Better than Billet Fully Chromed Factory Grille Shell!

[88GMCtruck]

This works on many trucks, so far I have personally seen this on 88-98 aftermarket replacement grilles.

Change this *Blah*
http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/88GMCtruck/105256.jpg

To This! :D
http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/88GMCtruck/112564.jpg

In stock form, the grille is ok, but dull.

After Wrecking my truck in October 2003, the grille was toast :banghead: After purchasing an aftermarket replacement grille from a company called certifit http://www.certifit.com i relaized that the grille was fully chromed, then painted over for a stock appearance. I decided to remove the paint on the grille bars first. This would create a 1-piece grille, but the bars would be shiny chrome!

To do this you need:

Laquer thinner or similar paint remover
Rags
Masking Tape (optional)
Gloves
Chrome Polish
Few spare hours

Make shure you are in a WELL ventilated area!!!!

First off, test a small area covered by the hood to see if your grille is full chrome! Another way to tell is if the backside of your grille is also chrome. First remove or tape off the grille emblem. Start by applying paint remover of choice to rag, and wipe over paint on grille. Some rubbing my be needed to fully remove the paint..... I went cafefully over the fronts of the bars, leaving the grey color between them.

Partially finished.
http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/88GMCtruck/107331.jpg

Finished.
http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/88GMCtruck/107343.jpg
http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/88GMCtruck/107335.jpg

Much better isn't it?! As of now, I was satisfied with my billet looking grille, but the Chrome bug hit me.:wink: After a few weeks I broke out the laquer thinner and rags again and went to work on the area around the headlights. For this, I removed the grille and all lights. Same prcedure as above.

Partially Finshed
http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/88GMCtruck/109557.jpg

Fully Chromed
http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/88GMCtruck/109558.jpg

Installed
http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/88GMCtruck/114514.jpg

Now don't think I'm done just yet. Remember when you test a spot hidden by the hood?! :slap: Well this gave me another idea........ I removed the paint on the top part to give my engine bay more shine!

Before
http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/88GMCtruck/116564.jpg

After
http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/88GMCtruck/116565.jpg
http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/88GMCtruck/116566.jpg

Now, isn't that much better than before. I think that was the best $3.99 I have spent, yeilding the best results imaginable.

Questions?

[Luke2kZ71]

sweet dude.

[cooker2003]

nice :D

[Luke2kZ71]

how much was the replacment grill?

[AntiBling]

Very nice.

[88GMCtruck]

I purchased the replacement grille for $58 and $15 shipping. It is the same place i purchased Ryan (K1500Chevy97)'s grille at. I also bought my parking lights, and new Turbo Diesel bumper there.

[bikerbeng]

Is $58 about the same price for the K1500 grille? I ask because I have a C1500 '97 and am in the market for a replacement.

[88GMCtruck]

Yes, i also bought one for $58 for a 97 silverado.

[Ryan98948]

Originally posted by 88GMCtruck
Yes, i also bought one for $58 for a 97 silverado.

that would be mine :D

[Timberwolve81]

how was the fit and quality of that aftermarket grill? I've heard that it's not the greatest and go with OEM GM parts. I've been thinking of a getting a 94+ plus grill but the funds are too low for OEM :(

[88GMCtruck]

My front grille, parking lights, and bumper are all aftermarket replacements from the same place. They all fit just fine like the stock parts did! All the parts are of the same quality as my stock pieces, so I can't complain!

I did get a GM fender and bumper brackets though. After the wrecking my truck and needing new parts, the bumper brackets and fender was a must with OEM stuff. Aftermarket body panels usually just don't hold up.

On another note, i have also seen all of hte 88-98 style grille in full chrome for sale on ebay, usually about $200. I spent just over $60 for the same thing!

[cxpcman]

this also can be done with the other style grills (tong yang brand).. if somebody need a picture let me know

[flip1950]

Hello..

I picked up one of the replacement grills, in chrome, from certifit yesterday. Whe I got it home and opened it, the whole thing was chrome. I meen the whole thing was chrome, no black at all. It was all plastic which was painted chrome. I would have kept it but it was very cheezy looking and I wanted to get the look that 88gmctruck has. I called back and they said the only other one they offer was all gray.

