68 grill paint

[Joseph C.]

My origional 68 front lower grills appear to have silver paint not only on the outer lip but half way back to the plastic edge where it steps up. The question is, not all of the grill horizintal pieces got painted. It looks like 1 or 2 on the left grill 4 on the center and 3 on the left. And that varies wheather you are holding it looking down at it or if you are hold the grill up and look at it??? I know GM did things sloppy but this seems not correct.
Thanks Joe

[Gene M.]

Re: 68 grill paint

Joe,
I think GM's attempt was to color spray only the front edges of the plastic. And yes they were very sloppy in attaining this goal. The look was to have a floating silver edge in a dark area as viewing the entire front of the car.

[Joseph C.]

Re: 68 grill paint

I had that feeling. I took a Testor Paint pen and did the outer edges. Looks great and thats how its staying.

[Jack C.]

Re: 68 grill paint

My original eary 68 has the leading edges sprayed silver but the top verticle rib was missed and remains black.

[Michael D.]

Re: 68 grill paint

...I took a Testor Paint pen and did the outer edges. Looks great and thats how its staying...

Same here.

[Joseph C.]

Re: 68 grill paint

thanks Jack, I sent my application in for Kissamee in Jan. I am getting a little nervous if the car is up to par. I dont know how they judge everything and how points are truely taken off. If it was orginal and could be redone I used it, but some stuff needed to be replaced. Some stuff is NOS and some stuff is reproduction. I always used American! I have been working on this car for three yrs and several times almost thru the towel in on this whole judging thing. I have decided TOP FLIGHT is the only option. LOL

[Patrick N.]

Re: 68 grill paint

can someone post a pic?- it would be good to see an example of what the GM version does look like as an FYI.

Thanks
Pat
68 427/400hp
88

[Jack C.]

Re: 68 grill paint

Here's one of my early 68.

[Patrick N.]

Re: 68 grill paint

thanks Jack, do you know if this was also the case for late 68's? I have a march car.

Mine seems to be all black

Thanks again,
Pat

[Joseph C.]

Re: 68 grill paint

From what I have read, is some late 68's have been seen with all black grills. Maybe someone else can confirm that for sure.
Joe

68 427/400
66 327/300

[Terry B.]

Re: 68 grill paint

Patrick,

Are you sure your grill is a '68 and not a '69? If you look at Jack's picture and look closely where the horizontal meets the vertical edge you see the horizontal edge cantelevers out past the veritcal edge. This was changed early in '69 to be flush fitted to make it stronger and not warp. All replacement grills made today are of the '69 design. I believe all '69 grills were all black, however some very early '69 model cars had '68 grills that were painted per '68 specs.

[John C.]

Re: 68 grill paint

Silver paint was used on the horizontal bars of the front grills of all 68s and on 69s up until about January 69. The grills did change in 69 to make them stronger, but until January were still painted. The top bar of the grill is also frequently seen unpainted.

The paint was also on more than just the front edge, it went about half way back to a step in the grill where it become thicker.

John

[Patrick N.]

Re: 68 grill paint

I will look more cloesly. you never know what year parts find their way onto a car as I recently discovered my 68 has a 73 differential.

[Patrick N.]

Re: 68 grill paint

It does appear to be a 68 grill from your discriptions, but no evidence of any paint??? part number on back is 3966553 LH and 3966554 RH

I attached a pic (i think)

Parts are not restored as of yet so these are untouched to date. Thoughts?

Thanks as always!

Pat
68 427/400
88

[John C.]

Re: 68 grill paint

Pat

The changes to the grill occurred at the ends and bottom so you can't tell if it is a 68 or 69 from your picture. If you look at the picture Jack posted you will see the the horizontal ribs stick out past the vertical ribs on the end. This is the 68 grill. If the end vertical ribs come out to the same plane as the horizontal ribs it is a 69. There are also some changes a round the lower mounting tabs.

The part numbers you give are the one I have listed in my 69 AIM. You also have to consider the change in grills may not have occurred in correspondence with the model year. I have an April built 68 that has one of each style. I've always assumed the one had been replaced at some time by the first owner but I don't know that for sure.

John