47-55.1 Original chrome grills stainless or plated?

[weim55]

Going to look at what should be a chrome grill off an original truck. Want to ID it has factory GM and not repop. Any of you have some information on that would be helpful??

Steve weim55 Colorado

[mongocanfly]

Fairly certain they wernt stainless...
As far as iding a original from repop,I'm not sure

[oldman3]

90% sure that an orginal grill should be rivet together. Repops are small machine screws and nuts, and metal isn't as heavy as orginal..Jim

[joedoh]

isnt stainless just chromium added to the steel?


every chrome grille I have had for 47-53 has been chromed steel, the backside is un chromed and rusts just like anything else. there will be two pieces, a painted piece (usually white) and then the chrome piece. I also think the chrome repops are fully chrome, without the painted piece. might be easy to spot that way if it hasnt been rechromed.

here are some bad photos I stole from ebay. the turn signal trim is stainless, you can see the color difference.

[mick53]

Originally Posted by oldman3

90% sure that an orginal grill should be rivet together. Repops are small machine screws and nuts, and metal isn't as heavy as orginal..Jim

I also agree it has to do with the connections and the gauge of steel. I bought an original that had been straightened and chromed. It was $650 plus shipping, that might be a clue. Also has more than flash chrome on it. It matched the original one on my 53. I don't know why they would have chromed stainless since most of the trim is stainless anyway. It is my understanding that there was a nickle and chrome shortage due to the war. There was what is called "Korean chrome" that is kind of yellow because they chromed over the copper without the nickle. I am no historian or an expert on the subject that is just what I have been told.

[mr48chev]

The middle three bars on all originals are going to have Those two, three or 4 notches you see just to the right of the back side of the grill in Joedoe's photo. Not sure about repro grills.

When I did up (can't really call it "built") my 48 in 1973 I scavanged good bars from several grills to make one nice grill. I started out with one about like Joedoe showed above and then hunted wrecking yards for grills with the good bars that I needed. I have no idea how many grills I bought but it was at least three and may have been five. I drilled out all of the rivets sanded and painted the back piece and then cleaned up and pop riveted each bar in place. I think that is where I learned that each bar only went in it's specific spot. That could be why I bought a couple extra grills then too.

I'm not positive on the stainless vs chrome thing as I thought some of the bars I had were stainless but they may have just been real dull chrome.

[mongocanfly]

ive got a chrome/black repop grill...it has the position notches on the back of the bars...it could be bought with chrome/black background...chrome/crème background....chrome/chrome background....not sure about how its put together ...ill check tonite and see...ill check metal thickness also...but it is a heavy grill but not sure how it compares to a original for weight