Grill questions

[Rufcar]

I like the solid black grill surround look. That said #1 is it painted or is it just black plastic. If painted and the egg crate section is now black plastic should the stainless trim also get painted and I gather the black paint should be a flat of satin black to match the non painted egg crate? I have seen so many variations I am just not sure. I see in the " Ground Up" catalog the whole unit is either black or silver plastic with a stainless trim. Plus do the new stainless screws get painted?  What do you guys recomend

[jims69]

When new the 69 grill surround area was painted the color of the car body, the stainless trim was not painted, and the screws were not painted.   My 69 is red and the grill is grey/silver plastic (not painted) and is the original grill that came with the car.  I've seen 69's with black grills; but can't say whether they came new that way.

[JohnZ]

I like the solid black grill surround look. That said #1 is it painted or is it just black plastic. If painted and the egg crate section is now black plastic should the stainless trim also get painted and I gather the black paint should be a flat of satin black to match the non painted egg crate? I have seen so many variations I am just not sure. I see in the " Ground Up" catalog the whole unit is either black or silver plastic with a stainless trim. Plus do the new stainless screws get painted?  What do you guys recomend

Here's how the grilles came from the factory:

http://www.camaros.org/exterior.shtml#1969Grille

[Rufcar]

John I did read that but it does not say black plastic or painted? The egg crate section is black plastic but what about the surround around the entire section of grill and light housings? If painted black what type of paint a single stage? Tkx Jim

[tmodel66]

The section of the grill outside the egg crate was painted the car color. It was painted with the same paint as the car. I took my chrome off to get a good paint line and snapped it back on. I left the egg crate part just black plastic with no paint but if you are using a reproduction grill you might want to paint it. They do make a special plastic paint in a spray bomb. I've never had one and don't know how they are made.

[Mark]

The original argent silver grilles were molded in silver plastic, and the surround was painted body color, the SS grille was originally molded in black plastic, and the surround was painted body color.  There were 4 different factory grilles, 2 molded in silver (one standard, one RS) and 2 grilles molded in black one standard, and one RS.   Somewhere in the early 70's GM quit producing the two silver molded grilles and just made the black ones.  After that point for the cars that needed a sliver grill (all black cars and all non SS cars, either RS or standard) had to have the center section painted silver, and the surrounds painted body color.  It's not factory to paint the center sections, but its what you have to do today, unless you can find an original grille.

[z28z11]

Mark,

    The Argent Silver standard open headlight original grilles I have seen (and had on my X77) were actually molded in an off-white color, and painted argent silver if I'm not mistaken, which I sometimes am. The later replacement (counter) grilles were all black, you have to paint to match, which up until the repros got updated was the only way to spot an original from over- the-counter grilles and repops. Broke my original in '76 and replaced it with a new one from GM - all black, left the center grill black and painted the surround LeMans as it should be. I used to think it looked better then Argent, but I will paint to original when the restoration ever gets there. NORS is still better than a repop, IMO.

    Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. I have a pretty thick old hide; it stands up to criticism quite well. I can learn even at my advanced old age -

Regards,
Steve

[JohnZ]

The untouched/original silver grille in my 02D Norwood X33 car is molded in gray/silver plastic - there's no paint on it at all except the Fathom Green surround.

[69Z28]

Same as the original grill in my car. No paint on the grill, and body color paint, Cortez Silver is on the surround.

[Rufcar]

I want to paint my surround black like the grill even though the car is Hugger Orange so should i use a 1 stage flat black? I also want to paint the back around the tail lights since it was a once a big block SS. Your thoughts?

[69Z28-RS]

Since that would be a custom scheme, you can paint it however you like, but remember that you are painting on plastic, so use materials compatible wtih it that will adhere..  your paint shop can tell you what you need to do.

[Rufcar]

What type paint did GM use on the blackened tail section?

[JohnZ]

What type paint did GM use on the blackened tail section?

Lots of theories on this one - mine is that they used the same semi-gloss black they used on the firewall and on the rocker blackout.

[Mark]

All 67 to 69 Camaro exterior paints were Acrylic Lacquer.  They are a different formula than what you can buy today, or even back then for repairs, but they were all laquers.