When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
The PO painted the grill red, it's not bad but the paint is starting to come off and it looks like I have a nice aluminum grill. I am thinking about stripping and polishing the grill just not sure how hard it will be to strip the grill.
that should be an easy fix with a buffing wheel standup and hand operated. I would remove it , strip it with paint thinner and re-polish it with some mothers.
Standard Cabs came with painted steel grilles, Custom Cabs came with anodized aluminum grilles.
Pictured truck appears to have the optional Custom Cab door handle guards, but doesn't have the Custom Cab's stainless steel windshield reveal mouldings.
Use a magnet and determine if it is painted or aluminum.
If you want to strip the paint, I recommend that you remove the grill and use paint remover. I use aircraft paint remover in a spray can. Its easy to apply and works great, but is a little messy. Removing the paint by hand sanding is very labor intensive, then you still have to polish it. I would prefer to put the grill on a bench and polish it without having to bend over.
Use a magnet and determine if it is painted or aluminum.
What he said. Get that red off of there, though. Truck looks great with the wide tires (although I would choose different rims). If steel grille, I'd go with a white shade paint. If aluminum, I'd steady myself for a lot of labor, or bite the bullet and get a new one from a vendor.
Standard Cabs came with painted steel grilles, Custom Cabs came with anodized aluminum grilles.
Pictured truck appears to have the optional Custom Cab door handle guards, but doesn't have the Custom Cab's stainless steel windshield reveal mouldings.
Was the Custom Cab a option that consisted of mostly trim features. Also one more question, the rear bumper on my 64 frame off is a steel dealership inscribed bumper with dealer name and town on it, was there a specific Ford color for that. I am thinking of just painting it Argent silver.
All the dealer bumpers I saw back in the 60s in Oklahoma were painted white.
Only the 66 style grill is offered in repo and it runs $500.
Im not a fan of the wheels either.
I like the wide tire look, but since going to a L78 bias ply tire on the front and having easy steering I am over the wide tire look. With the L78 on a 15x7 rim, it fills the wheel well nice enough.
Also one more question, the rear bumper on my 64 frame off is a steel dealership inscribed bumper with dealer name and town on it, was there a specific Ford color for that. I am thinking of just painting it Argent silver.
All 1961/79 rear bumpers were optional. Ford didn't introduce step bumpers for Stylesides (only) until 1968, so many of these Stylesides (and Flaresides) have aftermarket step bumpers.
Some of these bumpers have the dealers name stamped on them, but this was done by the various aftermarket bumper makers, not by the dealers themselves.
I've never seen an aftermarket step bumper painted white, the only color I've seen is argent silver.
Painted and chrome Styleside "contoured" rear bumpers were also an option. Contour: These bumpers are dished inwards at the center for the license plate.
Genuine Ford step bumpers have individual brackets, aftermarket step bumpers usually have the brackets welded to the bumpers.
The Ford step bumper brackets are notorious "weak sisters." All it takes is a slight tap...which causes the bumpers to sag like sway backed nags.
Definitely aluminum the paint flakes off in areas with running your finger over the paint. The wheels are going away they are way to wide to turn without power steering and since this is a 63 no power. I am working on stripping and painting a set of rims that came off of a 66.
You can see why the grille was painted. Sure is a lot of damage to be seen with a polished grille. Hopefully your good at taking out dents and waves on an aluminum grille.
As for buying one from a vendor, only the 66 is reproduced. You can look for another one, just make sure you look at the grille closely. People on ebay and C.L. don't always say what's wrong with the grille they just want it sold.
Good luck with your truck.
The PO painted the grill red, it's not bad but the paint is starting to come off and it looks like I have a nice aluminum grill. I am thinking about stripping and polishing the grill just not sure how hard it will be to strip the grill.
Put up for winter work.
EZ Off oven cleaner also works for removal of paint from aluminum grills.
