Time for another one of my two part questions ;)

Ok enoughs enough, the car is in ~ok shape, but I hate walking out and seeing the front look like a Dennis Woodruff car. if the front looked nicer it would make me a happy camper.

Since it seams like none of the shops will ever actually carry a 65 grill, I need to find someone local to LA that can reanodize the alluminum and straighten it up. At least i think that is what it needs. there are a few busted parts as well, but I assume that someone good could fix that. I took some pics but my camera needs a recharge and I can't find the charger anywhere.

I have no idea what these shops are called. Can anyone recommend one or at least let me know what to look under in the ol' yellow pages?

Second question is I bought a complete grill set off of True connections yesterday for $300 less the grill of course. It looks like garbage to me... but what ya gonna do. I really don't want to mess it up when I install it.

I think the car was in a front end wreck since the front pass sags and the bolt holes don't line up, but my hope is with some forceful pushing, I should be able to get the front plastichrome parts on there and looking decent from a distance.

Is there anything I should know before I mess up the new molding?

Any input would be great.

Hello Jim Mc Angrypants. I see your still plugin away on your ride. I don't know If I would repair a broken grille. You can find some pretty straight ones on e bay. Massage and polish you would be looking good. As far as the repop trim you bought, you will also need to massage them to fit well. Be VERY carefull with the eyebrows, not much thicker than aluminum foil. O.K. maybe 3 times thicker than foil. If your original mounting hardware is usable,clips ,nuts ,etc use them. The supplied hardware is pretty flimsy. The eyebrows will be the hardest to get on without wrecking them. Don,t push on them with your thumb they will dent. Don't hit a big bug at speed they will dent. Honestly ,if you take your time everything will be presentable.:D Scott

LMAO:yes:

Was the original stuff as flimsey? that's something I am always wondering about. All the stuff I see that is remanufactured always looks like such crap... These cars couldn't have left the factory like that.

The problem I have is whenever I buy something, i'm not replacing broken stuff, I'm putting something in that wasn't there when I bought it, so I have no original mounting hardware.

The original stuff is way stronger. I have found the supplied harware for most items is not as good as what you can get at an autobody supplier.

Here's some pics of what i was looking to bring back to life

http://datapusher.org/chevelle/grill1.jpg
http://datapusher.org/chevelle/grill2.jpg
http://datapusher.org/chevelle/grill3.jpg

I can help ....but give me till this afternoon when I can respond with detail....I just did this.....and can offer a little insight.

I can help ....but give me till this afternoon when I can respond with detail....I just did this.....and can offer a little insight.

Perfect, take your time... i have to run out and see if i can get the rest of the front end trim on without braking it.

****, I wonder if I should wait for the grill to be rehabbed first or not. Nah screw it... if i don't put it on now, it's gonna get wrecked.

I can help ....but give me till this afternoon when I can respond with detail....I just did this.....and can offer a little insight.

Any progress on this insight?

have you gone to ground up?

they have everything you need I think...

http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=chevellecamino&Product_Code=LDR-1365&Category_Code=EXTERIORGRILLE

http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=chevellecamino&Product_Code=LHB-565&Category_Code=EXTERIORHEADLAMPMOLDING

and the entire kit including eyebrow moldings...
http://www.ss396.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=chevellecamino&Product_Code=GRILLEKIT-65&Category_Code=

Ha Ha, that's not a 65 Chevelle grille, I know that much. it belongs on an Impala or full size 65. You would think they would know that.

Everyone says they have it, but when you call it's another story. that aside.

I have been so dissapointed with EVERY single piece of aftermarket/replacement stuff I have bought. Including the eyebrow and moldings.

The quality is so low. I am trying to salvage my grill if possible. And apparently it is.

Ok data, sorry for trying to help.

Ha Ha, that's not a 65 Chevelle grille, I know that much. it belongs on an Impala or full size 65. You would think they would know that.



Actually looks like a 64 center grill.

this looks just like my 65...
http://www.ss396.com/mm5/graphics/00000009/GRILLEKIT-65.jpg

granted the grill I posted looks wrong but not the complete kit...anyway I hope you get it put together right so it's not such an eyesore.

