where's best place to get a chrome grille? need early 65 style with squares. i'll be selling late style when i find early.

 

What's the difference between early and late 65 grille? Are you saying you have a 66 grille and want a 65 grille? show pictures please.

 

There is an NOS one that keeps showing up on Ebay. They are rare and this one has a buy it now for 2300 dollars.

 

If considering 65 grille check with platter, believe the steel grille is better suited for chroming then aluminum?

 

I've seen that NOS one on Craigslist and EBay numerous times. I to want to know what your referring to early and late 65. There is a lot of 65 trucks that have a 66 grille on them due to the 65 grille being discontinued and when the grille needed replaced in an accident they used a 66 grille as the replacement. A steel grille is best for being chromed. The straighter of a grille you can get the cheaper it will be to straighten out. But chrome is very pricey no matter where you go

 

early had big squares pattern

 

Please post pictures of what you have and what you want, maybe I can help.

 

early
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...lack-65-a.html
late or 66
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...66-f100-7.html

 

You need a 65 grille join the club haha. There is no early or late 65 when specifying. It's either a 65 grille or 66 grille on a 65 which happens to be very very common to see the 66 grille on 65 trucks like I said in my earlier post.

 

Have you had any quotes from chrome shops? Have you ever had an item chromed that was the size of a grille? Remember when getting quotes, it's not just the grille shell, it's also the headlight bezels.
My custom 66 grille cost me $850.00 to chrome. Keep in mind I had the grille, and I straightened it before it went to the shop.
Most shops like body shops are charging $80.00 an hour to straighten the grille, taking out imperfections, dents, dings and also repairing broken mounting tabs. All this can add up pretty fast.
You can easily be into the grille for $1000.00 or more.

 

There is a guy on Slick60's Facebook page parting out his 65 F100 with a painted grille. I think he'd prefer to sell the whole truck, he's got the title and looks pretty clean.

 

[QUOTE=gangstakr;15846246]Have you had any quotes from chrome shops? Have you ever had an item chromed that was the size of a grille? Remember when getting quotes, it's not just the grille shell, it's also the headlight bezels.

Yes I have, 'chrome quote shock' so rather than have a couple steel 65 grilles chromed I decided to remove the anodize from the aluminum grille, sand to desired dull sheen, purchased an aerosol can of clear paint for aluminum type of material. Found it very labor intensive, last about 5-6 years, or longer depending how long willing to wait for a 'redo'.

No comments necessary about the hand painted front plate.

 

If you have a nice straight one you can have it powder coated. Around here it runs $150 to $200 and it doesn't matter if it is aluminum or steel. Plus you can have about any color you want from something close to chrome looking to purple.

 

[QUOTE=Crop Duster;15849159]If you have a nice straight one you can have it powder coated. Around here it runs $150 to $200 and it doesn't matter if it is aluminum or steel. Plus you can have about any color you want from something close to chrome looking to purple.[/QUOTE

Thanks for the information: Acquired a couple steel grilles over these many years that have been collecting dust; suggestion gives me the incentive in taking them to a finishing shop for a quote, if powder coat finish is similar/same as the anodized aluminum grille, at a reasonable price, it's a done deal.

 

Above-as original, but in September 1965, Ford replaced the 1965 grilles with 1966 grilles for use as "service part replacements."