VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 stone guard for 31

Hi Everyone
I need to know if it is acceceptable to powder coat my old stone guard black.
Its not on the car right now .I dont have any hardware to attach either.
I think it will look alright, but is chrome the only way to go?
Im not that particular at this point.
Thanks
Stan 31 chevy

There are silver colors available that in my opinion would look more........
Roger

You need to look at the whole front view you are attempting to achieve. If your rad shell is chrome, a black stoneguard will likely look out of place even on a rod. If you plan to paint rad shell as well, then the color choice is yours to fit with rest of car. Decisions like these should not be made in isolation of rest of car. Regarding powder-coating, the wire mesh on these old parts is usually pitted, and near impossible to smooth out, so powder-coating may not be the best approach.

Thanks for the great info .I need all I can get.
I think you are absolutly right. I'm doing a long term garage restoration on my
1931 dlx coupe,and I'm trying to get it right .To be honest ,It looks great
without any guard at all ! The stoneguard in question is in poor shape,and I don't really want a repro on the car, I guess a re-chrome is what I need to do.
Is it a bad idea to go any short distances without a guard?
I also dont have any of attachment hardware.
Thanks again
Stan

The standard cars did not even have a stone guard so driving it without won't make a differance.

If the stone guard is in poor shape, don't even consider using it. I personally like the look of stone guards, but it is all up to you.

Chroming pitted metal has about the same results as powder coating pitted metal.

Roger

Only if copper is not used as part of a "triple plating" process.

Copper covers the mountains and the valleys. A lot of work is involved in preparing a stone guard for the chrome.

Roger

Chromed stone guard on a 1930.
[img:left][/img]

As you already know, the stone guard featured on the 1930 is a newer aftermarket item. Stone guards were not available as a genuine Chevrolet accessory in 1930. However, it does look great on your 1930 though!

Also, copper fills pits as well. A lot of work is required to prepare anything for chrome, however, you are absolutely right, because it is so complex, a stone guard is one of the hardest items to properly prepare prior to chrome plating.

now that we're talking about plating...
the trim that goes up and over the cowel.
I think it is nickel . correct?
Stan

No. If you are talking about the cowl band in general, it was either stainless steel or chrome. Both types were used.

I pretty sure mine is stainless.
Anything I can do to make it look good
Stan

Stainless can be polished to a chromelike finish. Most chrome platers can do the polishing. I had the stainless engine trim on my 64 Vette (sold, but wish I still had it) polished to a mirror finish.

There is a 1930 newly plated stone guard on ebay. It's item number 260757439226

Hi Karl
I went on ebay and saw the 30 stoneguard.
It's a nice one. Are you sure a 30' is the same as a 31'?
The one I have has a hole for a crank which means it would have been used on an earlier model.
The bottom edge is curved , not flat.
I'm not sure what I have but it does seem to look correct.
I think I'll go the re-chrome route .
Thanks
Stan

The 1931 stone screen is the same outline as the 1931 radiator shell, and has the circular bottom and the chrome bezel and hole at the bottom for the hand starting crank.

Stanman: The stone guard featured on eBay is not real. It was an aftermarket item manufactured about 20 to 25 years ago. The fellow that made this stone guard made a bunch of them to fit on various types of automobiles, including 1929 and 1930 Chevrolets. He had them advertised in Hemmings Motor News and other automotive publications as well. This is the same stone guard that Karl31 has on his 1930. It looks great on the car but it never was manufactured by Chevrolet. The only genuine Chevrolet accessory stone guard was made in 1931.

Unfortunately, since the seller on eBay thought that his stone guard was the real deal his reserve price is probably in the stratosphere, especially for an item that was never made by Chevrolet.

By the way, the stone guard that you described in your posting is correct for 1931.

The screen for sale on ebay looks to be a cut down original 1931 stone screen, as the mesh is horizontal and vertical. Karl31's screen fitted to his 1930 has the mesh at 45 degrees ( ie diagonal).

It very well could be a 1931 stone guard cut down to fit a 1930. If it is what a total waste of a 1931 stone guard. At any rate, aftermarket or a butchered '31, the stone guard is still a fake since Chevrolet didn't have a stone guard in 1930. The other problem with these aftermarket stone guards is that over the years the new timers to the scene are beginning to believe that a 1930 Chevrolet stone guard is an actual Chevrolet accessory.

I do like the one on Karl's car however and it is cool looking. It does give that finished look to the front of the vehicle, and for a driver it definitely improves the looks of the car.

Hi Guys
It sounds like I have genuine 31 stoneguard..

I'm going to set it in the "soon to be chromed pile "
All I have left to plate are two chev hubcaps ,a trunk handle ,almond bolts and the cowel trim which is stainless so I'll polish it out the best I can
Thanks
Stan

Before getting your hub caps chrome plated, get an estimate on price because you may be able to purchase brand new hubcaps cheaper.

You mean nos or reproduction caps?
Stan

The fillingstation sells new reproduction hubcaps for 1930-1932 models. Part number GR-62
http://www.fillingstation.com/