1970 Grille question.

[custom10nut]

What is the color/shade of the Silver that’s on the lead edge of the 70 Grille Insert?
Is it Argent Silver?

[Steeveedee]

Is the insert metal or plastic? I believe both types exist. Mine's plastic (repro) and appears to be painted argent.

[custom10nut]

Mine is the factory original, and it’s plastic.
I think you’re right on the color being Argent Silver

[1970cstblazer]

The only "silver" I'm aware of on factory built units are the horizontal raised bars that were "silver" or "argent".





When I get to that point on my 1970 Blazer's grille, I'm going to color the horizontal raised bars with this:

[HalfBrit]

Those 2 pics (of the grill) you posted highlight the only thing that bugs me about replacement outer grills: Original - the horizontal lines continue to the headlight buckets. Replacement - the same lines stop at the parking light.

[LNP]

Was the 69 the same as this with the silver on the insert?

[1970cstblazer]

Originally Posted by HalfBrit

Those 2 pics (of the grill) you posted highlight the only thing that bugs me about replacement outer grills: Original - the horizontal lines continue to the headlight buckets. Replacement - the same lines stop at the parking light.

OEM GM dealer replacement outer grilles 3985054 have been that way since June, 1971.

For some reason not easily explained, GM discontinued outer grille 3980036 in favor of the slightly different 3985054, which is what the reproductions were patterned after. Its super easy to spot an assembly line used grille on these.

The NOS grille going on my 1970 is an old one-box is dated June 1978, and unfortunately it is the second design that does not have the black extending all of the way to the satin black steel headlamp bezels/doors.

Also a note on the satin black steel 1969-70 headlight bezels/doors. GM discontinued them very early on in favor for the bright aluminum bezels that were original equipment on all 1971-72 trucks/Blazers/Suburbans. I think the later aluminum bezels/doors look terrible on the 1969-1970's.

3937473 LH changed to 3990705 in 8/1971

3937474 RH changed to 3990706 in 12/1971

[custom10nut]

So I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that the color is “Argent Silver”.
The next conundrum I was looking at was what KIND of paint to use (I.E. Craft Paint, Model Paint, etc).
and
How to apply it without making a sloppy looking mess.
I was at the Auto Parts store this morning, and got an idea.
I’m going to use a Touchup Pen.
Easy to apply, easy to control, and very durable.
“Modern Problems call for Modern Solutions” (David Chappel)

[jeffahart]

Originally Posted by custom10nut

So I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that the color is “Argent Silver”.
The next conundrum I was looking at was what KIND of paint to use (I.E. Craft Paint, Model Paint, etc).
and
How to apply it without making a sloppy looking mess.
I was at the Auto Parts store this morning, and got an idea.
I’m going to use a Touchup Pen.
Easy to apply, easy to control, and very durable.
“Modern Problems call for Modern Solutions” (David Chappel)

You need to spray it to make it look nice. How to paint it. Rattle can is good.

1 -Spray the whole thing black.
2 -Spray the silver in the front and don't worry about overspray.
3- Mask the silver in the front, and re-spray the black from the rear. and the indented black area from the front.

It will come out nice.

j

[1970cstblazer]

There are a few ways to skin a rodent. I'm going to try the chrome paint pen method and report back in a few months when I'm at that point. I've used them to restore interior trim parts, and build model vehicles with excellent results.

[Nh4clo4]

On my grille, I repaired the black plastic, painted it black base coat, then used silver high performance silver metallic vinyl, cut into 1/8” strips, then shot a satin clear over the vinyl and base coat.

There didn’t seem to be a good way to get the silver consistent in paint.
Ed

[Richard]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Is the insert metal or plastic? I believe both types exist. Mine's plastic (repro) and appears to be painted argent.

The replacement grill insert that I obtained years ago and you got from me is plastic like the original is entirely argent silver. It has the raised sections which I understand newer replacements do not (correct me if wrong). I am not sure which year 69 or 70 the grill was black with the raised sections in silver. With some time and patience you could mask off the raised sections and paint the rest black if you so desire.

