1968 Rally Sport grille research

[bertfam]

Rich,

In that case, I believe Steve may be on to something here. The above is a picture of MY 68 SS/RS Grille. NO chrome. I also removed both headlight door covers and they are 67 parts! (P/N 3898136 passenger side, and 3898135 driver side)

What he's theorizing is that at some point in the 68 model year (probably very late in the model year), Chevrolet discontinued the chrome application on the RS Grille and left it black. Steve's car is like this (as is mine), and both our cars have the 68 RS Grille without the chrome, and the 67 headlamp doors. I couldn't find any part number on the Grille though...

Both our cars are very late production (05D for me and 06A for Steve), so our question is, are there any other late 68 RS cars out there with the (pictured above) center Grille and 67 headlamp doors?

Ed

[ccargo]

Dont forget to factor associated "weathering" into the variables 

[Rich]

Yes - I can tell where Steve is headed.  Interesting thought, and one that we'd need to find several very original cars of late build to deal with.

I'm interested in the idea, but I've got about 50 irons in the fire, so I can't spend a lot of intense time on this, but I'll send this back to the core group and ask for some help and a reminder of where we last left this.  If the PM can't resolve this, I'll look closer at the db to see if there are any other good-quality candidate cars for further review.  If the contacts are agreeable, I may pass on that info to you guys to go on the hunt with.

The question about weathering is a valid one and another complicating factor.

Rich

[Steve68]

I would think that there would be evidence of chrome on the center grille somewhere even if it had weathered.  I mean a speck or two at a minimum.  The other thing too would be that the headlight covers would have been chrome and maybe, if a center grille had weathered to the point it was all black or someone decided to paint it black to cover any remaining chrome, they would have had to paint their HL covers as well (if they wanted all to match that is ).  Some careful application of lacquer thinner on the HL covers would answer that question.  Thanks for the interest Ed, Rich, ccargo!  Wish we could get some feed back on the above survey

Steve

[mr396]

Where is the part # on the grille. My camaro is an 07C rs and has the black 68 rs grille,  I thought it was a replacement grille. If it had been replaced it was before 1975.

[Steve68]

mr396

Don't know.  My guess is it would be either be on the top facing the upper grille part or on the bottom facing the lower grille, if it is on it at all.  Does your center to lower grille attachment have rivets or bolts?

Steve

[ccargo]

I have an 04A low mile original grille with the horizontal silver accent. I would best describe the application as a silver painted, or more likely, a hotstamped application and not chrome plated or anywhere near that luster. Just my personal opinion but I dont believe the accent had any reasonable longevity and was most likely non existant before the 5/50 warranty expired.

[bertfam]

Les,

I couldn't find a P/N on my grille so there may not be one. However, the easiest way to tell a 67 RS Grille from a 68 is to look at the horizontal bars. If they're the same level as the vertical bars, it's a 67. If however, they extend about about 1/32" out from the vertical bars, it's a 68. (This was where the chrome hotstamping was applied and it made it easier to do if the horizontal strip was farther out from the rest of the grille.) Also check your headlamp doors. If they're the 67 style (both horizontal and vertical strips the same depth), you might want to pull one and look for the P/N on the back. It'll be either 3898136 for the passenger's side, or 3898135 for the driver's side. Be carefull when you unscrew the 4 screws!! I broke one of mine in half from the build up of rust. (Luckily I was able to use some penetraiting oil and an extractor and get it out.) So you might want to spray some PB Blaster (or equivilant) on the threads before you remove them. Easy to access since they go through the metal door housing...

I agree with Steve regarding the weathering. I examined my grill from stem to stern and there's absolutely NO chrome (hotstamp) anywhere on it. You would think that there would be SOME reminants left, even after all these years. After all, the chrome (hotstamp) on the "SS" emblem is still there...

Rich, let me know if I can be of any help on this one. This is getting interesting!!

Ed

[Steve68]

The chrome around the HL covers and around the perimeter of the upper/lower grilles are still there on my car too.   So  ccargo, using the survey your answers would be 1A, 2B, 3A, 4H right?

Steve

[mr396]

OK, my grille is riveted as is the headlight cover to the chrome with out a part number. and its rectangle that sticks up. In the 80's I painted mine silver.(and not very good I mite add)                                   
 

[Steve68]

mr396

Thanks for the reply with pics and explanation.  I have a couple more questions.  In the HL picture, between the areas (white squares in your pic) where the cover attaches to the housing do you see a part number.  I think I see a "C" but can't be sure.

Ed, do these rivets look like the ones on your car?

Steve

[mr396]

You have good eyes. It's the # 3. maybe a part of a part number. I'll go take the other side off and see if there is a # on it. I took the drivers side off and it is riveted with the # 1. Hope it helps,.Les

[bertfam]

Steve,

Yes, mine is the same (see the picture below). BTW, this is the Passenger's side...

The only difference is the "shadowing" where the metal Backing Plate butts up against the plastic door. Notice the difference between my "shadowing" and Les'...

Les, are the bars on your doors flush or do the horizontal bars extend out about 1/32"? (See the next picture...)

Ed

[bertfam]

Here's what I'm referring to. Notice how the horizontal and vertical bars are at the same level.

Ed

[mr396]

Ed, The grille and HL door horizontal bars stick up a little. The bars are not flush. The shadowing is odd.