Hi Guy's,
Where's a good place to buy a grille ?
Thanks for the help.
Bob
Wis
If you want original check ebay, they pop up there reguarly in varying states of condition. Butches Cool Stuff is developing or has in production a tube grill for 57s and of course check with the "traditional" guys over on the HAMB.
What Bill said. Just for reference, I saw two nice driver quality grilles at the Pate swap meet..200 and 250. I just checked Butch's site and there is no '57 grille listed yet. I did notice the verticle ss tube grille for the '55-'56 was 1250. There are at least several tube grille manufacturers that make a '57 grille. I've seen both chrome and stainless steel (would be my choice for sure), with different tube sizes and number of tubes. I'll look for some .coms if you want them.
Rich
Hey Rich, After an absence of 20 years I am back in the restoration of a 57 ranchero. Was wondering about this Pate swap meet. Where, when , etc.Man the parts available are so much more expensive,and rare now. When I built my first 57 in 1969 rear shocks weren't even available.Now I can even replace the floors,and the rocker panels.Picked up a drivers side of a good driver grille at the New Braunfels swap meet for $20. and a nos grille splice for $35. That was about all they had for a 57 except the tail lights that every one sells.A little here and a little there, and this 57 will breathe again...in style. What I mean is rare is the used , still good stuff. More than ever , new stuff is available. I noticed that Ecklers has the nylon switch insert that is always broken on the 55-57 chevy windshield wiper motors.( they bolt right on to our 57 fords) .Less than $9 for that repair.
Me again Rich, Is pate the one at Texas speedway?
I just bought a grill for mine but I'm not sure if it's a OEM or some aftermarket. Weren't the originals polished stainless ? This one appears to be chrome plated but is 100% better then the one that is in it now which is also chrome and has large area's flaking off and rusted. I still don't have a center piece :005:
Quote from: jumping jack flash on 2013-05-15 11:56
Me again Rich, Is pate the one at Texas speedway?
Yes...you just missed it by about 3 weeks.
Hiball...they oddly enough are all chrome. It was the one part on the car you would have expected to be stainless, but they are not. The two I saw at the Pate swap meet did not have the center pieces either. At least they weren't on display with the grilles..I wasn't needing one so I didn't ask.
Thanks Rich, that's good news for me. I got these for a decent price and probably cheaper then having the others re chromed. I think all the regulations here in Calif have caused plating prices to skyrocket..
prices I've gotten for replating range from 500 to 850. I would imagine a place like Paul's would be close to 1K. I can't decide between having the oem one rechromed or a stainless custom tube grille. It will probably be a matter of which one pops up available at a good price. I may just clean up my really good driver quality oem one and install that down the road (LOL...it's been a long road with no end in sight yet) while I work on a custom grille. I ideally want the oem outer portion welded as one unit with the center section removed and replaced with s.s. bars...ala Burgoff's
Those kind of prices are not in my little budget, so I'm happy with what I bought for $140. They aren't show quality, a few really small scratches that are hardly noticeable but nice enough for my driver..
Quote from: hiball3985 on 2013-05-16 08:23
I just bought a grill for mine but I'm not sure if it's a OEM or some aftermarket. Weren't the originals polished stainless ? This one appears to be chrome plated but is 100% better then the one that is in it now which is also chrome and has large area's flaking off and rusted. I still don't have a center piece :005:
Nope, chrome plated stamped steel, Ford didn't spend a lot on chrome. Most start rusting on the back side first and then it works it's way into the park/turn light pockets and in the corners where the horizonal bars and vertical bars meet.
Mine have major rust on the front so I can only imagine what the back looks like, I haven't taken it off yet. The ones I purchased only show very light rust on the back side, they will out live me :003:
piper go to the wrecking yard listings contact Clayton Bauer (Oregon) he'll treat you right. I bought a real nice driver quality one from him for $100- a few years back.
contact him at rancharito@hotmail.com he always responds quickly, its a sideline business so if you call him think evenings pacific time. his number is in BWhitmores' following post.
zap- :unitedstates:
Claton Bauer is a top notch guy. The best time to reach him is in the evening. I will look for his phone number and post it.
Clayton' s number is (503) 684-2059.
And don't o'look your local craigslist I'm meeting a guy who has a complete driver quality grille and 2 door mirrors today for $100-.
Years past I've walked away from good deals because one piece was missing, only to find it t the next swap meet. And then of course beat myself for not buying the good deal. Then finally buying a complete set for way more. With some stuff I've learned to just buy what's available and then search on. So don't pass on a good grille because the center piece is missing some one will come up with one.
Zap- :unitedstates: