Projects '34 grill shell, bad original chrome, or paint?

I saw this photo of a fellow's '34, who stripped the bad original chrome, like mine, painted it body color and detailed it. Mine is terrible, flaking, pitted, rusty, but solid, and I've already tweaked to fit the hood nicely. I'm seriously thinking of painting it body color. The grill bars, behind the thin coat of red lacquer, still have nice chrome, I could leave them chrome or repaint like Steve's grill. Thoughts?

 

I vote Steve's grill!

 

Old chrome is "Cool"...

 

is just over the top for me. My chrome isn't too bad yet but after sinking $$$$ in it I ain't taken the low road it's getting chrome baby. Old chrome is kool but rust not so much.
How about this? Just sold for 79,000 & change

 

This is mine:
20 footer as pictures fool ya. It has some freckles on the bars & lower shell

 

That looks good Bob. HRP

 

Polish it the best you can, and call it done. You can always paint it in the future if it bothers you after a while. If you paint it, you would probably have to sand it first.....so you couldn't go back to the original chrome.
Old chrome with patina is cool!

 

I would go with the old chrome any day. 25 years ago I had the old chrome stripped from a grill to paint it, but it is not what I would do now. I know some are tired of the word, but to me patina rules!

 

Not sure if you would find anything on this thread would work for a less expensive alternative but it looks good. HRP

HERE

 

If you're going to paint the car really slick, you don't have much choice. Otherwise, I'd leave it alone. Or, strip the chrome, buff the steel and clear.

 

paint it black you devil...

 

It would be easy to think that a nice and straight, painted '33 or '34 grille was a fibreglass piece. Unless it,s full of dents.

 

I respectfully disagree with 34 gaz,
you can spot a glass shell from the snackbar, most have inserts as opposed to being stamped from a sheet ...
glassies often have too few and too wide teeth...[classics]...'33 ford had [35], '34 had [31],
you can even splice the top half of a '35 car shell to the bottom of a '34 car, teeth and all... built and auctioned one for our club years ago .
I used to make hot rod '34 inserts with '32 grill teeth and 3/8" brake line...
used an outer position jig and a round punch for the ends of the teeth so the ends flowed into the tubing a little better... sorry did so before i started taking pix...

 

It was a real debate to leave the matte black finish (which is awful stuff, whatever it is) on the body alone or paint it. Ultimately, I decided to paint it. Nice paint (I'm painting it, so nice, not great is what I'll end up with ;-) ) requires nice chrome, you are correct. Like sloppy jalopies, I don't think I've ever mistaken a 'glass 34 grill shell for a steel one, so I'm going to forge ahead, strip the chrome (it's so bad I think it'll come off with 80 gr paper on the DA, prep and paint it. The red paint on the bars comes off easily, I'll strip them and the trim bead. If I don't like it, I've prepped it for future chrome...

 

I think once you get a quote on how much it will cost to chrome plate your grill, will help you make up your mind. It ain't gonna be cheap!

 

Just my thoughts but if you are going to have it chromed let the chrome strip it. That way if it turns out sour they have no one to blame but their selves & you probably won't save that much $ wise. The picture is of a dusty 34 fiberglass grille that I have made by Gibbons.

 

I was going for the chrome till Gaz said this, I changed my mind, go for the paint! Nothing better than half-wit "know-it-all" rod-abillys standing there looking at steel and pompously announcing to all and sundry "yea man, that's not a proper traditional hot rod, its got a fiberglass grill shell" LOVE IT.

 

I have not seen a 33/34 Ford yet with a painted grill that looks better then chrome (my opinion only). You're building a 34 Ford. It's not much of a "budget" car. I'd replate it. or leave it be until you can replate it.

 

Yes it is !
Shity rusty pitted flaking chrome isn't.

 

Ceramic coating that goes on headers can look like old chrome if you have the right scotch bright pad and leave a few dents

 

Seriously, yes, I agree with this.

 

Once you price having yours chromed these don't sound too bad.


One big bling bling will really set it apart....

PS; the grill in my avatar is a gennie!

 

I have an original with very nice (but not perfect) original chrome and I paid nearly as much as a reproduction grill for it. I prefer originals over repops (like most everyone), but I would not be ashamed to run one of those Drake grills.

 

The chrome grill (if you have one) on a '34 is the only way to go.

 

I only like the chrome ones. You can paint the bars silver and chrome the outer shell and have a good look. The all painted ones need to be on a smoothy build.

 

Weren't the originals nickel-plated rather than chrome-plated? I personally think electrolytic nickel looks far better than chrome regardless.
- EM

 

28/29 Model A's and back had nickel grills, 33/34 and up were chrome plated.

 

I have already stripped the flaking original chrome from the w/s frame, and considering buffing it, and blueing. That would look interesting against the black paint on the grill shell too. I like "raw" metal finishes, I can do it at home, which I like, nobody else does it, which I also like, so that's an option...

 

I got rid of a fiberglass grill that was on mine, even though it came with the org one. When I checked with advance plating in Nashville, the price scared me to death. SO.... I decided to get a Bob Drake repop and they were out. Long story short, I kept my eyes on ford barn and found a pretty nice original replated one for 1200 bucks. They come up on there from time to time. In the meantime while you are looking, paint the outer shell . I t will look fine. I have seen some pretty decent ones at the bigger swap meets lots cheaper than replating yours.

 

You go your own way, that's why I enjoy your builds so much.