Grille Center Molding Refurbishing

[KSSB]

Hello, folks.

So, I got a new grille for my 85 and was hoping to reuse my OEM center molding and emblem.

What would you all recommend for the best way to bring this back around? It looks like it's a stainless underneath whatever this greyish cracked coating is. Is that just a paint, or what is over the shiny underneath material?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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[Keith Seymore]

I sanded and painted mine (red).

K

 

[KSSB]

I sanded and painted mine (red).

K

That was an option I was considering, if I don't find, or can't think of a way, to utilize the stainless. I'd really like to see that bright strip across the grille, if possible.

Thanks.

 

[waterpirate]

I sanded and painted mine (red).

K

Same here.
Eric

 

[mxer147]

I’ve painted one of my grills white and plan to add vinyl on the middle strip, hopefully it looks good enough for the women I date.

 

[bucket]

The deteriorated strip in the middle was originally a body colored decal.

 

[KSSB]

The deteriorated strip in the middle was originally a body colored decal.

Ok! That helps a lot. Thank you. That means it should be able to be removed with something, and then I can maybe polish up the stainless below it.

 

[1STLS1]

I have had vinyl striping the same color cut to length for it from an auto body supply shop in the past.

 

[Grit dog]

Ok! That helps a lot. Thank you. That means it should be able to be removed with something, and then I can maybe polish up the stainless below it.

Eh, maybe.
You don’t habe much room to work with on a delicate piece. Of all the methods of removing decals, old, new, baked on, peeling off etc, I’d try an eraser wheel. If it’s too tough for that you could consider carefully applying solvent. Without damaging anything else?
IDK if you’ve ever tried to take off baked on old fashioned decals. They are best removed with a sander. Imo

I would just get a vinyl strip in the color of your choice. Including stainless
If you can few those cracks, spot prime them and sand them flat.
Otherwise just slap a new sticker on!

 

[KSSB]

Some more good suggestions. Thanks.

I'll get back to it soon, hopefully, and will see if anything will work. The good thing is, if I can't get it off, or it's not a satisfactory result, painting it, or getting a vinyl strip, sounds like a very solid last resort.

Thanks for the suggestions, folks.

 

[waterpirate]

I sanded the baked on goodness and painted over it. It gave it a fresh look that looks like shiny baked on original.
Eric

 

[xm20k]

Probably aluminum under there would have been cheaper than a piece of stainless. The aftermarket ones are just a single piece of plastic.

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[bucket]

Probably aluminum under there would have been cheaper than a piece of stainless. The aftermarket ones are just a single piece of plastic.

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That's the base grill, for use with park lamps under the headlights. It didn't get any trim except for the bowtie in the center.

The uplevel grille for use with trim is a completely different mold.

 

[xm20k]

That's the base grill, for use with park lamps under the headlights. It didn't get any trim except for the bowtie in the center.

The uplevel grille for use with trim is a completely different mold.

Forgot about the single dual headlight setup I see they do make one that takes inserts and those are stainless with a painted argent silver stripe down the center.

 

[bucket]

Forgot about the single dual headlight setup I see they do make one that takes inserts and those are stainless with a painted argent silver stripe down the center.

I don't know about the new replacement trim, but the original ones had a body color insert. It was the main color, not the secondary color, btw.

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