VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 '37 Grille question

This is the grille from my '37 Chevrolet. I want to keep the car looking original so I'm not sure how it's supposed to look. Did all the '37 grilles have the bar missing at the bottom? Were some of them just covered up with a trim piece? What texture or color was the grille originally? Was it chrome or polished? I have the outer surrounding pieces.



Thanks,
Brandon

http://www.my-classic-car-trader.com/car_ads/uploadedimages/975825237_022.jpg

This is a photo of an award winning orginal stock 37 Chevy. Check out the grill. I see a seperate piece of trim at the bottom of the center of the grill. Maybe a handcrank cover. Somebody that owns a 37 will soon chime in..

You need a crank hole cover. Try the Filling Station
The grille was chrome plated but of poor quality chrome.

Ok, thanks. My friend had shown me a picture of a cover but I wasn't sure how it fitted or if all grilles had the missing slat or not. If there were two I would rather get one that had the slat already there.

Is it customary to have a grille rechromed or do people paint them gray? I have seen some aftermarket grilles that appear to be billet and, in my opinion, I don't care for them at all. If I have to buy a reproduction I want it to have the same shape and style as the original, but from what I've noticed, reproductions are very expensive.

brandon

Brandon
I could be wrong but I think the crank cover wont cover all of the centre bar that is missing. I feel there is a short piece missing below the crank opening.
Tony

Brandon,
check "The Filling Station" part # GR-4. This looks like the piece that is missing.

I had my grill re-chromed. A painted grill won't look stock. Hold on to your wallet, it won't be cheap. Before and after pics below.

Yes the missing piece is to cover the hole for when you insert the hand crank for starting when your battery is dead...or you need exercise.

I am of the opinion your grill is an aftermarket. To my knowledge, and that of my mentor, you should have 3 cross supports on the back side of your grille bars. My "original" 37 grille has them. Also, some aftermarket grilles have one less verticle bar than the originals.

There should also be a short stub of a grille bar at the very bottom for the crank cover to attach to, about 1/2 inch tall.

I agree that it looks like an aftermarket grille....especially the way the verticle bars are attached on the bottom

That's interesting, thanks for the tip. I looked at the filling station. Do they offer one that looks like the original one would? (except for the crank hole. It seems reproductions have the hole covered now) The ones I saw appeared to be different. If no reproduction is available, what should I expect to pay for a used one?

Thanks,
Brandon

I found some photos of the grill I repaired for my '37 Half Ton. The 1937 car and truck grills are similar except in dimensions, as I understand it. It took me about 20 hours, with slow, patient work and maybe an occasional "blue word" or two. I used, padded pliers, sheet metal pliers, wood dollies and a small hammer to do the straightening. The chrome, as Chevgene indicated, was thin. I used several different shaped dremel tool polishing wheels with rouge and finished with a microfiber towel and car wax. The job is not 100 points, but more than acceptable for a driver.

Lookng at your photo it seems your grill could be repaired. Ebay sometimes has these listed, so it may worth the effort to check there too.

Before and after repair for both front and back of the grill are shown

No photos there. You have to be a member.

I noticed that too right after I posted the original link. I went back and edited the post as is shown now.
Thanks for the catch!

37Blue -
Your grille is almost exactly like the grille I have in my 37 Chev pickup. The grille was in the truck when I bought it in 1977. The fellow I bought the truck from gave me a file of receipts for parts and work on the truck. The receipt on the grille is in the file. I still have it. He bought the grille from J. C. Whitney & Co. It looks almost exactly like yours - front and back, even the crank hole cover. The receipt is dated May 20, 1975 and the grille cost $59.60 including shipping.

I have a very old aftermarket grille in my 37 p/u and ordered a reproduction crank hole cover which did not fit,it was a little thinner then then the center bar in my grille and wondering if I was given a car crank hole cover.Does anyone know if the center bar is supposed to be the same width in the car and truck or are they different.