33' Grill Finishing

[JOP33]

How are most builders finishing out their grills? I am looking for a "chrome like" appearance, but also protected. I just requested a quote from a plater in the north west that I met at the last Good Guys show and was about laid out when they told me it would be $3500:(. I then told them that for $3500 I could have the whole grill machined on a 5-axis mill out of a billet of aluminum and then thanked them for their time.

Thx

[NAZ]

Polish it. If you coat it and it's a driver you will eventually end up with a chipped finish.

[CVOBill]

My grill and windshield frame were chromed by someone in Tennessee, the gentleman I bought my kit from last year had it done back in 2011 he paid $1,100.00 back then. If you would like I can find the receipt with the name and phone number if you would like. 81829

[Arrowhead]

They will polish up pretty nice and it's not too hard. For the first time it might be easier to wet sand with 600 and higher grits first and then polish. Then mothers on a microfiber once in a while to spruce it up. Other than that I think there's been a combination of everything, painted shell, polished bars, all painted, powder coated, combinations are endless.

As far as "chrome like" there really isn't anything that I know of and anything that is "chrome like" looks like you wanted chrome but couldn't afford it. There might be some specialty coatings that will give you that chrome look (like Alsa), but you have to find someone that can apply it as it take special equipment.

You could try this:

https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-liquid-chrome-and-black-base-coat.html?SRCCODE=PLA00020&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw9nUBRCTARIsAG11eif-65qntTlP2lt-9sTNlBBpXL7y145exiSrES30ug9j6QS8z5dXxigaApd3EALw_w cB

[KenWilkinson]

also:

https://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-extreme-chrome-bonded-powder.html

[33wanabe]

I polished my grill, then had it powder coated with chrome, it turned out very nice. Not as shiny as real chrome, some what like nickel. cost about $100.

[Tampa33Build]

I had planned on having the grill powder coated chrome also. First, I had the fan shroud powder coated chrome. The powder coating owner stated if I did not have it clear coated it would tarnish very fast. After the clear coat was applied it is a nickle color.

You may want to have a smaller piece powder coated first and see if that is the color you are looking for.

[AJT '33]

I am also looking at different possibilities and leaning to a Powder coated Copper finish that may mimic what I have on the car now to meet my theme, nice thing is that the powder is peanuts in cost ($10 a pound) and to touch up should be relatively easily. My local shop seems to be very accomodating.

[sebournd]

I had mine chromed in Tennessee for $700. Excellent job! Dan's Polishing and Chrome, Adamsville, TN.

[DarthTedious]

I sanded (started at 220 and ended at 1000) and then polished using Mothers's aluminum polishing compound. Came out nice, has a good shine, but not as much of a high gloss as a chrome coating would. Its a cheaper route, but you will still end up with some scratches or pits that are too deep to sand out, but I was happy with the result and it matches what I did with the roadster windshield frame.

[Dunner]

Check into powder coating. There are a lot of options and colors when it comes to that. Prismaticpowders.com and they have some that is real close to chrome or black chrome.