Cleaning up a Argent 1970 Challenger grill

[Brads70]

I took out my grill and cleaned it up and repainted it, along with new headlight buckets. I used dark textured argent  spray bombs from Roseville and for the honeycomb grill part I used duplicolour engine enamel "aluminum"  I spent a few hours trying to clean each little square but it took forever and with less than satisfying results so I cleaned each square with a tooth brush best I could taped it off and sprayed it. DO NOT USE OVER CLEANER on any part of the grill. I tried it first on the backside and it etched it and turned it dull. I found the best thing that worked well for me was worn out 600 grit sandpaper soaked in acetone. That really worked well and quickly. It brought up the bright anodized parts like new ! I was really impressed how well it worked. Don't stay in one spot long just enough to remove the 45 years worth of road crud. Wipe it off before the acetone evaporates.  Now the new repoped headlight buckets come painted black and I wanted argent so I was quite surprised how fast the black paint came off with acetone . If I was wanting black I would recommend removing the black paint anyhow as I don't imagine it would last long. Take the time to lightly sand the areas that will get paint so it will stick better. After looking at the original argent it had black specks on paint in it that the spray bomb didn't have so I simply stood back and " fogged" it with black trim paint till I got it looking like the original. I used my original headlight buckets for reference. I did remove enough rivits to take the center grill out. I used simple 1/8" pop rivits to assemble, not " correct" but you can't see them anyway?Taping it up takes some time but Its cheap to do, takes some elbow grease and about $30 in materials but I'm happy with the results! The entire job, removing the bumper and grill , painting and installing took me about 5 hours. Its a fun Saturday morning job!  I was waiting for the repop grills to come back instock but after seeing them in person at Carlisle I decided to use my original. It was in great shape just REALLY dirty after 45 years of service. The repop grills are not correct as the suround around the honeycomb part is simply painted silver on the repops not bright anodized like the originals. I figured if they are going to charge as much as they do it should at least be the same as the originals... ??? Hope this helps someone out down the road...

[Cuda Cody]

   That looks fantastic!!!!  I'm going to try that tip about the worn out 600 grit sandpaper soaked in acetone.   Nice job man!   

[Cuda Cody]

Who's you little helper standing guard? 

[Brads70]

Who's you little helper standing guard?

I had to go back and look? LOL That's " Wilson" one of my 2 dogs ( Father and son).  They are Mutts , its hilarious though telling people what breed they are . They are Cocker spaniel and Maltese  . I'll let you figure out the name....

[Brads70]

I did the same treatment to the S/E tail panel.

[Cuda Cody]

That's hilarious!   

Who's you little helper standing guard?

They are Cocker spaniel and Maltese  . I'll let you figure out the name....

[Brads70]

That's hilarious!   

Who's you little helper standing guard?

They are Cocker spaniel and Maltese  . I'll let you figure out the name....

We do a bit of camping with our travel trailer , always meeting someone new, and they always ask what breed are they. It really funny when little old ladies ask. The look on their face is priceless! 

[Spikedog08]

Nice job Brad!  Helpful advice!   

[fc7cuda]

Looks great!   

Nice to see an argent grille done in addition to all the R/T grills.

Tom

[71GranCoupe]

NICE!!

[anlauto]

It looks beautiful argent, but I'm surprised you didn't paint them black ?

[Brads70]

It looks beautiful argent, but I'm surprised you didn't paint them black ?

Ya I know but the argent matches the wheels.....

[cudaragtop]

When I took my grill apart both high beam buckets were on one side and both low beam buckets were on the other.
Which are which? Small rear opening and large rear opening. Which is High beam and which is low beam?

[Brads70]

When I took my grill apart both high beam buckets were on one side and both low beam buckets were on the other.
Which are which? Small rear opening and large rear opening. Which is High beam and which is low beam?

Does this post help?
https://forum.e-bodies.org/cuda-and-challenger-general-discussion-roseville-moparts/2/1970-challenger-headlight-seatsbucket-questions/3201/

[anlauto]

The headlight buckets are marked.