Grill Paint

[54Caddy]

Getting ready to paint the 73 gmc grill im about to swap. Was wondering if the factory grill had semi-gloss black or flat black on the three center pieces. Also if i should use agent silver wheel paint for the silver parts. Thanks for any help

[MilkyJoe]

don't use the wheel paint, it's too thin. It will run. use regular Krylon silver or similar. Fusion is really good, I have had that on my monte and s10 for 7 years, and it hasn't faded or chipped off, also went on smooth

I have used the silver wheel paint, by duplicolor and it just dosn't coat as smooth and runs too easily...also it's like $8 a can

good luck

MJ

[88Jimmy4x4]

Heres my 73 grille for reference

[Corts60]

You may not want to use wheel paint but you definitely should use argent silver. Other silvers are usually too bright and look cheezy in my opinion.

[54Caddy]

Originally Posted by 88Jimmy4x4

Heres my 73 grille for reference

So what color is it flat or semi-gloss did you land up finding a color for the emblems also?? what colors did you use on the grill??

[weider1717]

The correct color is called "Argent Silver" eastwood sells a nice line of paint and also sells the argent silver.

[54Caddy]

Looking for something that i could find locally. This is kind of hard to find.

[1BadAction]

For the black, look at the VHT semigloss epoxy based paint. I did wheels over a year ago, not a ding on them after 2 sets of tires removed and installed. Also, in spite of being epoxy, the UV rays haven't touched them as I had expected.

Make sure to let it cure for a few days before driving the truck, it takes about 2 weeks to cure to its full durability.

[54Caddy]

so i painted it and it came out like poop. for some strange reason you can see flaws in the plactic. Im thinking of using a high build primer surfacer first then paint over that

[cory d]

Originally Posted by 88Jimmy4x4

Heres my 73 grille for reference

I WANT ONE OF THOSE GRILLES! I have seen a few on trucks on craigslist and i have been temped to cal and offer a trade for my billet grill

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by 54Caddy

so i painted it and it came out like poop. for some strange reason you can see flaws in the plactic. Im thinking of using a high build primer surfacer first then paint over that

Sorry for late reply....try an argent silver and trim black which is more of a semi gloss.

Could you please take me a pic of your grille brackets and how they are fastened to core/radiator support?

Originally Posted by cory d

I WANT ONE OF THOSE GRILLES! I have seen a few on trucks on craigslist and i have been temped to cal and offer a trade for my billet grill

these are rare in good condition, if you find one you might wanna pick it up

[54Caddy]

will get you pictures later this week still painting grill. I can not find any agent silver here locally. Since i picked up a few of these grill i will paint one with what i can find in town if that doesnt look good enought i will order agent silver and repaint another grill then.

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by 54Caddy

will get you pictures later this week still painting grill. I can not find any agent silver here locally. Since i picked up a few of these grill i will paint one with what i can find in town if that doesnt look good enought i will order agent silver and repaint another grill then.

Thanks

[bmchevy1979]

Originally Posted by 54Caddy

will get you pictures later this week still painting grill. I can not find any agent silver here locally. Since i picked up a few of these grill i will paint one with what i can find in town if that doesnt look good enought i will order agent silver and repaint another grill then.

Have you looked at the O'reilly's on Mooney by Harbor Freight they usually have all of those specialty paint in stock

[54Caddy]

yeah they have many silvers but none where argent silver.

[bluex]

Originally Posted by 88Jimmy4x4

Heres my 73 grille for reference

Beautiful job on the grill. I need to do mine as well.

They are pretty hard to find in good shape. I was getting ready to grab one off here and walked into the pick and pull and got a really nice one for $25. It just needs paint and a 350 emblem. I couldnt believe my luck, the rest of the truck was stripped but the grill and its nice and straight with no cracks or missing places!

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by bluex

Beautiful job on the grill. I need to do mine as well.

They are pretty hard to find in good shape. I was getting ready to grab one off here and walked into the pick and pull and got a really nice one for $25. It just needs paint and a 350 emblem. I couldnt believe my luck, the rest of the truck was stripped but the grill and its nice and straight with no cracks or missing places!

did you grab the mounting brackets too?...if not you should go back and get them

[bluex]

Originally Posted by 88Jimmy4x4

did you grab the mounting brackets too?...if not you should go back and get them

I started to, but was short on time. I already have a set from a different truck and figured it wasnt critical to get them. Im sure the thing is flat by now.
Posted via Mobile Device

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by bluex

I started to, but was short on time. I already have a set from a different truck and figured it wasnt critical to get them. Im sure the thing is flat by now.
Posted via Mobile Device

The ones Ray sold me wont work at all so I need a set of the long vertical ones.

[54Caddy]

will get you those pictures today should be mocking up the grill just have to go buy the top panel for the hood latch part and ill be good to go. Theres a guy about 20 minutes away from me that has many early model grill square bodies he is parting out. Ive bought most of the stuff to bad he damaged the perfectly straight full trim 73 gmc tailgate

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by 54Caddy

will get you those pictures today should be mocking up the grill just have to go buy the top panel for the hood latch part and ill be good to go. Theres a guy about 20 minutes away from me that has many early model grill square bodies he is parting out. Ive bought most of the stuff to bad he damaged the perfectly straight full trim 73 gmc tailgate

I really would appreciate the pics. Mine is a 76 but I like the 73 grille much better. I bought some brackets from a guy said it was for that grille but I saw no where to mount them that would work so Im kinda stumped. I used the small brackets near headlights but right now I have no support bars for the 2 holes to left/right of center.

You think that guy has the long vertical brackets I need?

Thats a shame on the tailgate, I have been looking for one of those for months

[INSIDIOUS '86]

I used duplicolor aluminum and sanded my grill Down to get rid of the oxidized plastic. I then used red oxide spot putty on any rock chips or low spots and a red oxide primer. And sanded it down finer. The back of mine is reinforced with epoxy as well. Mine came out looking better than factory. But mines an 86 witch is a different grill. I also used a clear coat.
Posted via Mobile Device

[54Caddy]

88Jimmy i will send you a picture of a brackets i have and compare yours.

[trout]

Originally Posted by 88Jimmy4x4

The ones Ray sold me wont work at all so I need a set of the long vertical ones.

sorry to here that i will make it up on the next transacttion man im shour they are the ones next time i see a 73-74 gmc i will take pics

[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by trout

sorry to here that i will make it up on the next transacttion man im shour they are the ones next time i see a 73-74 gmc i will take pics

I tried them upside down and backwards to no avail. Theres nothing to mount them too that would allow the grille to fasten to them. Unless the core supports are different from 73 to my 76 but I dont think they are. If I could just get a pic I might be able to see if Im doing something wrong or the brackets are wrong etc.