Ebay sometimes has grills in a bit better shape than yours. Those tears in yours can be fixed, but the spots to be clear anodized will show the effects of the welding. Have you tried searching the junk yard networks? Another alternative at the high end is Ano-brite: http://www.kingoftrim.com/

Ok data, sorry for trying to help.

Not sure why you got butt hurt over my response, simply said I would rather use what I have since it is clearly better quality than all the after market stuff I have been buying.

MikeMalibu I have been unable to get my car to make it to junk yards up to this point. However, I am babysitting a friends car at the moment. Tommorow or the next day I plan on hitting up some of the junk yards if the weather permits. it is something i have wanted to do for a while now. Just didn't want to break down at the junk yard if ya know what i mean. i am gonna check out that link you posted now.

Jim,

Try calling a junk yard that specializes in Chevy's. They can search their network for parts. Also try Super Muscle Parts at http://216.105.61.21/index.asp

In all honesty Datapusher, I would steer clear of ALL repopped exterior brightwork for 65's. It's total garbage, and not worth 1/2 the asking price.
Post an ad or two here, and do some fishing. It would be time well spent.

I agree, the whole grill set I got (less the grill of course) is horrible. Doesn't lign up and like the poster in the beginning said, thinner than aluminum foil. Anything repopped is garbage. Case and point. I went over to Muscle Factory yesterday. Got me some fender flags to plug the holes. Won't fit.

Got me a #1 air lever for the NON A/C heater. Doesn't fit. Different design than the original so it should come with a spacer. no big deal, I can take care of that. However, the damn rod, the most important piece of the mechanism that controls the switch is too high. if you are gonna remake something, can't you do it right? You are charging enough for all this stuff, how bout a little TLC. Rant over.

I think i am gonna become a junkyard boy

Not sure why you got butt hurt over my response, simply said I would rather use what I have since it is clearly better quality than all the after market stuff I have been buying.


Not butt hurt Data, Simply said sorry for trying to help.

If you can glue that grill back together and make it look like something go ahead.

The peices I have gotten seem fine and have fit with minor adjustments, so possibly your not looking in the right place was what I was trying to point out.

Good luck though

Good luck trying to find a grille for a 65. I've been looking for some time.
Most of the stuff on Ebay is more beat up than what I already have, and what isn't goes for an arm and leg.
I'm going to try fixing mine up, nothing to lose.

That is what I have been trying to get advice on since the beginning. Everyone seems to think you can just go pick up a 65 grille. Ain't gonna happen. No company can get them despite what they say in their catalogues and website. Even if they could, I guarantee they would be crap.

Mine isn't that bad. just need to find someone who can do 4 small welds and straighten it up. then of course make it purty. has to be purty.

All the shops I have called will straighten, none will do welds. Some will anodize (they explained what it was but it came out sounding like snake oil). From what I get,I need to have it straigtened and welded, then find someone to chrome it then paint it blackj, then get it annodized. Quite the process. But it is the first thing everyone sees.

I guess cars are like girls, no one wants to be seen with one that has a messed up grille.

Good luck trying to find a grille for a 65. I've been looking for some time.
Most of the stuff on Ebay is more beat up than what I already have, and what isn't goes for an arm and leg.
I'm going to try fixing mine up, nothing to lose.

No joke all the nos or good used molding and trim for 65 is going through the roof. I just attempted to buy a nos hood lip molding on e bay. Waited till the last minute, bidding went from $125 to $200. Not so long ago these were easily had under $100. Too many cars being built not enough parts around. We really do need these Taiwan aluminum foil parts :D that we have been promised. If only they would make it a little thicker. Make it better , sell it for a little more, I wouldn't mind paying a little extra for better quality.

I just put the drivers side trim on. granted I did it in the dark on the street, but I did it right. Man it looks like crap. I spent $$$ on these flimsey things why?

Oh yeah, because noone likes a hollow front end I guess. Keep them kids from adjusting my headlights and such.

Jim,

Question for you: You mentioned chrome on the grill. I thought the process was: remove anodizing, polish to preferred shine level, then bright anodize (or clear anodize for less shine). Do you know of someone chroming alu ?

Geez,
I'm glad I worked at a Chevy dealer back in the '80's and bought all this stuff NOS for my '66 when ya still could. :D

Dave

Mine isn't that bad. just need to find someone who can do 4 small welds and straighten it up. then of course make it purty. has to be purty.

All the shops I have called will straighten, none will do welds. Some will anodize (they explained what it was but it came out sounding like snake oil). From what I get,I need to have it straigtened and welded, then find someone to chrome it then paint it blackj, then get it annodized.

I'm going to try welding it myself with a product called Alumaloy. I bought a few aluminum brazing rods for real cheap, all you need to do is heat up the metal with a propane torch and then touch the rod to the metal. Lucky for me the welds will be on the part of the grille that will get painted black and covered up. If it works, I just salvaged my grille, if not I keep saving up money for one of the outrageously priced NOS grilles.

Can you take some pics of before, during the process and the end result? i would love to see how it comes out.

Will do. We just got a foot of snow dumped on us and I have an unheated garage, may be another month before I get to back to my car projects.

Ha no snow here, but it does like to rain on me when i work on the car.

FYI , I was on phone with True Connections yesterday. They have seen some of the prototypes of the grille over the past couple years. Recently they saw one that Dynacorn made. TC thought it looked ready to sell. Dynacorn is reworking it a little more. TC feels it will be a presentable piece:thumbsup:

Scott,
Thanks for the availability update. Did they mention any dates?
Or should I take out a mortgage for a NOS grille if my car has to be ready by May?
Also looking for a decent driver's side eyebrow for a '65. Picked up an e-bay one last week. POS! I could make one from a Hershey bar foil wrapper that looks and fits better.

No date given. They have a nos grille available. Are you ready for this? $750.00:yes:

I would pass on the TC gar-barge. I got the complete grille set they sell, minus the grille of course. Well let me tell you it is the biggest piece o crap I have ever seen. not only does it not fit, it looks horrible. Gaps are not attractive at all. If they feel like charging that much, at least make it better quality. Seriously.

"I wouldn't be as down on them if they wouldn't have lied to me. Yeah it will fit with no problem. Take you 2 minutes." Are all the mounting hardare included? "Yes sir." i call BS. My guess is the grill is going to be the same low quality.

I will stick to doing what I have wanted to do mine, fix it and make it purty. At least that way I know I'm not gonna pay an arm and a leg for grabage.

Jim,

Please don't be so hard on True Connections. They are actually better than most vendors. Unfortunately, the grill pieces you purchased are not available in the OE quality. You'd get the same from other vendors, from what I've experienced. Seems that TrimParts originates many of the trim pieces.

For a point of reference, Ano-Brite gave me an over-the-phone approximation to do the entire front grill in their show quality restoration for about $1K. So that NOS grille at $750 may not be so bad if you want better-than-driver appearence.

Jim, if you want OE quality, then you'll have to search and search. Ebay is only an easy source and perhaps not the best one for a grille. I bet you never thought the grille would be such an issue when you purchased your car.

I would have to say the whole experience with True Connections was sub par. They were rude and lied about a few things. Not sure why everyone loves them so much. The quality is no better than OPG or Muscle Factory and the service is sub standard.

To be honst, the grille is the least of my concerns. but it would be nice to have the first thing everyone sees look nice.

I would never pay that much for a grille until the car was 100% and had body work. I would much rather pay someone a couple hundred and have them fix my original grille. Someone on here said I would be looking at around $150, but have no idea where to go. The annodizing shops all said no to welds and straightening.

I know of one 65 grille that was straightened and chrome powder coated that looks excellent. He did all the front bright work the same and it looks good. Not concours, but really good. Another car I saw had the bright work all chrome plated and it looked good too. If it is to be chromed, all the anodizing needs to be sanded/polished off to get the plating process to last. FYI. I have a spare grille, but with all the trouble to find one , I will keep it as a spare for now. I will have mine chrome powder coated. OLDED

I know of one 65 grille that was straightened and chrome powder coated that looks excellent. He did all the front bright work the same and it looks good. Not concours, but really good. Another car I saw had the bright work all chrome plated and it looked good too. If it is to be chromed, all the anodizing needs to be sanded/polished off to get the plating process to last. FYI. I have a spare grille, but with all the trouble to find one , I will keep it as a spare for now. I will have mine chrome powder coated. OLDED

Good Info! Can you give a rough estimate as to what it would cost to have a 65 grill powder coated? Sound like a cool idea!
Thanks, Dan