[FirebirdScar]

Hi, I thought I would share my repair of my 72 grill for my T/A project.
http://www.mendingthings.com/?page_id=551

I would also like to ask some advice. What color should I paint the grill and what type of paint would be best? I appreciate any advice.

[necdb3]

If it's a T/A, the grills should be black honeycomb and argent silver surrounds. Anything other than a T/A is all argent silver.

[72projectbird]

Nice fix! I have a busted set of 72's I'd like to fix this winter.

[FirebirdScar]

Thanks guys.

[Formulabruce]

Great blog and photos.. !!

[FirebirdScar]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

Great blog and photos.. !!

Thanks!

[FunctionalShaker]

72 grills are now reproduced.

[Norwood]

Nice save on an ORIGINAL part

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by FunctionalShaker

72 grills are now reproduced.

Are they? Imo they're the best 70-73 grill ever.

[Held for Ransom]

http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...ts/485264.html
http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...ts/485265.html
http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...ts/485575.html
http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...ts/485576.html

[72projectbird]

Dayum those are pricey! I'll just fix my busted set.

It is nice they're making them though!

[FunctionalShaker]

Norwood, yes.. but for those that are irreparable...

[transam1972]

amazing the parts they repo!!??...I never would have thought...seems the 70 & 71 grills have been out forever...when I got my car one of the grills had a broken honeycomb so as I recall in Clifton N.J. there was a junkyard that catered to Firebirds & Camaros in the late 80's, early 90's (could they still be in business??)...anyway I found a perfect grill and when I took it to the owner to pay for it (I cannot recall what I paid) I remember him making a big deal about how you could not buy them new...he was right as I had purchased a new 72 bumper & grills in 1980 for my 1976 T/A conversion (the good old days) and those parts were totaled in the accident...point is with no internet he was typically trying to get top dollar...if only I had known the future and told him to keep it...I will wait 25 years for the new ones

[Nocar]

Nice work, and did not require a garage full of tools!

[Formulabruce]

Guess we will now see "Gray" Grilles and be told that its correct color ...On the plus side I can keep my spares
I wonder how the chrome is on the "die cast" part on these..
IF they sold the chrome trim alone , they could make some serious money...

[FirebirdScar]

Thanks guys. I saw the repo's but I like saving original parts when I can. It doesn't hurt that I am cheap too

[transam1972]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

Guess we will now see "Gray" Grilles and be told that its correct color ...On the plus side I can keep my spares
I wonder how the chrome is on the "die cast" part on these..
IF they sold the chrome trim alone , they could make some serious money...

....FORMULABRUCE is right on about those chrome grills but unfortunately it most likely wont happen (I have a small ding in on one side)...I wonder how they compare side by side to an original?...if it matches quality to an original that's what this reproduction business should be( all about...nothing worse than "close enough"...I have been planning on refreshing mine now that I know from the P.Y. forum that the honeycomb wheel silver paint was used on the grills (so they should have a slight texture?)... I wonder if these reproduction grills use the correct paint (I doubt it)..but you could easily do it yourself...with the availability of those long overdue full quarters and these cool 72 grills I wonder whats next?...I wish that they could make a repo endura 70 to 73 front bumper...I plan on stripping mine this winter to see whats up with it...but doesn't the endura develop cracks in it over time?....so some serious prep work and knowing what your doing for a years to come crack free paint job? (sounds like a thread)

[Formulabruce]

HI transam1972... I used the same argent silver at the Honeys on mine, and 2 different paint guys said it was extremely close to non faded originals.
TAZZ ( py member) makes a carbon fiber nose. If your nose does not have a shiny endura surface once stripped and it looks liked dried rubber, it is, and even SPI primer will only work for a while..
flex SPI primer can be used as filler primer I believe too ( I have) so only need so use a flex sealer and then base clear.
I thought mine would crack in the cold winters, but it hasnt, my dash..though.. IT did, after 42 years... oh well.
here is grille and wheels in same pic..

[Brewster]

Bruce, is that bird sporting a plastic or metal valance?

[Formulabruce]

Its metal