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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 30 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2010 Posts: 30 | Did Chevy make a Stainless Grill for the '54 model trucks? I have an original chrome grill and just found a Stainless Steel one -- the first and only one I've ever seen. Anybody know they made stainless ones or are they aftermarket? Thanks for your time & knowledge. Am still working on 2 3100 pickups, one manual, one automatic, and a '54 'Burb. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | GM did not sell a stainless-steel truck grill in 1954/55.
Greg_H has/had what he thought was a stainless steel 54 grill, but I think he now believes it is not stainless - Greg?
How do you know the grill you found is stainless? Try a magnet on it - the magnetism should be none or noticeably weak, if it is stainless steel.
Is any part of the grill painted?
Do you have a photo?
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,300 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,300 | I just got confused. MT convinced me there was no stainless grille. Mine has never rusted but you can see light running rust trails at times that I attributed to using 0000 steel wool to polish it up years and years ago. In my mind, it was the same material as the hood ornament but I don't know how to tell for sure. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | Greg,
Have you tried the magnet test "side-by-side" on the grill and the front grill emblem (or, are you referring to accessory eagle hood ornament)?
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 1,907 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2001 Posts: 1,907 | Just guessing here but....my stainless steel window trim is thinner and could be stamped into shape.
The grill material is much thicker and surely must be chrome plated steel. That would be a waste of SS back in the day to make something so thick out of it just for its shininess.
I think it came down to dollars and cents.
The good news is that it would take grill in darn fine shape to masquerade as SS.
1948 3/4-Ton 5-Window Flatbed Chevrolet 34 Years. Now with a '61 261, 848 head, Rochester Monojet carb, SM420 4-speed, 4.10 rear, dual reservoir MC, Bendix up front, 235/85R16 tires, 12-volt w/alternator, electric wipers and a modern radio in the glove box.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,300 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,300 | I am even more confused now. I stepped out with a refrigerator magnet and it lightly sticks to the grille. It also sticks to the hood ornament as well as the hood itself and the headlight trim rings. The hood might stick a little more but it is really hard to determine a difference. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | some grades of stainless are 'lightly' magnetic, others strongly so - see here - ss can also show rust films .... chrome is also magnetic and most all emblems are plated pot metal, so any emblems will stick a magnet Bill | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,270 | The front hood emblem on a 54/55 Chevrolet truck is stainless steel, with steel ribs on the back.
Some types of stainless steel have slight magnetism. I'll try to remember to check my font emblems.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,300 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,300 | To clarify, I was talking about the emblem on the front of the hood with the bowtie and the stripes. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,300 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,300 | I did a little more reading on determining metal types and it is not real appealing so far. It looks like you can scuff it and drop nitric acid on it and watch the color.
I think at this point, I need to find someone who is more experienced with metal types. I am just not sure how far my curiosity will fuel this project. Any thoughts? | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 1,907 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2001 Posts: 1,907 | When in doubt, take it to a chrome shop. I'll bet original grills were all chrome plated steel.
1948 3/4-Ton 5-Window Flatbed Chevrolet 34 Years. Now with a '61 261, 848 head, Rochester Monojet carb, SM420 4-speed, 4.10 rear, dual reservoir MC, Bendix up front, 235/85R16 tires, 12-volt w/alternator, electric wipers and a modern radio in the glove box.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,300 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,300 | I am told that if you take a factory "chrome" 54 grille and compare in in weight to a factory "painted" grille, the painted grille is actually heavier.
Like I said before, MT has seen far more 54 grilles than I have and he insists there were no stainless grilles. Who am I to call bull on him? | | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 30 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2010 Posts: 30 | I tested three of my 1954 grills (one I think is SS, one that's chrome, and a painted one). All reacted identically to the magnet. And, lifting each one, the weight & thickness appears to be the same. I'll try to post a photo of the 'alleged' stainless steel one next time I'm at my garage. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,847 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,847 | does anyone make a stainless grill for a 53 3100? I was all but convinced there was no such thing, but you have given me renewed hope. | | |
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