New '40 Deluxe grill quality

40cpe

40cpe

Well-known member
I have a friend building a '40 convertible who doesn't do internet forums. He is needing a grill and obviously wants the best bang for the buck. In the offerings from Speedway, Carpenter, Vintique, Drake, etc, does the price reflect the quality and are there any to definitely stay away from? Thanks for sharing any personal experience with these products.
 
Go with DRAKE as they fit the best and are top quality. I know they are expensive but, what 40 part isn't.
https://bobdrake.com/products/1940-deluxe-grille-w-orginal-center-strip?_pos=25&_sid=933796cb9&_ss=r

I have bought 2 DRAKE grilles over the past 45 years. Once you get it installed you'll be glad about your purchase. If the grille you now have is in good condition you may be able to get it replated (expensive). But, there's no guarantee the grille will fit properly after plating it.

More feedback:
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/40-ford-deluxe-grille-question.933859/
 
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19Fordy raises a good point about possible distortion arising in the re-plating process, especially in the case of large zinc die castings.
 
The reason I mentioned the distortion problem is because I had a DRAKE 40 DeLuxe hood latch nose piece replated by a very reputable chrome plater about 30 years ago. When it came back the chrome was great looking but the inner radial curvature of the nose piece had contracted and the piece no longer fit the hood. I had to patiently and very carefully enlarge the inner radius with a die grinder to make it fit the hood.

It dawned on me that during the plating process the piece must have contracted. I am thinking the plater should have installed a non platable strut between the front tip and the rear end of the nose piece to prevent this distortion. A recent Google search reveals that:
"Warpage during chrome plating of zinc can be caused by mismatch of material’s coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) and the change of temperature in the process 1. In addition, uneven heating and cooling of the material during the plating process may also cause warpage or distortion of the fabrication ." It seems high quality hexavalent chrome plating is a science and an art.

Thankfully, the remaining chrome plating did not peel and it still looks fine.
 

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Not What It Was!

There have been big changes at Drake since those halcyon days leading up to Catalog 30. I've been out of touch for more than a year, but would be pleased to find them back on top of the market, with pages of missed opportunities. Good Luck: Fred A
 
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