VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 Restoring a 34 grille - need suggestions

I will try my question again here since I did not get any response in the body and paint forum.

I am having the grille surround and center bar trim chromed on my 34 standard but am not sure what to do with the grille itself. It is in excellent condition but needs something to freshen it up. I am thinking of having it powder coated a semi gloss nickel silver color. I know some of you who are conscious about correctness will not like the idea so I am open to other ideas.

Your prompt suggestions will be very much appreciated as I need to get this done so I can install it before the radiator goes in.

By the way, I am not considering a new reproduction grille due to cost.

Why don't you consider plating the grill?

My 34' grill (mesh) appeared to have been originally painted silver with black alternating stripes. The entire surface was lightly pitted. The plater did not offer much hope. As we speak, it is being sand blasted (fine) and powder coated chrome silver with a second coat of gloss clear.
My main consideration was a complete sealing of the surfaces to eliminate future rusting. Good luck on your project!
Jerry

Jerry,
Perhaps you would consider posting a picture of the insert when you get it back. We'd like to see if this is a reasonable substitute for chrome plating of parts that may be too far gone or too difficult to plate.

Thanks for the replies. I don't want the grille to be too shiny so I am not considering plating. I think I will go ahead with the powder coating. I will post a picture when finished.

Back from the powder coater, Media blasted, two coats of silver and a final coat of clear. Is it perfect? no. Is it absolutely beautiful from 12" YES! I think that with 10-15 hours of polishing each strip it may have been perfect but the verticals may have not been uniform as they are now. My '34 will be a driver and never for show. There was not much option from the chrome plating people and with the uniform pitting all over this was a very nice result.
Jerry
see it: http://snailmotorsports.com/gallery-automotive/

Thanks much for posting the link...it looks very nice. Mind if I ask a ballpark cost for this service?

My requirement was absolutely CLEAN. Media blasted inside and out with particular emphasis on the inside slots (rusty). Cost was $150 for my unit. Snail Motorsports is a very courteous young man and his gal just getting their business up and running.
I feel confident that this portion of my project was done correctly and will not come back and bite me later. I removed several dents and one large wave in the unit prior to giving it to them.
Jerry

Jerry, I have a '36 truck grille in the same shape as your
'34 Master.Your story really has me seriously considering the
same process. You said that the media blasting was $150. How
much, if you don't mind telling, was the total job?
Thank you for sharing this with us. I looked at a '35 Ford
grill today that was replated - $1500!

The entire job (powder coat and media blasting) was $150. Remember that all imperfections were removed prior to giving him the grill. In my case, the dents and depression were simple to repair. You will not be able to work on it after powdercoating.
I am more than pleased with the result, but if I did it again, I would probably spend a couple hours with a block and 220 grit on the edges and face before I took it to be done.
Caution... The grill material is hot rolled steel and is very soft. Work on the unit only with full backing behind it (table).
Good luck, Jerry

A couple things..... The edges of stamped mesh are the rusting points and close inspection of the result appear to have solved this problem as he said it would.
My chrome grill surround was in bad shape, no hope of chrome (within my budget or local talent). Powdwercoat is not an option since it is fairly large and the pits were deep. The powdercoat does not look correct for this and does not resemble chrome. I had him media blast it to remove as much old lifted plating as possible and then spent many hours sanding the bare unit prior to painting to match the body (building primer and spot putty and more sanding). I am new at this, and I find building primer absolutely amazing!
Jerry

K&D Reproductions, Kenneth Norris, Mapelton Depot, PA at one time made a nifty Stainless steel Grille for 34-35 Standards.
I bought one in 1981 for my 35 STD Roadster project. There is no record of this comany or this person in any of my G&D Rosters. Maybe someone can give you more current info.
MBancroft711@att.net Vcca 4849