NSW Corvettes

Technical Tips => Pre 84 => Topic started by: 72vet on November 27, 2010, 08:29:52 PM

Title: Parts
Post by: 72vet on November 27, 2010, 08:29:52 PM

Hi guys, I’m thinking about purchasing new grills for my 72. http://www.ecklers.com/corvette-front-grille-left-1970-1972.html

Has anyone out there purchased aftermarket front grills for their 70 – 72?

Question - What was the quality and fit of the repro?

I’ve looked into having my old ones re-chromed. The place that I took them to suggested that it would be a better option to purchase repro’s as they couldn’t guarantee the finish that I was after due to the egg crate design

Thanks in advance

Title: Parts
Post by: Jethro on November 27, 2010, 08:55:53 PM

Hey 72vette,

Haven't bought the grills of Ecklers but have bought a heap of gear of them and have found the fit and quality of gear they sell second to none... the only down side is if you are in a rush they can be a bit on the slow side....

Title: Parts
Post by: 72vet on November 27, 2010, 09:04:06 PM

You’re on the money about them being slow Jethro, but as you can see from my avatar I’m in no hurry  (http://nswcorvettes.com.au/forum/images/smilies/hmm3grin.gif)

Title: Parts
Post by: demonx on November 28, 2010, 10:59:41 AM

I bought mine from Willcoxcorvette.com and I am happy with the quality.

Title: Parts
Post by: Benandsally on November 29, 2010, 06:50:46 AM

Ecklers ....slow ......slow  ha ha what an understatement.
What would be quicker than ecklers delivery ?
Going over and pick it up yourself !!!     :grr:

Title: Parts
Post by: MADLT1 on November 29, 2010, 06:53:50 PM

i bought mine from corvette america many years ago and they are very good quality:drag:

Title: Parts
Post by: mick on December 09, 2010, 01:57:50 PM

I wish they made some decent ones not manufactured by diecast.

Ive has some real dramas trying to chrome mine and have all but given up.

Have you Chromed the new one's 72vette??

Title: Parts
Post by: 72vet on December 10, 2010, 04:22:16 AM

Hi Mick,

I’m still working on convincing myself that my old ones need replacing.

A lot of $$ for some extra bling :evil:

Title: Parts
Post by: mick on December 10, 2010, 08:13:29 AM

thats why mine are still on there as well.

Title: Parts
Post by: wabco40 on December 11, 2010, 08:41:34 AM

Quote from: 72vet link=topic=7952.msg1045938403#msg1045938403

Hi guys, I’m thinking about purchasing new grills for my 72. http://www.ecklers.com/corvette-front-grille-left-1970-1972.html

Has anyone out there purchased aftermarket front grills for their 70 – 72?

Question - What was the quality and fit of the repro?

I’ve looked into having my old ones re-chromed. The place that I took them to suggested that it would be a better option to purchase repro’s as they couldn’t guarantee the finish that I was after due to the egg crate design

Thanks in advance

I purchased new left and right front grills. The right grill was NOS and fits good (except for the usual rough casting edges in the squares). The left grill was repro and has a narrower outer edge then the factory grill.
The problem I have is before painting my car I blended the front of the fenders to the original grills and had the grills sitting flush and with and even gap with the fender.
This new left grill will not sit flush with the fender and looks like crap.
I will try get some pictures in the next few days.

I have cleaned up all the rough casting edges on my old grills and hope to get them re-chromed. I have already sent them to a shop in Perth but all they managed to do was strip the old chrome off. Nobody seems interested in touching them as they are so time consuming to do. I will be in Asia for a month during Feburary so I am going to try get them done there.
Brad.

Title: Parts
Post by: wabco40 on December 11, 2010, 11:22:25 PM

Quote from: wabco40 link=topic=7952.msg1045938482#msg1045938482

Quote from: 72vet link=topic=7952.msg1045938403#msg1045938403

Hi guys, I’m thinking about purchasing new grills for my 72. http://www.ecklers.com/corvette-front-grille-left-1970-1972.html

Has anyone out there purchased aftermarket front grills for their 70 – 72?

Question - What was the quality and fit of the repro?

I’ve looked into having my old ones re-chromed. The place that I took them to suggested that it would be a better option to purchase repro’s as they couldn’t guarantee the finish that I was after due to the egg crate design

Thanks in advance

I purchased new left and right front grills. The right grill was NOS and fits good (except for the usual rough casting edges in the squares). The left grill was repro and has a narrower outer edge then the factory grill.
The problem I have is before painting my car I blended the front of the fenders to the original grills and had the grills sitting flush and with and even gap with the fender.
This new left grill will not sit flush with the fender and looks like crap.
I will try get some pictures in the next few days.

I have cleaned up all the rough casting edges on my old grills and hope to get them re-chromed. I have already sent them to a shop in Perth but all they managed to do was strip the old chrome off. Nobody seems interested in touching them as they are so time consuming to do. I will be in Asia for a month during Feburary so I am going to try get them done there.
Brad.

Below are pictures of an original left front grill and a repro grill.
The top grill is the repro.
The problem I have with the repro is the outer edge (circled in red) is to narrow compared to an original. The repro is 16mm wide at this point where the original is 21mm wide.

I might be getting a bit picky about this but when I fitted a NOS on the right and the repro on the left it looked like crap with the left having a 5mm gap.
The repro has all the same casting numbers and info on the back same as an original and the rest of the grill is ok.
Brad.



[IMG=700x525]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff391/wabco40/IMG_3814.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG=700x525]http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff391/wabco40/IMG_3813.jpg[/IMG]

Title: Parts
Post by: 72vet on December 12, 2010, 08:38:27 AM

Thanks Brad,
 
Bit picky you say?  Not after you’ve spent the time blending the front of the fender to the original grill and now have a gap with the repo. :grr:

What was used to strip the chrome of the original grills?

