Need ideas for egg-crate grille upgrade. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

barn9 · 04-06-2003, 12:30 PM

The grille on my '71 needs help, age is showing. It's in good shape, just dull. Just curious as to what some of you might have done to sharpen them up a little. Any particular paint that works best or looks good? I want to stay with silver or chrome look if possible, don't like the grilles painted to match the truck. I realize I just need to spray the thing, but wonder if anyone has added anything extra to improve the looks of the egg-crate. Appreciate any info, thanks, LB.

nu2-72 · 04-06-2003, 02:58 PM

This is not a visible improvement but one I am planning to do to mine. The area where the hood release is located seems to be broken on most trucks I see. I plan to insert some wire mesh and fill with epoxy resin the area behind this point. It is hollow originally and I feel it will help it last to beef it up a bit. Then I will paint mine black.

Blue_71 · 04-06-2003, 03:02 PM

heres mine, i just bought a can of rustoleum gloss black and some chrome paint, and painted it solid black first, taped off the vertical bars, and painted the horizontal bars chrome

MR. GOODWRENCH · 04-06-2003, 03:06 PM

I painted my grille with GM ralley wheel paint,it is the best match for the orginal color I have seen.

sam's 72 · 04-06-2003, 10:25 PM

Larry,
I painted mine semi gloss black, I used lacquar paint. I bought this stuff called no sand, it liquid. ( get it at home depo or Lowes ) I washed it, wiped it down with no sand, then primed it with a clear primer for plactis, then sprayed it with the paint. It cam out looking really good!
Sam

barn9 · 04-06-2003, 11:18 PM

Thanks guys! Blue_71, that looks good, I kinda like that idea. I'm wanting to get a Trenz grille one of these days, but gotta get by for the time being. Mine is not broken, just dull looking. Hey Sam, you're gonna have to post some pics of that truck since you've been doing all this work on it here lately.

Blue_71 · 04-06-2003, 11:24 PM

just another lil tip: i havent done it yet, but if you want "real" chrome, c10racer told me you could get chrome "tape" and autozone that might be the right width to stick on there... less taping off, its not as easy as you would think once you start taping the vertical bars!

barn9 · 04-06-2003, 11:41 PM

LOL! I was thinking about that as I typed that reply.

**oldiron** · 04-06-2003, 11:50 PM

Painted mine semi gloss black and it seem to wake up the front end.

ftw80 · 04-06-2003, 11:54 PM

use 1/4" masking tape on the horizontals before you paint. then add the chrome tape. This way if the chrome tape peels, at least you will have silver and not black underneath.

04-06-2003, 12:30 PM	#1
barn9 Half a bubble off! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Winfield, Ks, USA Posts: 5,588	Need ideas for egg-crate grille upgrade. The grille on my '71 needs help, age is showing. It's in good shape, just dull. Just curious as to what some of you might have done to sharpen them up a little. Any particular paint that works best or looks good? I want to stay with silver or chrome look if possible, don't like the grilles painted to match the truck. I realize I just need to spray the thing, but wonder if anyone has added anything extra to improve the looks of the egg-crate. Appreciate any info, thanks, LB. __________________ Just call me LB. '71 Cheyenne, 402BB, hauls blondes, brunettes, or redheads.

04-06-2003, 02:58 PM	#2
nu2-72 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Amazonia, Mo. USA Posts: 2,821	This is not a visible improvement but one I am planning to do to mine. The area where the hood release is located seems to be broken on most trucks I see. I plan to insert some wire mesh and fill with epoxy resin the area behind this point. It is hollow originally and I feel it will help it last to beef it up a bit. Then I will paint mine black. __________________ 72 3/4 4x4 350 4spd 72 3/4 4x4 350 auto 2004 Duramax Silverado 4x4 2006 Duramax Crew cab 4x4 2010 Harley Ultra Limited 2011 Harley Street Glide

04-06-2003, 03:06 PM	#4
MR. GOODWRENCH Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Maryville,TN Posts: 402	I painted my grille with GM ralley wheel paint,it is the best match for the orginal color I have seen. __________________ 68 CST SWB,full off frame restoration,72 GMC Sierra Grande SWB,72 Cheyenne 30 long wheelbase flatbed,2000 4door Chevy Dually bought new,2002 SS Camaro with 600 miles,bought it to put up,72 Monte Carlo,it was my first car,69 Impala with 50,000 miles,it was my dads,89 Dodge diseal 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive,my dad bought it new,68 Camaro RS dragcar,97 United Transporters 25 foot enclosed trailer,58 Oliver Super 77 Diseal,my grandfather bought new fully restored,55 Oliver Super 66 Diseal my uncle bought new,49 Oliver Rowcrop 88,51 Farmall H,51 Farmall Super C,81 Ford 3600,89 Ford 6610,49 Allis Chalmers WD45,81 Allis Chalmers 7060 my dad bought new,Allis Chalmers 175.

04-06-2003, 10:25 PM	#5
sam's 72 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pasadena, Texas, USA Posts: 1,005	Larry, I painted mine semi gloss black, I used lacquar paint. I bought this stuff called no sand, it liquid. ( get it at home depo or Lowes ) I washed it, wiped it down with no sand, then primed it with a clear primer for plactis, then sprayed it with the paint. It cam out looking really good! Sam __________________ 72 LWB chevy truck. Pasadena, Texas

04-06-2003, 11:18 PM	#6
barn9 Half a bubble off! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Winfield, Ks, USA Posts: 5,588	Thanks guys! Blue_71, that looks good, I kinda like that idea. I'm wanting to get a Trenz grille one of these days, but gotta get by for the time being. Mine is not broken, just dull looking. Hey Sam, you're gonna have to post some pics of that truck since you've been doing all this work on it here lately. __________________ Just call me LB. '71 Cheyenne, 402BB, hauls blondes, brunettes, or redheads.

04-06-2003, 11:24 PM	#7
Blue_71 Bloo Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Barren County Kentucky Posts: 6,283	just another lil tip: i havent done it yet, but if you want "real" chrome, c10racer told me you could get chrome "tape" and autozone that might be the right width to stick on there... less taping off, its not as easy as you would think once you start taping the vertical bars!

04-06-2003, 11:41 PM	#8
barn9 Half a bubble off! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Winfield, Ks, USA Posts: 5,588	LOL! I was thinking about that as I typed that reply. __________________ Just call me LB. '71 Cheyenne, 402BB, hauls blondes, brunettes, or redheads.

04-06-2003, 11:50 PM	#9
oldiron Designated Grumpy Old Man Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: arlington, washington usa Posts: 3,094	Painted mine semi gloss black and it seem to wake up the front end. Attached Images __________________ Never let the truth get in the way of a good story 71 Chev 1/2 ton 4X4 LWB Fleetside SOLD http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=361222 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LgREwtDfaA 68 Chev 1 ton flat bed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bO8szzlD4A 56 Chev Handyman Wagon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y-6ddpBTkM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbLzZ7zY8wA 56 Chev Belair http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=410667 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoW0Ei7ZNIg

04-06-2003, 11:54 PM	#10
ftw80 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: hawaii Posts: 268	use 1/4" masking tape on the horizontals before you paint. then add the chrome tape. This way if the chrome tape peels, at least you will have silver and not black underneath. Attached Images __________________ Haleiwa, Hi. 1972 Custom Camper Cheyenne Super c/20 Longhorn 402bb 78k a/c, tach, tilt, tool stowage 48panhead 74 bronco 71 bronco http://noscade.com No Scade is pidgin English for "not scared" similar to "no fear".

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