Who builds the most accurate original style reproduction steel 32 grille? Fit finish etc. Does anybody reproduce a center that is not polished stainless and is stamped like OEM? Thanks
Brookville makes a pretty nice reproduction shell the is not filled and will accept the bezel. As far as a insert I'm not familiar with a original style non stainless. HRP
Are you looking for a commercial truck grill? They are the steel only stamped insert,verses the stainless car type. I don't think anyone makes one yet. If someone does, I'd be interested in one for my roadster.
Dales makes the best reproduction insert,,but they are stainless! And as already pointed out,,the 32 pickup has the insert made into the shell. HRP
I have a Dales and an original. The Dales is heavier in weight, and when you run your fingers across the fins, it dont rattle like some of the others. They are very well built.
Dales makes them with stainless bars and also with regular steel bars for painting, fit is perfect, on sale now for $299 for either one
I've been using the Vintique shell either filled or stock and Dales insert on the roadster pkgs I've been building. Better fit than the Brookville shell!
It took me many many years to find a decent stock 32 insert! I started my build in 1994 (at the ripe old age of 14) and everything has been on a budget. this fall I found a near perfect insert in a beat up oem shell for $250! sold the shell for $100. I have a NICE ford shell and wanted a matching insert for it. If I had known dales had a steel bar insert and that it was on sale for $299 I may have even gone for that instead of waiting quite as long as I did. I have heard nothing but good things.
Bought this vintique shell & grille from Gearhead In Hudson Iowa @ a reasonable price & if I remember correctly they footed the freight bill. Stainless bars & all fit pretty good. Very small amount of fitting. I'm happy. Just need to finish the fender fit & headlight bar.
Thanks again. I have nothing against the stainless insert, just is not the look I am after. I like the apearence of an original car grille insert when used on a pickup. Anybody want to chime in on the their experience with aftermarket shels and radiators. I want a radiator with the cap in the original position.
I always thought if I needed to buy a new insert, I'd get an all stainless one and sandblast the bars (tape off the outer ring). That should give them a satin grey color that closely matches the original French Grey. And there would be no paint to chip off. And they'd never rust.
On sale til the end of January Dales insert with plain steel bars, 299 plus $18 shipping, they are nice!
this may be a dumb question but if you are going to paint or powder coat why does it have to be plain steel? can't stainless steel be powdercoated or painted. and wouldn't that be better anyway??
Be careful when checking the insert bars, got a nasty finger cut just picking one up to check it out, edges are like razors.
ive never really seen an aftermarket shell and insert fit right. Henrys always seem to fit. ive seen alot of cars with a top corner of the insert hanging out or a big gap.
If the Dale's insert is as nice as everybody says, I will make the gaps work. Thanks for all of the responses.