Removing grille 70 skylark

Discussion in 'Color is everything!' started by sgbuick, Jul 2, 2013.

  1. pdn1976

    pdn1976 Well-Known Member

    does anyone know what the "body colored strip" under the grill is actually called & if it is sold anywhere on internet, Im restoring a 72 skylark & this part seems to be missing from the boxes od parts that came with car
     
  2. cstanley-gs

    cstanley-gs Silver Mist

    The 72 won't have that strip.
    Its 70 only.
    72 grill lower portions will be visible through the bumper openings.
     
  3. pdn1976

    pdn1976 Well-Known Member

    Thanks
     
  4. sgbuick

    sgbuick Well-Known Member

    Yay, I got it out, simply by removing both headlight bezels and then moving the bottom of the grille out of the bumper (prob. bec. there are only 2 studs remaining :rolleyes:

    Now the next question, what is the correct color to paint the grille on the Skylark? I tried "Krylon high temp aluminum" (it was left over from another project) but it appears too bright silver, any suggestions on what the closest to factory would be?
     
  5. 4WR

    4WR Well-Known Member

    I used (see pic above) Dupli-Color CBNS0595 Platinum. I think it's a Nissan colour.
    It's a little lighter (brighter) than the "Argent" that a buddy used on his GSX but people seem to agree that it looks "better".
    I took one of my tail light lenses to the store with me and matched the silver painted surround as close as they had.

    Hope it works out for you.

    Take Care

    EDIT....... The Skylark grille was originally chrome so what ever you put on there is going to look different.
    Have you tried taking some WD-40 and 00 steel wool to it? It might still be chrome under all the crap.
    Try a spot and see.
     
  6. sgbuick

    sgbuick Well-Known Member

    Ooh, it was chrome? Didn't know that - never seen one in chrome before.

    Do you have any pic's of either the argent or the Duplicolor?
     
  7. sgbuick

    sgbuick Well-Known Member

    Umm....

    The grille was chrome from the factory? Was that all Skylarks, or just the Custom model? I have never seen any with a chrome grille before, all pic's on the web seem to be some kind of silver color
     
  8. 4WR

    4WR Well-Known Member

    I don't know if it was all skylarks but every 1970 I've seen has a chrome plated ABS grille.
    Most have so much oxidization on them that they just look kind of grey or someone has painted it black.
    Try the steel wool & WD40 thing on yours if its still intact.

    Take Care
     
  9. sgbuick

    sgbuick Well-Known Member

    Are you sure that all 1970 skylarks had chrome grilles? I've never seen one like that anywhere, including the web. They all seem to have silver grilles. Was the chrome one maybe on just Skylark Customs?
     
  10. sgbuick

    sgbuick Well-Known Member

  11. 4WR

    4WR Well-Known Member

    post #12 in this thread
     
  12. sgbuick

    sgbuick Well-Known Member

    4WR, it's hard to tell from the pic, is that one in the pic chrome or silver painted?
     
  13. 4WR

    4WR Well-Known Member

    It's chrome.
     
  14. sgbuick

    sgbuick Well-Known Member

    Does that mean that the whole thing is chrome, including the U-shaped lower part where the stainless attaches to?
     
  15. 4WR

    4WR Well-Known Member

    Yes, but there is NO stainless trim on a skylark grille.
    Try some WD40 and 000 steel wool on that U-shaped piece and see what's under there.

    Take Care
     
  16. 1970 base Skylarks have the same three piece stainless as the GS grilles.

    Skylark Customs got the chrome plated plastic treatment.
     
  17. 4WR

    4WR Well-Known Member

    Thanks Paul

    I guess all the Skylarks I've seen have been Customs then.
    Are the three pieces of stainless the exact same on Skylark vs GS?

    Take Care
     
  18. Yes they're the same.

    I thought it was weird the first time I saw a chrome played grille.

    Along the same lines, my Buick nameplate on the rear bumper is argent silver and not black. This is correct for the base Skylarks.
     
  19. sgbuick

    sgbuick Well-Known Member

    So...
    If mine has the stainless U-shaped trim across the bottom, it should not be a chrome grille, but painted? :Do No:
     
  20. Correct. Argent silver, I believe with black in the grooved area on the front facing horizontal and vertical bars.
     

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