1972 egg crate grill rehab: what color to paint it?

[In The Ten Ring]

I have my 1972 inner egg crate grill off (took some ingenuity to do this with little fuss and no brittle plastic breaking).

Mine is badly faded, paint overspray, etc. what color would be best to paint it back with?

*I was thinking a satin silver? LOOKING FOR ORIGINAL LOOK HERE.

Comments?

[hugger6933]

Look at Argent silver. I assume your thinking spray can.

[leddzepp]

I used argent silver, same as rallye wheels.

[In The Ten Ring]

What about "metallic" silver?

Neither Walmart nor NAPA had "satin" or "argent" silver.

WAIT A MOMENT!

Was the grill originally silver or grey?

[tommys72]

You won't find argent silver at Wal-Mart or Lowe's. I ordered it in a can from a paint store

[franken]

Argent is Spanish for silver, so argent silver translates to silver silver.
Why not try removing whatever paint is there, if any? Maybe the color of the plastic was stock?

[In The Ten Ring]

Grill was never painted.

The original owner (my dad) thinks the original color was grey, not silver. Anyone have a NOS or original grill? (1972)

[special-K]

I think the argent turns t a grey with age. I like the greyer look anyway. When they are too silver it gets to looking like poor man's chrome. But, yeah, a N.O.S. grille will be argent. Just google for GM rallye wheel paint. I got some through Amazon and it came from Corvette Central (cheapest, believe it or not). Eastwood sells all those paints. I'm giving this info knowing you are in an area with limited choices locally. I figure that's why you only checked where you did.

[In The Ten Ring]

You are correct, not much around here in way of stores.

So "argent" is the way eh? I will try and order some ASAP.

[flashed]

I got mine (argent paint) at local O'Reiley's Auto Parts .

[FirstOwner69]

I used a Rustoleum color called Satin Nickel on the inner grille of my 69. It was in their Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover line of products. Their website now only lists that color in the Universal line. I remember thinking my original was a little grayer than silver when the truck was new as your dad described. The Satin Nickel appears a shade or 2 grayer than silver.

[In The Ten Ring]

could you post a pic of this "nickel silver" inner grill?

Also, could you guys that used "argent" could you show me your inner grills too?

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

could you post a pic of this "nickel silver" inner grill?

Also, could you guys that used "argent" could you show me your inner grills too?

Picture below of "Satin Silver". As with any color and metallic paints the appearance varies with lighting.

[In The Ten Ring]

That looks great man.

Anyone have a pic of "argent silver" on a 1971 or 1972 grill?

[Mapearso]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

That looks great man.

Anyone have a pic of "argent silver" on a 1971 or 1972 grill?

Here you go

Just sprayed it last week

Argent Silver Rally Wheel paint from Classic Industries ...

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Picture below of "Satin Silver". As with any color and metallic paints the appearance varies with lighting.

OOPS! I should have said "Satin Nickel" rather than "Satin Silver".

[leddzepp]

Close up

[In The Ten Ring]

Well that decides it for me! Argent Silver it is!

Now does it matter which maker I get it from?

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by Mapearso

Here you go

Just sprayed it last week

Argent Silver Rally Wheel paint from Classic Industries ...

How did you get your outer grill to be so shiny?

[leddzepp]

Here is a pic when I first installed mine. Had a local metal polisher restore it. Best piece on my truck, if you can find an old school guy that polishes and restores vintage metal I highly recommend it.

[Mapearso]

Originally Posted by In The Ten Ring

How did you get your outer grill to be so shiny?

Same as LeddZepp said. I had a local shop polish it. It came out really nice. Almost TOO shiny, but I know over time it will lose some luster

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by Mapearso

Same as LeddZepp said. I had a local shop polish it. It came out really nice. Almost TOO shiny, but I know over time it will lose some luster

Well, I had a dream I did it myself last night but I just looked online and there is a metal polishing guy right up in the eastern panhandle, where I will be in the coming weeks hunting. I'll call their shop tomorrow and see if they can help me.

Thanks guys! Tomorrow I'll head over to O'Reilly's and see if they have "argent" silver.

[cherokeejohn]

Any chance in you PM'ing me or posting the metal guy you located in the panhandle. I'm looking for one myself for my 72 grill and some other trim pieces from another project. I too will be in the panhandle area for hunting season, outside of Romney WV to be xact. I also have some relatives in the Mathias/Moorefield area too.Beautiful country,and good hunting too. Big rack bucks aren't as common with mountain deer but you cant eat the horns right, lol

[In The Ten Ring]

I just went down the line, calling each one. I sent pics to two of these here.

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourcei...01248340718028

[In The Ten Ring]

Originally Posted by flashed

I got mine (argent paint) at local O'Reiley's Auto Parts .

I called O'Reilly's Auto Parts and the guy will have to order it in cans but he thinks he can do that today. He said the part listing showed it as an "engine enamel".....would that be OK for the inner grill?

If engine enamel is pretty tough, would that be a plus for a grill which will see a lot of bug and road grit impacts?

I think he said it was "Dupli Color" which I know is a paint brand.