Anyone have experience lately with a SWB grille restoration from King of Trim?
I had a spare laying around so I thought I'd send it off and see what I'd get back in return.
KoT call me promptly letting me know they received it, said "turn around time was 3-4 months" and an estimated cost.
So, far so good.
Jim
Too many Porsches and one VW are starting to fill up my desert landscape.
https://www.instagram.com/1967s_307184s/
Will be watching. Any before pics?
Peter Kane
'72 911S Targa
Message Board Co-Moderator - Early 911S Registry #100
Unfortunately, this was a "spur of the moment decision", so I didn't take a before pic.Originally Posted by 72targa
Believe me, the grille was a mess. broken support rods & T bolts, bent slats, minor wear and abrasions and loss of the bright luster.
I'm hoping for a masterpiece.
Jim
Too many Porsches and one VW are starting to fill up my desert landscape.
https://www.instagram.com/1967s_307184s/
Juche, any idea on cost? I've got one here I had to cut the rods to open the deck lid. Currently sporting one from our sponsor.
I was not surprised. I was expecting a range of $1000-1500. They quoted me $1400 for my grille, which was acceptable since mine was a mess. Just can't expect anything cheap anymore.
Jim
Too many Porsches and one VW are starting to fill up my desert landscape.
https://www.instagram.com/1967s_307184s/
Years ago I had a pair done by an established plating business which advertised on car TV shows and Hemmings among other hobby rags. Mine were sent back plated in copper which had more or less taken over every profile and no chance for a do-over.
While they are garbage I keep them to remind me how poorly it can turn out.
Very few "good" platers in the game these days. The "authorities" made it hard to make a living. They will inspect you until you cry uncle.
Losing the profile of a part due to heavy handedness makes original parts very desirable even if they're not perfect.
Some very good plating comes out of Europe for the vintage bike crowd.
Early S Registry #235
rgruppe #111
I know of one person locally that had the KoT restoration process done on a grille and is very happy.
Seems KoT is one of the few places that do the bright dip aluminum plating.
Jim
Too many Porsches and one VW are starting to fill up my desert landscape.
https://www.instagram.com/1967s_307184s/
Can you tell me what the plating on the grill is? I don’t think it is supposed to be chromed, correct? My original is in pretty good shape other than needs polishing or plating, or whatever to be cleaned up. It's oxidized and is a grayish color right now. Any input?
The finish is bright dip anodizing over the aluminum parts. The only parts that might not be aluminum (if they have been replaced) are the 4mm threaded rods that the spacers and acorn nuts cover. This process is the same for the deco strips on the car and other aluminum parts. Unfortunately, this anodizing cannot be heavily polished to achieve original appearance. A good cleaning with mild detergent and then application of Gibbs oil might yield surprising improvement. As noted above there are few places that do bright dip anodizing today. This is a substantially different process than regular anodizing the latter of which is commonly available.
Had a set of pop out rear window frames on my ‘66 VW plated many years ago. When I got them home, my fingers would leave prints on the surface that were impossible to remove. Took them back and the owner told me that it was very hard to reproduce what the factory did. I told him that the Germans and Italians were able to make millions of these cars back in the fifties and sixties and he couldn’t reproduce it? He did them again but they just weren’t as good as new.
Bob B
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