My 53 Chevy had the top bar painted when I got it almost 20 years ago. Reading old posts supposedly there were no chrome ones for this year(?) . Pretty sure this one is original but someone ended up painting the top bar. The other bars are in pretty good shape; anyone have luck just disassembling and getting one bar re-chromed? Also I tried the Juniper Green paint color on a fender which was a standard color for 1953. and it`s not a close match. My next attempt will be Forester Green which was discontinued in 1952. Any chance the factory might have been using up forester green on early 53 models? Last question This valve cover from a 1961 engine seems to never had paint on it. Were all valve covers painted when they left the factory? any help appreciated.
I thought that '53s didn't have chrome grilles either. Maybe someone changed it out, like they added the amber lights below the headlights. That top grille bar looks pretty funky. Its not that hard to remove the top grille bar, but you may have to remove the lock panel behind it to get to the fasteners. I suppose it's possible that it was repainted Forester Green before you got it. 20 years isn't that much of it's lifetime. Someone obviously painted that top grille bar.
Valve covers were painted with the rest of the engine, but a lot of them I've seen have had the paint peeling.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Is it possible someone had a mishap with one of the chrome bars and used a painted replacement, moving the replacement to the top for a less noticeable position..
All the bars are unique you cannot interchange the positions or else your eye will catch it and the whole think will look wrong just enough to be annoying but it won’t be obvious to many why it’s wrong. The top bar is very different it has the top edge for the panel that holds the hood latch it can’t be swapped out to a lower position incorrectly even if you tried -s
$250.00 for re-chroming the top grill bar! Triple plating...but ouch! I repainted the bar in the photo to test the Juniper green, it`s in good shape but I will probably go back to original color although I`m sure it would look better either all chrome or all painted
I've seen a grille that was powder coated with chrome. It looked pretty good and was way cheaper than actual chrome. That would be an option versus $250 for one bar.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
Have you placed an thread in the Swap Meet forum for a grill bar? I'm sure someone must have an old grill with just one decent bar on it.
~ Craig 1958 Viking 4400 "The Book of Thor" Read the story in the DITY 1960 Chevrolet C10 "A Family Heirloom" Follow the story in the DITY Gallery '59 Apache 31, 327 V8 (0.030 over), Muncie M20 4 Speed, GM 10 Bolt Rear... long term project (30 years and counting)
If you don't like driving yourTruck, you won't drive yourTruck..| Living life in the SLOW lane
Powder coating chrome is a good durable option as Kevin said.
Martin '62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress) '47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project) ‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily) ‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence) “I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one! Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop! USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
