Another decision made

[RICH MUISE]

I was on the '57 Facebook page last week and got to an area where I could have 3 cars showing in the same view. One had a 6 bar tube grille, one had a 10 bar tube grille, and the 3rd had a stock grille. I decided I liked the oem stock grille better, so until I can get a custom stainless one made similar to Bob Burgdoff's I'm gonna go with an OEM. As it turned out, at the Decatur swap meet this past weekend, there was a newly plated one there so I bought it. In 5 or 6 years of swap meeting, this was only the 2nd or 3rd one I've seen and by far the best. Love that shiney stuff.
Not the kinda stuff I needed to keep my project moving to completion...or running...but ya gotta get these kina things when they come up.
BTW, turned the odometer on my Grand Cherokee over the 200K mark on the way back.

[Ecode70D]

Rich
     That grill is stunning.  It just dazzles in the sunlight.
     You just may like it so much after it's installed that you change you mind about the custom stainless one.

[Limey57]

You know what?  I don't think I've ever looked at mine, I put it up in the garage roof when I got the car and paid zero attention to it, I just assumed they were aluminum with clear anodizing and I intended to polish the life out of it.  I'll drag it down at the weekend and have a good look over it.

You just can't have too much shiney stuff in my opinion!

[RICH MUISE]

Thanks Jay. It was wrapped in clear plastic when I bought it, only tore the plastic in a few spots to look until I got it home. I couldn't be more pleased with it after a thorough inspection at home.
Limey...unfortunatly they're not aluminum or stainless...chrome plated steel.

[JPotter57]

Good score Rich...like you said, at this point you have to snag the deals when you find them.

[RICH MUISE]

Thanks James...speaking of swap meet stuff...Classic Auto was at Decatur, and they still have the '57 Aluminum radiators priced at 199.

[62galxe]

sounds like we both did good at Decatur.

[RICH MUISE]

Shhhh.....don't tell my wife, the best part was I stopped at a Casino just north of Witchita Falls..got there about 11 pm, left money in the car....went in with 60. bucks, came out at 6am with 1160. 2hr nap in the car, drove an hour to decatur, walked around til3 pm, drove 5 hours home. I was one tired puppy...but sure had fun.
That setup you got for your 390 is gonna be sweet...yup we both did good.

[Limey57]

Since discovering that these were chrome plated steel I dug mine out and had a good look.  They aren't bad and would look okay on a "nice" driver, but when they're against all my new chrome (bumpers, door handles etc, etc....) they just aren't going to cut it.  Fortunately they're quite straight so re-plating should be straight forward, the only problems I'll have is finding a plater!  A lot have closed down because of environmental legislation and those that are still around are used to doing decorative-chrome for shop fittings and the like, where they usually chrome plate over a nickel flash plating without any copper, resulting in quick-rusting when exposed to the elements.  I'll have to ask around......

[RICH MUISE]

Exactly where I was at with my old one. It looks pretty much like yours...good, but not good enough next to all the new stuff. You're right on with the no-copper not making the grade. Good shops over here are getting hard to find and expensive....made me thankful most of the stuff on our cars is stainless.

[robhaerr]

I do like the OEM grille, too.

Rob

[RICH MUISE]

I really like custom things when they improve on the original. Time and expense limited my choices at this time to oem replate, or tube grille. I honestly liked some of the tube grilles, not others, but overall didn't see the tube grille as an improvement.
Eventually, however I will attempt a copy of Burgdoff's. The pic quality is not good. I would love to see this car in person..hard to tell from pics I've seen what else he's got going on that makes the front look so clean...splash pan mods, tucked bumper, etc.
My car will also not have the guards, and has been nosed. Like the grille, I don't have a real preference with the bug eyes over frenched, so the bugeyes will probably stay. ,

[57chero]

As far as the headlight treatment I like the original look but they stick out just a little bit to far (bug eye) , so I cut off 3/4" off the back edge of the headlight bezel bent over and flattened did a little bondo to smooth it out. Attaches same as factory, moved the headlight bucket back also. No body even notices unless you point it out or happen to be parked next to a stock 57 then its really obvious.

[RICH MUISE]

Very subtle...you're right, I sure wouldn't have noticed. They do look better. Nice job!

[Limey57]

Agreed, to me thats the mark of a top dollar modification, so subtle that you know it looks better than stock but you just can't quite figure out what has been changed.