Write-Up: Custom Chrome Grill

Should look good...might want to put it about halfway between where the fins are and the front of the grille to leave a smaller bevel and show more of the grille material. I always loved the XK's, especially the new ones, since they remind me of the Riv.

Main reason for wanting to attach to the back is admittedly simpler to do - it doesn't need to be completely precise. Plus I'm going to use adhesive to attach it to the back - not sure how neatly I could attach it if I put it midway in the grill or how well it would attach. Cutting the pattern out with tin snips will take awhile being a perfectionist. I also still need to get a donor grill via junkyard to do this project on and that's $35. The pattern on the XKR's grill is actually somewhat rounded rectangles at a diagonal pattern. If it weren't so costly or hard to find I'd love to pick the actual XKR grill and just snip it out to fit the Riviera - it looks considerably larger than the Riviera's grill so I think it would fit. But given an XKR grill is north of $200 I don't think so. I have a small sample of the grill material I'm thinking of using that I requested from the company - I'll try to post a picture of it just wedged in front of my current grill. I think it would stand out somewhat though and not look quite as good just overlaid on my grill (not that this is my sincere consideration, but for the sakes of a photo the chrome strips on the grill would sort of make it look really busy).

Located a donor grille off of a surprisingly nice looking dark green (Emerald?) '95 Riviera:


Here are the pics of the first sample I was sent (Not the one I was wanting to use but I'll show it since I have it anyway):




And oriented horizontally:




And this is the sample of the stuff I was looking to use:




And here is the same piece upside down (There is a subtle difference):




What do you all think? Me personally...this grille material feels kinda cheap. And it's not especially thick or shiny. I was hoping for a more shiny material that would go with the super shine of the Riviera's grille. Opinions? I'm gonna do somethin' with this grille - maybe not the custom insert I might paint it flat black or try painting it gold or something, haven't decided yet but I still hope to do the grille inserts if possible.

i dont like that its whitish. i think if u get it...u should paint it.

I like the wire mesh on the Jaguar XKR and the Bentley Continental GT.


Jaguar XKR (looks kinda familiar)


Bentley Continental GT mesh grill

he said his inspiration was the XKR

The material isn't quite as white as it appears, the flash is doing that. It's more of a flat silver finish - not shiny at all. If you know the kind of metal finish on a typical L bracket you get at Lowes or something it's just like that.

As far as that Bentley style, they offer something that looks similar:

But it's $100...ouch. Not paying that for grill material. Plus I don't know how well that would look on the Riviera since our grill is much shorter.

They offer this too which is also diamond pattern but it's much larger so there will be less diamonds in the grille:


They also have this which I'm sorta iffy about how it would look:


And there's this too, not sure how it would look:


An idea I thought of, unsure if it could be done though - can the grille possibly be painted to match my car? I know where I can go to have them make a small amount of paint that is matched to my car and I think it'd be a real unique look if I had the chrome painted white. Then the R would just be floating seemingly in the middle of nothing - would look cool. But how could I make the chrome to where regular paint would stick to it well? I don't want it to look chrome anymore, I would want it to look like it is just plastic or something - like it just matches the paint. See how like this Civic looks with the white grille:


It looks nice, here's a shoddy job I did in photoshop just to give a rough idea (But remember there will be no chrome fins and I will paint the entire part of the grille that is chrome white not just the outside part of it).

Have it sandblasted then prime and paint.

Wouldn't it be possible to sand it, use a plastic primer, then spray it with some white paint so it would be flat white?

I disagree with the sandblasting. The grill is made of plastic if I remember correctly. Get some red scotch brite and give it a good scrubbing all over. Use a good prep primer like 3m Etching Primer and give it a good dusting. It dosen't need to be layered on. Then paint your white over. Should hold up fairly well without flaking or peeling.

Holy crap guys, I just realized! For everyone doing the thick chrome grille, you're paying homage to the '49 Buick.

Count the bars in the grilles:





Turns out to be 25 each!!

thick is where its at

the more i look at the thick grill i more i like it.
i think ill probably take my thin off and replace it with thick.
did you use the 3/4'' chrome? i think i can get 5/8'' also

5/8 might be too small...it has to go from the bars inside the grill. stay with 3/4

here are couple of pics of my new grill

Nice! Did you have the whole thing dipped?

No i just took out the grill from its 6 screws and bought a chrome spray paint... that simple...

Here is a chrome grille:

http://www.yourhotcar.com/prod/custom/Grilles/Custom_Fit_Grilles/Chrome__Front_Grill_Grille/544980/

Bert

Hey there guys...I just want to thank all of you for the grill tips. I did my grill today using 1/4" door edge molding and it turned out just great. Thanks again

I DIND`NT WANNA DO THE CHROME TRIM LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE SO I CAME UP WITH THIS
TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK

Perhaps it's just me or my computer display, but I really can't see it in the pics.

looks nice.
Ya spent a small fortune on masking tape!

I think it looks good. It is just hard to tell a difference. Maybe if your car was a different color. But it is definately different than everyone else. You may also try doing the chrome thing like everyone else but painting the chrome strips your car color i think it would look better