chrome, polished it up and it is good even after a couple years.

The guy at the chrome shop said never use chrome polish on new chrome. It's very abrasive, and you only want to use it maybe on older chrome and you're getting it ready to sell. The best thing for new chrome is Windex. I've been to another chrome shop and he said pretty much the same thing.

Best chrome polish you will ever use ...........

Toothpaste.

Could be ?

It used to be popular to restore your truck with a super shiny paint job & hang as many chrome parts as you can on the thing.
Problem is you are afraid to use it as a truck after doing this.

On the other hand, there is a still a crowd out there that want painted bumpers, grills , hubcaps & no stainless window trim.

Some guys even go so far as to paint the truck with a dull finish.
Some guys even recreate the original weathering of a paint job.
We call those " Patina " paint jobs.

I have chromed out , nice paint job trucks but, I have the most fun in my beater parts hauler

http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/mendola.htm

This truck has a "high tech " aeresol Rustoleum
paint job. The paint is fading nicely. I can't wait until it starts to get some " personality rust" on the horizontal surfaces.
You will never see wax on the " Titan Hauler ".

Subtract a few patina points for the chrome grill guard [ all I had to put on it was a NOS unit & they were all chromed].

Mt,
In theory, I agree with you about how people start fixing up their rigs a little too much to the point of never wanting to use it. I'm kinda of a half bread I guess. I want to fix up my truck with a ok paint job, rechrome the grill, etc. But I'll still want to haul things around in it. Last weekend hauled some Arizona Flagstone, more this coming weekend....

After I paint the truck, I'll have to roll or spray a bed liner on the 3 sides and tailgate. Can't stand the idea of scratching up new paint.

Oh yeah, Chrome. The front of my truck will not be hauling things so it deserves to look nice. Besides it came with a chrome grill, so I will have mine redone.

You know Titan would probably look a lot better if you removed that flashy front bumper guard and send it to Menlo Park. I know a guy who would house it for you.

Craig, if ya gotta use your nice painted truck to haul anything nasty you can always use a slide in bedliner & take it out when you are done.
The sunday paper is loaded with people trying to unload used liners for cheap.
Hell, if ya keep your eyes peeled you can find 'em layin' on the side of the freeway.
[ Trick is you gotta get it before CalTrans does]
Try to find one that is 2 feet longer than your bed & it will protect the tailgate also.

Hey,nothin' against you chrome guys, I just like the look of the painted grille with white back splash. Both mine have em that way.

I like chrome grills on earlier models, but every 54 I see with a chromed grill strikes me funny somehow.