What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

I'm trying to keep my '73 as original as possible. As you can see in the pic, my grille is a bit weathered looking. I'd like to try painting it before I spend a bunch of cash on a chrome one...but what color? It looks like it was originally painted silver, I think the entire truck was originally painted silver. Would the grille have been painted to match the color of the truck or were all the painted ones silver?

Do you think chrome spray paint would look like crap?

Also, what color was the bow tie...gold?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ger/grille.jpg

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

Like this NOS;

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...e/100_6485.jpg


http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m...e/100_6490.jpg


And no one has found a aftermarket vendor for that bowtie emblem as of yet......

A light gray paint would look better/closer to stock than chrome/silver IMO.

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

Wow, that's nice. I'm going to see if maybe I can hand paint the bow tie or have a custom decal made.

Anybody have any thoughts on the best rattle can paint/primer for the plastic grille?

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

There are 2 different grills, a painted one and a chrome one...restorobs is painted fwiw, your should be chrome.

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

Dark Argent Silver is a close match, is what I was told when I posed the same question a few years ago. I ended up using a dark charcoal metallic from Rustoleum on mine, and I was surprised to see the color matched perfectly the new headlight bezels I put on from LMC. Here's a few pics, although mine's a 79 model.
These pics are of what it looked like right after I sprayed it.
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...b3957c022c.jpg
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...f6de9b300d.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...dbfdfef30e.jpg

And this is 3 years later...still stickin good. :metal: Only problem is the cheap headlight retainers I bought from Advance Auto are rusting. :lol:

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

You know I just hate you and Jeff with those NOS grill pics....:mm:

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

I restored my 73 grill with a color called Argent. I painted it with a single stage paint, its held up well for the last 3 years. As far as the emblem. I had to cut it out of a piece of 1/4 Aluminum and painted it Chevy orange.

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

Why do you say that? My grille looks a lot like Restrorob's, except about 40 years older. :lol:

Does anybody have a pic of the factory chrome 73-74 grille?

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

Most two two tone trucks with the divinding trim had chrome grills, the painted ones were primarily for the base models. Here is a pic of my NOS grill on my 73. All the leading edges are chrome. In fact, the entire gril is chrome, with the argent painted over it.

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

I thought there was a thread one time that showed the 73/74 grill in all chrome. As Bigblock73 said, all of them were chrome then painted. The thread talked about using aircraft stripper to do the job. I found this thread:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...craft+stripper

but it didnt show the 73/74 grill. Anyone have a link to the thread Im thinking of?

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

I don't think ALL grills were chromed, I think the chromed grills were painted after...and the painted grills are just painted, no chrome application at all.

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

I have two plain and one chrome and its peeling/bubbleing up

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

Interesting...I'm not sure if my truck was 2 tone from the factory or not. It did come with all the other chrome trim on everything else though, it does seem like a "Cheyenne Super" should have been chrome...

Is the factory chome grille plastic? Or dare I even ask...can a painted/plastic grille be chromed?

Also, does anybody know if the bowtie emblem stayed the same until at least 1979 or later? I think I'm going to try and have some decals made for both the '73 and '79.

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

The factory chrome grilles are plastic, If you could find someone to chrome one it would likely not be cost effective.....

To my knowledge in looking for the bowtie for my other two chrome grilles, The size of the bowtie changed after 74. Not saying the later couldn't be made to work but just not correct.

I bought the painted NOS because it was there and I'm de-chroming my truck anyway.....

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

After checking again the 1973 and 1974 Chevrolet truck data ordering books, this is what I found. The chrome grille was an option for all models and not included in any of the packages and was not even included on the Cheyenne Super model. It was option code V22 for $20.The grille is exactly as Jeff described and has pictured NOS!(which I verified as I also have one in the box dated from about 1974) Another interesting note is even the chrome drip rails above the doors were an option on all models in 73-74. Mark

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

Ah ha! I knew something was funny with my drip rails...they have to be aftermarket. And I need new ones...:lol:

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

Old thread. Any way I could get these pics re-posted thanks to Photobucket? Thanks.

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

AMD sent me a update on products and they have the grill and all the emblems now http://www.autometaldirect.com/amd-g...r-p-19057.html

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

That's a 75-76 grille.

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

Classic Parts of America has the correct bowtie emblem for '73-74 grilles available. I got mine from Squarebody Syndicate last year when Classic Parts was out of stock. Just use contact cement to glue it in place.
https://www.classicparts.com/1973-74...ctinfo/59-337/

AMD also has the grilles and emblems available for '73/74 trucks
http://www.autometaldirect.com/grille-c-28.html

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

Well I'll be damned. Had no idea. Was still under the impression they weren't reproduced. Anyone get one? They're not horrible in price.

http://www.autometaldirect.com/amd-g...y-p-19054.html

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

Looks like the chrome version is being reproduced as well- Classic Parts has them on the website but no photo for $189.95
https://www.classicparts.com/1973-74...ctinfo/61-224/

Re: What did my '73 grille originally look like?
 

sorry ,wrong e-mail they sent me. I save most of the stuff they send me, too early in the morning at that time