The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Repop AD grill question.

I bought a repop chrome grill for my 52 with the black rear bars and am undecided if I should disassemble it and paint the rear bars/sides body color or just leave it. Color is a darker blue so I don't think the black will look too bad but I'm wondering how durable that paint is. It sure looks alot like that black primer that comes on patch panels. Anybody have one on for a while? Thanks.

Curt, I will be lurking to see what is said on the subject. I have a pretty decent grill I am debating whether to chrome or not. The one deterrent is the difficulty in breaking it down to paint the rear bars. I might just chrome the whole thing. I may end up buying a repop grill that has the cream rear bars.

BIG CHEVY 3600,If you have a dremel grinder you can dismantle the grill fairly easily. I took mine apart in a couple of hours or less. It has to be taken apart to chrome, as it has to be buffed.

The original grill back bars would have been an off white, ("Windsor" White IIRC.) The black primer you speak of if a true e-coat is fine to leave on. Taking the grills apart is a pain just due to the number of bolts (I believe on a repop) or even more so on the original (rivets). I painted my original chrome grill back bars with white without disassembling. My wife is wonderful and VERY detailed oriented. She taped them off and did a fabulous job. It did take a while, but probably less than disassembly and re-assembly

nifty that's the first I have heard of anyone taping off and painting assembled. I have thought of doing that from the day in 06 when I took it off but figured it would not work very well because of lack of discussion on the topic.

I just had mine painted about 2 weeks ago. It is body colour, also dark blue. I didn't really want a chrome one (personal taste) I had bought a repop and soon after, I got a very good deal on an original in near perfect condition. I was able to return the repop. I like Nifty's suggestion to paint the back bars off white, I didn't realize that was how they came.

53 panel, I have a painted grille in my 53 3100. I wanted it two toned, so I concur with the masking process. I might suggest using an "air brush" to get into the back bars first then mask them off to do the front.

I was able to get mine in the background white from Brothers as I recall. Looks great.

Thanks Dave:
Just bought my grill from Brothers. It was chrome with white back bars. It was a special and on sale for 337.00. When I saw the price I had to buy it. That must be cheaper than having mine rechromed.
Now I have a primered grill to sell. Any more of this and I'll be able to start a catalog parts outlet.

I had a near perfect original painted grill that I had rechromed. I disassembled the grill and had the bars chromed. That cost me $500. A 100 bucks for each bar it was expensive but the chrome shop did a beautiful job. I think it was worth it

I got my Chrome Grill from Classic parts, for the tune of $360 it has the cream colored back bars and believe it or not it fit very well!...no mods needed just patience....with the front sheet metal a bit loose, it was NP to aligh the holes ALL ALONE...wich i suggest, ya dont need a partnert on this install they will just aggrivate you!...take your time and it will fall together.

I have often heard that around $100.00 a bar is what you should expect to pay for rechroming. One of the chrome shops that travels the swap meet circuit usually has an original re-chromed grill for $500.00. I got really lucky and got my near perfect chrome original for $150.00 at a swap meet. I personally like the original white behind the chrome. Here is a picture:

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2134477760101996343JXIEYX

The term, "perfect", is a weak superlative for the work you've done on that old Bolt. Congrads...

mine is an aftermarket chrome grill from what was chevy duty, it fits great, has been installed and out in the weather for 3 years and still looks brand new. i would go that route. i believe it came with all the rivets/bolts to reasseble it if you wanted to break it down and paint it

Big Chevy: I know the feeeling well about all those left over parts. There is a swap meet /car show next weekend & I have a trailer full of stuff (lots of it new)I hope to sell that I overbought or lost and replaced only to find later, etc. I think it just goes with the territory.