After market grill’s? 1953 GMC
 

Anyone buy any aftermarket grills before? I see them for about $500. I have a grill but wanted to get it chromed. Out here in the Pacific NW I’m getting quotes for around $700. I was thinking of just buying one of the aftermarket ones but I have mixed feelings on it.

Re: After market grill’s? 1953 GMC
 

If you have a really nice grill to take in and have plated or replated I'd go that way rather than reproduction.

The filling station wants 495 for the grill https://store.fillingstation.com/det...ROMECREAM.html

Then they want 335 for the surround chromed so around 700 to have yours done if they do the bars and the surround isn't out of line to get nice chrome. https://store.fillingstation.com/det...ND_CHROME.html

Their prices are usually pretty reflective of the going price for most truck trinkets from vendors.

Way back in the dark ages of time when I had my grill chromed I took it apart and just took the bars I wanted chromed in and painted the back part while the bars were in the chrome shop. I'd assume that was your plan.

I need to have my grill redone in my 48 after it got backed into and damaged plus I have to have my 49 plymouth bumpers chromed after I get them fitted right.

Re: After market grill’s? 1953 GMC
 

I have lots of parts chromed, I have found that there are no good chrome shops in the PNW. There are to many restriction or they just know what there doing. But I did run across a guy (Willy Shiny) in California, who does Harley Wheels.He takes all the parts to Mexico and has them done there,in Mexico they can still use all the chemicals that destroy the environment and they do an outstanding job .I have talked to him,real nice guy and I sent him some parts other than wheels and he got them chromed.I has been a few years since I did this but might be worth a try.And a third of the price in Portland

Re: After market grill’s? 1953 GMC
 

That would be great. Shoot me a message if you get in touch with him.

Re: After market grill’s? 1953 GMC
 

My brother has a friend with a chrome shop in the SF bay area who moved it to Mexico for that reason. And a LOT of businesses did that!

Brian

Re: After market grill’s? 1953 GMC
 

The one thing I have seen with repro grilles is they will go up at each end looking like a smile. I have seen that on many trucks, not a good look.

It makes me sick that I left my truck's front end outside for years and the grille that I had plated in the late seventies got all rusted. So I will need to do mine too, and change out one on the bars, second one up, the most often bent bar right over the bumper. I couldn't find one back in 79 so I put a third one down, there on the 4th down location and it's too short. LOL Only had one person notice one time. But I got a nice one that only has some minor repairs I will do before sending it out with the others for chroming.

Brian

Re: After market grill’s? 1953 GMC
 

They never say but I am wondering if those custom shops in Texas that are on MT tv don't have their chrome done in Mexico.

Re: After market grill’s? 1953 GMC
 

I bought an original grill with "heavy chrome" on it. They ask me how I wanted it chromed when I spoke to them. Light $500, standard $650, heavy $800 or show $1000. I can't see how show could be much better. It looks like it was dipped in Mercury. I am very happy with it even though it was pricey. I believe it was done in Kentucky. Here in Indiana we can still rape the environment with impunity, kind of sad.