1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

[George H.]

The original pot metal center grill for my '73 has one bar broken off. I've attached a picture showing the GM part #331834 C. I called one California shop that does restoration on pot metal car parts and was quoted $165 per hour and it charges by the minute. Estimated cast to replace the missing piece and weld it would take 3-4 hours, maybe more. With freight out and back plus insurance best cost, restoration estimate is $ 550-750 to repair the grill. I'm sure I'm not the first owner that has had this issue. LH & RH grills are ok and original. I'm not looking to go with plastic replacements.

If I just leave the center grill this way, how many points are deducted? Is it worth spending this much to repair it? It is a Florida car and was delivered with the center grill and a license place bracket for a front license plate which I did use when living in Georgia.

Comments will be appreciated. I'm not sure if I can find an original in good condition and what will I pay for it?

George Hunt
Ocala, FL
1973, Coupe, LS4, M21

[Leif A.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

George,
The original center grill was made using pot metal. I would think it would be cost prohibitive to have it repaired. Many of the vendors sell a reproduction injection molded piece for around $75. Keen Parts is advertising a center grill for $150 but doesn't state if it's plastic or metal. You might want to give them a call.

[Don H.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

George,
at the bottom of this page are three columns of small links. In the middle of the right side column you'll find Judging Score Sheets, Click it, and go to the 73-77 score sheets, Exterior, find the Front Grilles/ Hardware line 9, and you'll see 10 points Originality, 10 points Condition. A missing piece of grille is pretty significant damage, but it is fixable.. I would say the Condition hit might be 2-4 points. It depends on your judges, if they even notice it or not. For sure the cost to repair is NOT justified against so few points at risk. Good luck with your decision.

you might want to post a Want Ad in the Classified Ads Forum.. Link is above below the word Corvette in the banner.. Ads are free. There may be a used replacement out there with your name on it.

[David H.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

... If I just leave the center grill this way, how many points are deducted? Is it worth spending this much to repair it? ...

George

Only you can determine "worth it" questions.

As to points: there are 10 Originality and 10 Condition Points associated with "Front Frills & Hardware" for your 1973. (Link below is to Judging Sheets page)

As described all grills are Original. Center Grill has damage and a missing piece.

Originality is judged without regard to Condition.
Condition is judged without regard to Originality. (At least 10% of Originality must remain in order to judge Condition. )

Judges will spread those 10 Originality points over those elements in that line. Different judges may take different approaches to point spread, but for arguments sake, lets assign 1 point to hardware and 3 points to each of the grills.

This judging line would be evaluated via CDCIF - Configuration, Date, Completeness, Installation, and Finish. As noted, you have a Completeness issue - part of that grill is missing. Each element of CDCIF is 20%, so deduction for missing part would be 20% of 3 points or 0.6 points. Judge will likely round that up to 1 point.

Can't judge Condition of a missing part, but your part isn't missing - you have damage.

Condition judging assesses difficulty of repair, etc. I'd guess you'd lose another point here as well.

All-in-all, likely a couple of points if this is your only issue. (4500 total points in Flight Judging)

(Not able to comment on Condition of All these parts - may be more deductions related to wear/rust/aging/etc)

Dave

https://www.ncrs.org/njc/73-77%20Score%20Sheets/73-77%20Exterior.pdf

[George H.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

I appreciate the comments. Agree, its probably too expensive to have repaired. A few points deduction is not all that bad. I was thinking more like 100% deduction for condition. I'll put it back on and let it go as is.

[David H.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

I appreciate the comments. Agree, its probably too expensive to have repaired. A few points deduction is not all that bad. I was thinking more like 100% deduction for condition. I'll put it back on and let it go as is.

George

Unless item is missing, maximum Condition deduction is 75%.

(Safety items: like tires and windshields are subject to 100% Condition deduction.)

Dave

[David H.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

George

Do you by chance have that broken/missing piece?

If so, there are some DIY options - see link for example type product.

Numerous YouTube videos as well. Seems like best results when parts are being held in place via fixture of some sort.

Never done this myself, but $$$ folks quote for repair makes you think.....

Dave

https://www.muggyweld.com/videos/pot-metal-repair/

[Terry M.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

Does your state require a front license plate? How about putting a CORVETTE license plate on the front? See where I am going? Try to hide it some. I know it looks ugly, but I am offering another option.

There is more than one way to get the points. Are results guaranteed? Of course not, but that is the fun of the game. Judging is as much a test of the car's appearance and condition as it is of the judges' powers of observation.

[George H.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

Good points by everyone.
1. The part broken off is missing.
2. Florida does not require a license plate in the front.
3. My '73 was delivered to Jacksonville, FL and there was a center grill in place.
4. There was a GM center bracket that came with the car and I have used that when I lived in Georgia, PA, and IL.
5. Now that I'm retired, I moved back to Florida in 2018 and was putting the center grill back-on.
6. If I keep the bracket on, install a "NCRS" plate, will I still lose points?
7. It is and was a Florida car with dealer delivery documentation and was shipped from the factory with a center grill.

Thanks again for the feedback:

George
'73, 1YZ37, LS4, M21, 953 Yellow Metallic (factory original), 404, A31, C60, J50, N37, N40, U58, QRM Firestone WS.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

Hi George,
You shouldn’t lose any points if you have the front license plate attachment VK3 on your car. The bracket will be judged instead of the center grille.
Unlike the earlier C3’s the center grille section on the 73’s & 74’s must be removed and replaced with the VK3 plate bracket.(But, you already know that! lol!) On the earlier cars I’m pretty sure the front bracket mounts in front of the center grille section. Probably why Terry mentioned to hide the broken piece with the front plate. As far as judging…they will judge the screws if you have a front plate. If you have a front plate or VK3 attachment on the car during judging you should have two license plate frames to be judged as well! Or the judges may want to see two frames!

[Terry M.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

But, you already know that! lol!)Or the judges may want to see two frames!

Jimmy,
You are right. I was not aware that the 1973-74 front license plate bracket/center grill was a remove and replace situation. If the license plate bracket is installed on the car does one have to show the center grille section? If that is true my, suggestion would make hiding the damage impossible.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

Jimmy,
You are right. I was not aware that the 1973-74 front license plate bracket/center grill was a remove and replace situation. If the license plate bracket is installed on the car does one have to show the center grille section? If that is true my, suggestion would make hiding the damage impossible.

[George H.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

I just when out to my shop and checked the license plate bracket I took off the car. It is stamped, 327643. Is that the same VK3 plate bracket? I'm assume it is since I got that bracket in a box of parts when I purchased the car in Gainesville FL, Feb 1980. I don't have the extra frame. Will a reproduction frame work if I buy one?

George

[Peter H.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

Good Day George. I Just Checked My Corvette Parts Catalog. February 1977 It Lists Your 327643 As The Licence Bracket For 73/74 Your Good To Go. Peter Hannigan (3522) 🇨🇦

[George H.]

Re: 1973 Center Grill piece needing repair.

I appreciate all the feedback on this topic. The '73 front center grill is a one year only piece cast in pot-metal. I believe the '74 grill that looks the same is cast from aluminum and painted all black, no chrome edges. Lots of one-year only parts on the '73 Corvettes. Anniversary this year, turning 50! It's a great looking C/3, trying to keep it original and I'm not sure why 73's are not appreciated more. Maybe when they turns 100.