Try fixing or just replace with repro?

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Buying repo is like rolling the dice.. or like Forrest Gump would put it, "Buying reproduction parts is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.

I'm looking at my 72 grille and it needs A LOT of work to get it back to looking new again and there is rather large dents at the bottom, which would be covered by the bumper, but I couldn't let that slide. I already stripped the black paint off and was about start on fixing the dents but before I spend 20 plus hours restoring this grille I'm wondering if it's just worth it to go with a repo.

I'm sure all the repo grilles come from the same source.. However, I did come across a Chrome steel outer grille instead of the aluminum. Curious if anyone has used the new chrome steel style and your experience with fitment? Thanks in advance for any insight

http://www.manestruckparts.com/store..._ID=950&index=

[hemi43]

Chrome steel ?? Are you sure ?? I've only seen repro anodized aluminum grilles, and they are way thinner than original. I put quite a few aftermarket parts on my truck and was very impressed with the quality, except one item, the grille. It is extremely expensive, and although it looks good and fits well, it is paper thin and just looking at it will dent it. Mine is already marked up!!
I'm a Tool Maker, and the complexity of stamping that part in steel is a lot more than soft aluminum, so I highly doubt it's available. Not saying it's not, I just feel it's unlikely.

I'm not sure how you'll be able to restore your existing one, because of that darn anodizing. The only way to properly repair it would be to chemically strip the anodizing, straighten the dents, buff, then re-anodize. It's a time consuming process, and anodizing isn't cheap.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

I found the chrome steel one here and also at another place online too.http://www.manestruckparts.com/store...Category_ID=12

Classic Chevy Parts has the original GM outer grill that was made by GM and they stopped making them about 3-4 years ago and they have a some left in stock. It's $875.. a little pricey but might be the way to go?

I'm familiar with the stripping of the anodizing process. I have had good luck with oven cleaner.. The part I struggle the most with is getting the scratches out.. I've tried 400 and 600 wet sand paper and it's not getting them out. I feel if I go any lower I will mess i up even more.

[notsolo]

Grille looks really decent. I am not the expert on this, I would think 320 paper dry 1st, then wet sand with 400-600 etc. Maybe this thread will help ....http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=330045

[CG]

The going rate for an NOS outer like yours seems to be around 650 to 750 right now. There have been a few recently on the board in this price range. I purchased one local (no shipping charges) and would have purchased another except that darn shipping does send the price up.

[Minnz]

I think it really depends on what level of restoration you're looking for. For me, I chose to purchase an NOS grill as my original was a little to dented. I found a NOS grill and bought it, unfortunately it had a couple of noticeable scratches that needed attention. To have an aluminum grill restored is expensive, but I went ahead and am now having it fully restored and re-anodized.......timeframe: 9-10 months and expensive ($800). So now my truck restoration is pretty much done my NOS grill won't be ready until this coming September. Well, I don't want to drive around this Summer without a grill so I bought a aftermarket repop as a temporary. The fit was terrible and I couldn't get it to line up, brought it to my body & paint guy. They stretched it and got it so it looks decent for now. As hemi43 says the repos are pretty thin, I'm waiting to see if a large June bug will dent it! For what its worth, I'm still glad to have purchased the NOS grill and look forward to installing it later this Fall.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

I'm pretty much going all out on my restoration, but I'm not going for 100% original either. I'm debating between a NOS aluminum grille that I can get for around $900 or there is a couple places that carrier the same outer grille in chrome triple nickel plated with chrome bezels for about $670. I like the idea of chrome because it would really shine well and is much easier to maintain then aluminum. My only concern is dropping $670 and finding myself struggling to make it fit and consequently paying the body shop a couple of labor hours for them to do it..

I was hoping to find anyone on here that has experience with the chrome outer grilles for 71-72.

[Ta12sec]

Anyone know where I can find a black steel grill surround?

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Originally Posted by Ta12sec

Anyone know where I can find a black steel grill surround?

Check out oldchevytrucks.com . I took a pic of their online catalog.. Looks like you can order it in steel w/o chrome.

[sockalaminski]

I bought the chromed steel unit with an aluminum grill insert. Overall apearance was nice but it needed to be massaged quite a bit to get the grill to mate up with the fenders. Of course repop fenders and core support is what I'm working with so that could be part of the issue. The chrome is also thin and looks to be "cracked" at the sharp corners. I will probably get it rechromed.

If I had to do it over again, I'd probably go with the aluminum unit, OEM if I could find it. The aluminum repops HAVE to be fitted to the truck. It requires quite a bit of force to get it aligned and riveted in place but they look fine after they are installed.

[Tom Vogel]

Ship the grill to Ogden chrome in Utah. They will straighten the dings and chrome it... and it will actually fit.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

Originally Posted by sockalaminski

I bought the chromed steel unit with an aluminum grill insert. Overall apearance was nice but it needed to be massaged quite a bit to get the grill to mate up with the fenders. Of course repop fenders and core support is what I'm working with so that could be part of the issue. The chrome is also thin and looks to be "cracked" at the sharp corners. I will probably get it rechromed.

If I had to do it over again, I'd probably go with the aluminum unit, OEM if I could find it. The aluminum repops HAVE to be fitted to the truck. It requires quite a bit of force to get it aligned and riveted in place but they look fine after they are installed.

Which manufacturer did you get your chrome grill from? Mine came in the mail last week and it was from Triplus. i was talking to the rep at TuckersTrucks and he said there is 2 manufacturers that make them. The other is Counter Parts.

[72K5CSTDarkOlive]

The price difference is about $300 and this one came with the bezels. here are some close up pics. I stood it up against my original grill.

[sockalaminski]

Mine was from Counterpart. It also came with chrome bezels and the billet aluminum grill insert. If I remember correctly, it was like $675 plus tax. It's been about a year and a half since I bought mine.