Hi, I'm working on the center section of my 70 Challenger grille. I would love to have it restored professionally but I don't have the $750 right now. I did have my headlight bezels redone so they look great. My original grille doesn't look that bad but I would like to cleanup the center mesh section. Has anyone had any luck with this? Should I paint it?
Thanks

I cleaned it the best I could then I lightly fogged it with Eastwood Silver Reflective paint (the paint that you spry tail light buckets with.) The key is not to cover it 100% but to lightly cover it so it does not look fake.

It came out real good and I think I'm into the grill for $50.00 or so.

Hey Jeff! I followed Troy's advice but used a sliverish truck paint that I had here at the house. I am very happy with the way it turned out..the mesh looks great.

BTW..need some new pics of your ride for inspiration!! Oh..did you ever find a sprayout of your Go Mango?

cu grille mesh

Thanks for the input guys. What did you use to polish the trim around the mesh? It looks great on your grilles.

Joe, attached is a current photo of the T/A, running and driving nice. I plan to register it this summer. Jeff

WOW JEFF. It's really looking great. Seeing yours coming along is such a great motivator for me.

There is a really good thread in the archive section where Troy and others gave some great advice on 70 Challenger Grille Resto. I was sort of in the same boat as you, where I could not justify the cost on having the grille redone. So, I decided to have my hood trim and the headlight bezels re-anodized and decided to do the grille the best I could. I will say that my bright trim looks a little better in the photos than in person or compared to what Troy has done. BUT, my bright trim was really not that bad to begin with.

I'm sure Troy will comment, but he stripped the anodize off of his and polished it. I'm sure his looks tons better than mine in person. However, with a kid in and out of the hospital, little time lately and the fact that mine did not look that bad. I decided to leave my bright work and just clean it really well with soap and water. I disassembled it like Troy did. Cleaned all the parts good then painted the mesh and the black areas. I then reassembled. I also have 50 bucks in mine and that was for the rivets and the special rivet tool. Here is what mine looked like when I started. Hope that helps.

Joe

Another after shot. Another thing I will mention is that you could just have the "hoop" reanodized if you wanted but then the parts you didn't might look bad when compared. Also, while I only like doing things once and as right as I can do it the first time...you/I can always go back and redo the grille later. Not sure what condition yours is in...just a thought.

Joe

I look for that old thread and I can not find it. here is a few helpful hints on doing these grills.

I went to Harbor Fright and bought a medium sized polisher and that seemed to do the job well. I used medium and fine compound and then a polish.

I used Easy Off over cleaner, 00 and 0 steel wool to remove the anodizing before polishing the lower grill piece. You know the anodizing is off when you feel the steel wool start to grab and not slide easily.

It sounds Micky Mouse but I use SEM Landau Black paint for the lower grill and frame. If you have never used SEM paint, your missing out. That paint is about $10 a can but it is well worth it.

Don't rush it. Take your time and have fun. This was very hard for me but I have learned that after I paint something....I then just have to walk away.

For masking off the black....I use the 1/8 ultra thin masking tape for the edge and then the low tack blue tape to mask the rest. It will cost you more money but the end results are worth it.

Hope this helps...

Looks Great Guys!

Tav