Do you have the part number of the same grill that you got, or the number of another grill I could use?

Was your replacement grill metal which was painted chrome?

It is going on a 93 GMC k1500

Thanks!

[88GMCtruck]

I don't have a part number for it, but it is a plastic grille that is chromed over (not painted chrome) and then had the stock grey color painted on.

I'm not shure what you got, but it doesn't sound right. Ask for a factory style replacement.

One of my friends over at MCT did his 93 and it looks awsome!

http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/92BlueBeast/120923.jpg
http://chevytruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/92BlueBeast/120924.jpg

[1990z71]

so i can do this on my factory chevy silverado grille? its a 90 chevy and i like the look of that 93 chev that had it dun...so i should just try some paint thinner on the top of my factory grille under the hood and see if its chrome under the black paint?

[cxpcman]

Originally posted by 1990z71
so i can do this on my factory chevy silverado grille? its a 90 chevy and i like the look of that 93 chev that had it dun...so i should just try some paint thinner on the top of my factory grille under the hood and see if its chrome under the black paint?
i dont think so

[88GMCtruck]

It will only work on a replacement style grille.

[Jimmy_D]

ive got a 94 chrome grille thats like that. i wonder if its chrome under the gray

[88GMCtruck]

If it's the aftermarket replacement (not OEM) then it may be. Test a spot under the hood where you can't see it! :D

[Tasty]

Hey 88GMCtruck I notice in your grille photo series that you also modified your air intake. What's the story on that, and do you have a post in the forum about it. I have been wanting to get rid of that factory snorkel as it looks so restrictive. Like the truck is breathing through a straw that comes out of the quarter panel.

[88GMCtruck]

I actually dont' have that intake anymore, i re-designed it and got a larger K&N filter (the previous one was a cheap knock off that deteriorated)

The filter is now located behind the driver's side headlight. There is a large hole there and the air that comes in there is cold. I'm also going to make a heat sheild for it!

I'll take some picts soon, and do a write-up for it.

[DragginLowChevy]

well i am now in hope that all replacment grills are like that. where did you order yours from?

[88GMCtruck]

Mine came from http://www.certifit.com

[DragginLowChevy]

thanks a lot!

Nick

[honda_400ex]

I wonder if this will work on my truck. I have an 87 with the 91 sub style front end on it. Its all aftermarket. I wonder if there is chrome under the center section

[Joe]

Very nice work and great write up :cool:

[Timberwolve81]

I wonder if this will work on my truck. I have an 87 with the 91 sub style front end on it. Its all aftermarket. I wonder if there is chrome under the center section


I would try the process in an "not-so-obvious" place. If it doeesn't work no one will be able to tell.

[honda_400ex]

I struck CHROME!!! I tried it this weekend and there was chrome under the paint on my grill. It looks so much better. I just did the center section. I'll posts some pics later. I don't know if I should around the lights. What do you guys think?

[honda_400ex]

Here is a pic of what I've got so far. I'm trying to figure out what to do around the head lights. Should I do all of it or just the center bar? What do you guys think.

[Bigtown88]

Go for it! The more chrome the better and it's free! It's like a diamond in the rough. I struck chrome yesterday and I can't wait to reveal my grille's full potential this weekend. I will post before and after pics. Mine is a silverado and the bars on the front grille are spaced out more than the gmc so I plan on doing in between all the bars. Good write up 88GMCtruck.

[Bigtown88]

Good news and bad news. I used some laquer thinner on my grille this weekend and watched as the chrome appeared. Looked frickin' awesome! :rocking: Unfortunately the whole grille wasn't chrome underneath. The horizontal bars that are on the silverado grille were actually black underneath the gray paint. So I kept putting laquer thinner on and took the black off to reveal the yellow plastic :eek:. I figured no biggy, I wanted billet inserts anyway so I ordered some from grille4you. I'll post pics tonight.

[Bigtown88]

Here are some pics of my grille after removing the paint. Pics don't do it justice since it was rainy here today. Well worth it. Billet inserts and clear side markers going on later this week.