[HalfBrit]

Sometime in the late 90's or early 00's, I obtained my 3985054 (thanks 1970cstblazer) outer grill and the replacement inner grill after some front end damage on the highway. Comprehensive coverage is a wonderful thing
The full grid section on that inner grill (3985056?) is also completely argent silver, with the surround being black.

[1970cstblazer]

Most of the replacement 3985056 inner plastic grilles are painted totally wrong from GM. They have to be either stripped, or reshot, then paint the raised bars.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by Richard

The replacement grill insert that I obtained years ago and you got from me is plastic like the original is entirely argent silver. It has the raised sections which I understand newer replacements do not (correct me if wrong). I am not sure which year 69 or 70 the grill was black with the raised sections in silver. With some time and patience you could mask off the raised sections and paint the rest black if you so desire.

Right, I see the raised sections. But taking it off, doing the paint work and putting it back on is not likely to happen in my lifetime.

[custom10nut]

Originally Posted by jeffahart

You need to spray it to make it look nice. How to paint it. Rattle can is good.

1 -Spray the whole thing black.
2 -Spray the silver in the front and don't worry about overspray.
3- Mask the silver in the front, and re-spray the black from the rear. and the indented black area from the front.

It will come out nice.

j

That’s a GREAT idea, and so simple to accomplish

[70c10-08]

I've had this problem for quite a while and was wondering how to do it right. A buddy of mine once suggested that I gently strip the entire grille and mask it. Then using an airbrush to spray the areas that are supposed to be silver to make it close to factory as possible.

[dlyons321]

Im the oddball here. Are there any reproduction options that are just black? Im not a fan of the silver inner of the grille.

[1970cstblazer]

No. All of the GM 3985056 replacements and aftermarket reproductions are painted with that awful silver. You will have to strip or reshoot in black to get the desired finish.

[Palf70Step]

GM never had a 70 replacement inner grill. All replacements are 69 inner grills. Thus they all came in th silverish color.

[70STOVEBOLT]

Originally Posted by 1970cstblazer

There are a few ways to skin a rodent. I'm going to try the chrome paint pen method and report back in a few months when I'm at that point. I've used them to restore interior trim parts, and build model vehicles with excellent results.

Subscribing to see how this turns out. I sprayed mine black but have not painted the silver yet. If this works, I will do the same.

[1970cstblazer]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

GM never had a 70 replacement inner grill. All replacements are 69 inner grills. Thus they all came in the silverish color.

Not exactly totally correct. Your statement is valid from August, 1971 to present per GM parts history books.


GM # 3980037 changed to 3985056 in 8/1971.

Before that GM # 3937301 changed to 3980037 in 7/1970.

[1970cstblazer]

Doing more research on this, it appears that GM 3985056 are actually 1970 grilles painted like the 1969 grilles. Note the raised bars in this photo:



The assembly line 1969 grilles don't have those raised horizontal bars.

[Palf70Step]

Thanks for info. That was stuff I got from a GM parts dept guy who is also into 67-72 trucks.

[cericd]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

GM never had a 70 replacement inner grill. All replacements are 69 inner grills. Thus they all came in th silverish color.

This statement is incorrect. I purchased a NOS 1970 grille off ebay in 2015 and it was indeed made of unpainted black plastic except for the silver (painted) raised lines. Unfortunately it arrived damaged so I didn't keep it. Here is a pic of the damaged area and a pic of the grille with its original GM box which I posted back in 2015.





I'm not sure how long Gm offered these but it must not have been long since they are so hard to find now. As far as aftermarket, I have only seen them offered with the whole center area silver. However, they have the raised areas like the 1970 oem inner grilles (but the raised areas are not 100 percent identical to the oem 1970 grilles). I don't think that the oem 1969 grilles had the raised areas (see this post by member FirstOwner69 regarding the oem 69 inner grille.) This has all been covered in various threads on the forum over the years. Here are some more examples of other NOS 1970 grilles.