69 Grill Restoration

[The Camaro Guy]

My vision is a Chrome looking original 69 grill with a billet insert. After removing the anodization, I would wet sand the scratches with 2000 and then hours of buffing to a high, chrome like shine and clear coat. Has anyone done this using this technique? Any suggestions? I would prefer to buy a chrome grill but I cannot find any and a local shop wants $800! Another question, can anyone suggest quick ratio steering sector that is not $$$ out of sight? I can get a 3.5 Cardon for $81 with a core at Advance Auto. It looks like my 69 Camaros' that has an IROC box. . . .fit or no fit?

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by The Camaro Guy

My vision is a Chrome looking original 69 grill with a billet insert. After removing the anodization, I would wet sand the scratches with 2000 and then hours of buffing to a high, chrome like shine and clear coat. Has anyone done this using this technique? Any suggestions? I would prefer to buy a chrome grill but I cannot find any and a local shop wants $800! Another question, can anyone suggest quick ratio steering sector that is not $$$ out of sight? I can get a 3.5 Cardon for $81 with a core at Advance Auto. It looks like my 69 Camaros' that has an IROC box. . . .fit or no fit?

I did mine. Instead of spending $$$ on an NOS GM grille I found one with minor damage on Craigslist (mine had significant damage). I had the messed up (crinkled spots) fixed by a fantastic metalwork guy (detmer_metalshaping on Instagram), then polished it. I had to start with very rough paper to remove the metalworking marks but took it up to around 2000 grit IIRC. Then machine polished with two compounds and then mothers polish. It looks like chrome but it was a ton of work....

I'll put some pics up tomorrow if I get a chance.

[NC_John]

Haven't heard back from the OP but if anyone else is interested....

Before and after I took it to my metal guy (amazing skills).



Then I spent hours and hours polishing.... Seriously, it was a crazy amount of time over two days.



Then had another friend do the black paint (did it by hand using striping paint).



Its not perfect- still has some rock knicks here and there- but if it was, I'd be scared to take it out of the garage.

[engineer_gregh]

Thats a really good looking grill. The metal work and paint work looks great. Crazy how much time we will spend on these trucks!

[4oldcars]

Did you clear coat?

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by 4oldcars

Did you clear coat?

I did not. I was scared it would not adhere properly or yellow as it aged. I figured I'll just touch it up with Mothers polish as needed. The truck is garaged so it should hold up well.

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by engineer_gregh

Thats a really good looking grill. The metal work and paint work looks great. Crazy how much time we will spend on these trucks!

Yeah, but I'd rather spend time than money!

[Kennuck]

Awesome job on the grill, looks real good.
I kinda like the look of it in the 2000 grit stage without the full polish.
Got any pics of it installed.

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by Kennuck

Awesome job on the grill, looks real good.
I kinda like the look of it in the 2000 grit stage without the full polish.
Got any pics of it installed.

Thanks. Here's a pic of it on the truck.

[4oldcars]

Now you've made the truck look bad. No. Wait. That's patina.

[mandojunior]

you did an awesome job. i use a polishing compound on wheels at work. i think ill do this to my grille now.

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by 4oldcars

Now you've made the truck look bad. No. Wait. That's patina.

LOL.... Went to a cruise-in/car-show today where the patina was definitely under-appreciated. The rowdy small block I tucked under the hood sure got attention coming and going through. It idles like a stock car and it confused all the old guys when they saw what the racket was coming from.

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by mandojunior

you did an awesome job. i use a polishing compound on wheels at work. i think ill do this to my grille now.

Take of the anodizing first. Then take your time and don't skip any grades of sandpaper. I did 400, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 by hand, and then two polishing rouges (polishing bonnet on a drill). Final polish and seal was with mothers aluminum polish by hand.

Wetsand with the paper and put a few drops of dishsoap in there for a lubricant. If you skip steps you will have to go back and do it twice so don't rush. Sand until you think it's good enough, then do it two more time before you move to the next grade paper.

It's miserable work but it has a great payoff....

[haysonj]

Here is my 69 with the billit inserts

[88fordf150]

Here's some work I did to mine (stripped, polished, add new letters & powder coated brackets).

[Boog]

Super outcome. I have a dented grille in about the same area as yours was but haven't been brave enough to try my hand at hammering it out. Afraid I might make it worse. And the prices of new ones are way outta my comfort range. A local man I buy some new and used parts from told me he recently paid $800 for a new 69 grille. I didn't tell him what I really thought about that.

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by haysonj

Here is my 69 with the billit inserts

Nice inserts. Its a good look that's not too far from stock.

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by 88fordf150

Here's some work I did to mine (stripped, polished, add new letters & powder coated brackets).

Looks great. I gave up trying to remove my old brackets (was getting frustrated trying to drill out the factory rivets) and just bought repops when I saw how inexpensive they were.

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by Boog

Super outcome. I have a dented grille in about the same area as yours was but haven't been brave enough to try my hand at hammering it out. Afraid I might make it worse. And the prices of new ones are way outta my comfort range. A local man I buy some new and used parts from told me he recently paid $800 for a new 69 grille. I didn't tell him what I really thought about that.

I think my guy (another shoutout for him- detmer_metalshaping on instagram) charged $260 to clean up mine. Check out his instagram feed. The stuff he can fabricate/build out of raw steel is nothing short of amazing. He is a true artist.

I don't want to factor in what my time would be worth, the paint work was under $100. Still pricey but better than an ill-fitting repop.

[BIG ORANGE]

NC John, your grille looks great, glad you didn't clearcoat it, that wouldn't stay after time, polished correctly you have a chrome finish......
jmo

[The Camaro Guy]

NC John, Sorry I didn't respond, life got me sidetracked. The grille looks great and will be starting my disassembly soon. Hopefully using a 8" buffing wheel will reduce the time. I bought my GM grill new in 88 for less than $150 from Chevy, if my memory serves me right. No dent and a few scratches on the top. I did my tail light chrome last summer and it still looks great. I have a spare that I am going to clear coat with Eastwood clear to see how it holds up. Have a great day.

[88Stanger]

Damn, my grill has some dents and scratches. I want to just paint it color to match the Rat Rod Semi-Gloss black so I want to try my hand at fixing the dents. I have a spare dented one to practice on.
But if that fails, I may just try the gentleman that did the work shown
detmer_metalshaping on Instagram