The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Reproduction 1941-1946 Grille

Does anyone have any experience with the Reproduction grilles for a 1941-46 Chevy truck meaning quality, fit issues, all those things?

There is a couple pictures here of the grille I bought from J Carters. Fit was so so as well as the weight compared to the original was a lot less. I love the grille in that era trucks and is the main reason I own one. If I were to do over I'd have my original rechromed. My 2 pennies. Have fun and good luck
Dan

I looks wrong along the bottom.

Without going into a long story I'll just suggest to you to stay away from the repop grills. I bought one and sent it back the day it came. Total garbage.

Bite the bullet and pay the bucks to rechrome your original.

George

If you are able to rechrome the orignal then by all means stay with it. I bought a reproduced one unfnished and I was glad I did. The repo did not fit well and I needed to fill in with the wire welder in the top corners and do some rearanging to make it fit. The thing was origanly made in Argentia. I am going to paint the new grill so I'll going to be able to make it work.

i looked at quite few trucks at shows with repop grills. i was less than impressed.i decided 10 hours with hammer, dolly,and flat file and 750.00 on chrome was better spent.

Sorry to hear that about the grills.
how hard is it to get it right??
this is where these topics should become public to warn of the dangers 'buyer beware'

How much does a rechrome cost over there?
Wombat

the original grills were stamped from one piece of sheet metal. the repop grills for a 46 that i have seen all have the bars separately welded in. leaving exposed welds that are not ground down and chromed over. i had my 46 upper, lower and two trim pieces chromed for 750.00 after acid dipping to remove rust and orginal paint

I stuck with an original grille. I bought and sold 5-6 grilles before I found one that needed little work. I found a painted NOS upper grille. I pretty much broke even on all of the buying and selling I did. All said & done I spent $27 for the upper and lower and then spent $900 for "show chrome" (the sides of the grille bars are equally as brilliant as the tops/fronts). Yes it was a bit more than a reproduction but I have also seen them and there is no comparison in the quality.

Here's a photo of the front of the truck at a show last summer. Good view of the original grille.

Your truck looks absolutely gorgeous. Who did you have do the chrome?

Thanks! Your truck looks like mine did when I started (but better).

Custom Plating Specialists in Brillion, WI

Small shop with tons of personal attention.

I am halfway through doing the grille on my '47- the grille is not so much of the focus of the look of the truck, but I want it right.
I bought a repo grille from Jim Carter- they are the only supplier I could find with the larger truck grille. My original grille was rusted and smashed in.
It is millimetres different in width, this is not a big issue. I was going to buy a chrome one but I phoned them and they were out of them- they had to send some back due to imperfect chrome.
So I bought a plain steel one.
A local electroplater estimated $100-150 per bar- 5 bars. Thats show quality and it will last 50 years he says. He has a good reputation.
The front bar and the splashbacks are a poor fit with up to 2mm difference at the seam where they meet.
Each bar needs about two hours work with dolly, hammers, files and sandpaper to prepare for chrome. They are not near as good as the originals.
That said, they will do, and they just need work. I am far too picky for my own good.
If you have an original grille then I think its best to recover it if you can. Repairs: I brazed up the rust in the supports that I had to reuse. Dont overlook this old school way- it was so easy compared to any welding and I found it easy to flow and build the braze. The electroplater recommended any oxyacetylene welding over any electric, said it creates good smooth welds that are never porous and cause him trouble.
And get ready: the cost of my grille will be ten percent of the entire truck full restoration. They dont come cheap.
good luck.