Nick

Title: Parts
Post by: wabco40 on December 13, 2010, 10:26:54 AM

Quote from: 72vet link=topic=7952.msg1045938485#msg1045938485

Thanks Brad,
 
Bit picky you say?  Not after you’ve spent the time blending the front of the fender to the original grill and now have a gap with the repo. :grr:

What was used to strip the chrome of the original grills?

Nick

Hello Nick,

I sent the original grills to a chrome shop in Perth. After 3 months of saying they could do the job they turned around and said it was to much of a headache.
What they did was remove the old chrome (however I am unsure how they do this) and then polished the outer edge and the outer edges of the squares. The rest can be painted similar to the original.

I de-burred all the rough casting edges off the original and they look great now. In fact the more I look at the after market grill the more faults I see with it (the rough top edges of the squares).

My first option is to try have the originals rechromed. I have some contacts in Bangkok so hopefully will be able to get them done while there.
The second is to do what the chrome shop did and polish and paint. Also maybe shoot with a coat of suitable clear coat.
There is also spray on chrome that may be an option (search "spray on chrome" on youtube). However I know very little about this and how durable it would be.
Brad

Title: Parts
Post by: mick on December 13, 2010, 10:37:11 AM

I was told by a chromer that diecast is hard to chrome because the steel or in this case aluminium used in die cast is usually of a substandard quality.

When the chromer tries to chrome them because there are different types/qualities of metal the chrome does not go evenly over the surface of the the cast product.

That was the story I got from my chromer anyway.

Title: Parts
Post by: wabco40 on December 14, 2010, 07:19:02 PM

Quote from: mick link=topic=7952.msg1045938490#msg1045938490

I was told by a chromer that diecast is hard to chrome because the steel or in this case aluminium used in die cast is usually of a substandard quality.

When the chromer tries to chrome them because there are different types/qualities of metal the chrome does not go evenly over the surface of the the cast product.

That was the story I got from my chromer anyway.

Hello Mick,

I have phoned around and no shop here seems interested in doing them.
If the factory can mass produce them then there must be someone that can do it.
I will let you know how I go.
Brad

Title: Parts
Post by: mick on December 15, 2010, 08:10:51 AM

I hate to admit but I think the only fix will be to file finish (for a bloody long time) and 2-pak paint the colour of your choice.

Title: Parts
Post by: MR 69ER on December 15, 2010, 09:59:01 AM

Sorry all but not to p#iss in anyones pocket here but generally speaking anything I order form Ecklers gets to me here in Sydney within 7 - 10 working days (thats provided they have it in stock in their warehouse). Only this morning I ordered an L88 hood for a customer and I will see it here before Christmas.

I dont think I can ask for much better than that!:beer:

If your experiencing extended delays with your parts Benandsally let me know and I will call one of the 2 contacts I have in there and see if I can speed things up for you.

Cheers
Steve

Quote from: Benandsally link=topic=7952.msg1045938412#msg1045938412

Ecklers ....slow ......slow  ha ha what an understatement.
What would be quicker than ecklers delivery ?
Going over and pick it up yourself !!!     :grr:

Title: Parts
Post by: MADLT1 on December 15, 2010, 05:46:55 PM

just curiose how much for a l88 hood for a 71 not the long version,still want to keep wiper door?

Title: Parts
Post by: Jethro on December 15, 2010, 06:39:19 PM

Quote from: MADLT1 link=topic=7952.msg1045938500#msg1045938500

just curiose how much for a l88 hood for a 71 not the long version,still want to keep wiper door?

Funny, I rather the LT-1 Big Block Style Hood, Stock Length 2 1-4" Extra Clearance:grr::grr::grr:

Title: Parts
Post by: Benandsally on December 16, 2010, 06:47:50 AM

Hi MR69ER,

Thanks Steve yes part of it is waiting for back orders ( out of stock)

I will give you a call later on.  :call:

Thanks Tony   :beer:

Title: Parts
Post by: MR 69ER on December 16, 2010, 08:15:25 AM

I have one on its way right now for another customer, so I can tell you exactly.

I just sent you a U2U.

Quote from: MADLT1 link=topic=7952.msg1045938500#msg1045938500

just curiose how much for a l88 hood for a 71 not the long version,still want to keep wiper door?

Title: Parts
Post by: MR 69ER on December 16, 2010, 08:16:21 AM

No problem Tony, only too happy to help you out of I can.:beer:

Quote from: Benandsally link=topic=7952.msg1045938502#msg1045938502

Hi MR69ER,

Thanks Steve yes part of it is waiting for back orders ( out of stock)

I will give you a call later on.  :call:

Thanks Tony   :beer:

Title: Parts
Post by: gtc on December 20, 2010, 04:16:20 PM

Quote from: mick link=topic=7952.msg1045938498#msg1045938498

I hate to admit but I think the only fix will be to file finish (for a bloody long time) and 2-pak paint the colour of your choice.

Another alternative to consider for diecast grilles is spray on chrome. Not sure how well it would stand up to the usual assault from gravel and stones, etc, but given that electroplaters are avoiding diecast it may be worth inquiring about.

Here's a mob in SA who say:

ChromeTek

A few years ago we came across a new and interesting product in the United States. It is what can be best described as a spray-on-chrome. We have watched the development of this product in the United States and now that we have been satisfied with its resistance to the elements and its longevity, we are proud to be able to offer this service in Australia.

GM Restorations
0427 098 216
grant@gmrestos.com.au

http://www.gmrestos.com.au/?ChromeTek

Title: Parts
Post by: 72vet on December 20, 2010, 05:11:59 PM

Thank G, There’s Chrome-Tech at Castle hill as well.

 http://www.chrometech.com.au/

:beer: