custom chrome grill is finally done!!!!

[bnickel]

pics

[bswor]

Cool, so how did you do it exactly? How much did it cost to do and about how long? :)

[369coupes]

did you use baremetal foil for models?

[stangme]

:yes: :thumbup1: nice job B, that turned out really good, you obviously have more patience than I do.

[69grandecj]

That looks very nice, but that had to take a very long time to do.

[bnickel]

thanks everyone. i've been working on it off and on for about a month. it is very time consuming and pretty tedious but in the end i think it was worth it.

what i used was some of that chrome mylar rocker panel trim that comes in rolls about 6" wide, it is a foil type and made for automotive use so it should last quite a while. it would be better if they made it in wider rolls but that was all i could find. i'm quite sure there is something available that is wider i just couldn't locate any. ok on to the details.

first i cleaned the grill as best i could, it would have been better to use a new grill i think but this is what i had and could afford.

i layed the chrome stuff out and cut out each individual piece with an exacto knife. i highly recommend that if you are going to paint the insets of the grill black that you do it after the chrome has been applied because you will cut into the grill on occassion. once all the chrome trim stuff was applied and cut out i shot the grill with some clear paint, i used the duplicolor engine clear becuase i had it handy.

once the clear had cured for a few days i taped off the chrome with blue masking tape and painted the insets black with krylon 1613 semi flat black paint and that was pretty much it. it sounds really easy to do and for the most part it is, it's just time consuming like i said.

in the end i'm very pleased with the results but i learned a couple of things while doing it. the best advice i have for someone that wants to do this is to start laying the chrome mylar from the bottom to the top, that way when you overlap the chrome trim the little overlap part is on the bottom and will have to pull up to pull away from the layer underneath. i did it from top to bottom so the overlapped part pulls away from the top and pulls down, not the best situation to have if the chrome does start to pull away in the future but i'm not going to redo it now, i have way too much time invested in it already. like i said earlier, if you are going to paint the inset parts black like the factory did it do it after the chrome has been applied. i highly recommend clearing the chrome after it has been applied to help seal it to the grill and reduce the sharp edges the chrome trim leaves. that's about it, now go out and have fun just be patient becuase it is very time consuming and tedious. like i said i've been working on this one for about a month, when it started getting too tedious i'd put it away and come back to it a day or two later.

[bnickel]

did you use baremetal foil for models?


i've tried bare metal for other things and it just didn't look right though it was a consideration. i would not recommend it because it's too thin for one and would never last in an automotive app.

[bnickel]

:yes: :thumbup1: nice job B, that turned out really good, you obviously have more patience than I do.


the hardest part and most trying on my patience was cutting out each individual piece. uhhhhhh!!!!!

[bnickel]

That looks very nice, but that had to take a very long time to do.


yes it did take forever, though i suspect that someone who doesn't have back problems like i do could do it over a couple of weekends.

i'll take that as very big compliment coming from you seeing as you have an NOS chrome grill and a perfect car too. Thanks!!!!

[mustangmanny]

That looks awsome:001_tt1: . Lets see what it looks like on your car.

[bnickel]

it'll be a while before it goes back on the car. the car still has to go back to the body shop to get the touch up work and final panel alignment done

[Pakrat]

Not too shabby B-man. With a little luck by this time next week I'll be able to post pics of my concept as well. Seeing your hard work pay off has given me the drive to pick up that project where I left off and finally finish it.

[bnickel]

so give us a hint. what are you doing?

i don't expect pics because i didn't show you guys any until it was done but i did tell you what i was doing.

[Pakrat]

so give us a hint. what are you doing?

i don't expect pics because i didn't show you guys any until it was done but i did tell you what i was doing.

I told you before, I am going for more of the billet type looking design with just a horizontal accent as opposed to the original chrome look.

[BAMF69]

here's something to think about http://www.vacuummetalcoating.com/ they can coat any plastic into chrome or give it a anodize look. Also they do chrome powder coatings. They can do some pretty trick stuff but it cost some $$$.

[bnickel]

vacuum metalizing is expensive as hell. have you priced any of their stuff? most places will charge a hundred bucks or more just for a dash panel. if you're building a concourse car it's worth it, otherwise it's more than i can afford

[bnickel]

I told you before, I am going for more of the billet type looking design with just a horizontal accent as opposed to the original chrome look.


are you using your stock grille? details man, we need details!!!!!

[Pakrat]

are you using your stock grille? details man, we need details!!!!!


Yeah I don't have the patience or skill to make a piece from scratch and fit all those correct dimensions exactly so I am using my stock grill as a base to work off of and slightly build up on, it will probably cost less than $20 in parts and amount of initial labor yet to be determined. I know making more than one down the road is easier since this time includes making a jig.

If anyone likes it or is interested in it after I am done I am thinking of either offering a do it yourself kit that is prefabbed and ready to assemble or either take an old grill in as a core charge and ship back a ready to go assembled one for a little more, we'll have to see. Maybe even take in two old grills for a complete modded one. I guess alot of that would depend on how soon into the new year it takes me to find a new employer.:confused1:

[bnickel]

i've thought about doing the chrome version on the side as well, but i'd have to charge at least 150-200 bucks to make it worthwhile probably more like 200 sinc i'd want to start with a brand new grill too.