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Re: Bumpers & Grille
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Forum Ambassador
 
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Thank you, it's a fun project! Cleaning off the remnants of lacquer and polishing everything up makes the original chrome look good. When you mention cleaning off lacquer, if any was a clear coating and on chrome or other bright items you might want to check the list to verify that it was not on one of the pieces that might have been "war chrome". By 53 production I expect most if not all of that stuff was gone but since a lot of pieces are interchangeable with earlier years you never know if there was any waiting to be used up or something stuck in some dealer inventory that might have been installed after the fact.
Posted on: Today 12:08
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Howard
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Re: Bumpers & Grille
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Home away from home
 
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HH56, that is exactly what it is. I should have said enamel, not lacquer. I the picture below you can see the two places under the "teeth" where the enamel is still in good condition, other than it has yellowed. There was still enamel on the back edge of this piece, the bottom of the grille and the back edge of the teeth, anywhere that it was more protected. My entire grille had enamel, as does most of my car. There is no indication of front end damage, so no reason to think this is not the grille the car left the factory with. My car was 8901 of 10799 Cavaliers produced in 53, so not an early one.  
Posted on: Today 13:00
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Re: Bumpers & Grille
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Home away from home
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Sorry, shining a light on the fact that you guys are neglecting your cars was not my intention. 
Posted on: Today 13:22
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Re: Bumpers & Grille
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Forum Ambassador
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My entire grille had enamel, as does most of my car. That is bad news. I had thought the restrictions had mostly been lifted with 53 production but since the conflict didn't end until mid 53 apparently not. Packard said the war chrome will deteriorate fairly quickly without the enamel but that is probably with outdoor parking or exposure to more city and industrial environments. If your chrome is still in good shape and car is kept garaged or away from city fumes maybe keeping the war chrome clean, dry, and polished will suffice. Still it might be worth looking into a new modern enamel or lacquer covering if it could help save the pot metal from pitting and quickly needing a re-chrome.
Posted on: Today 15:05
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Howard
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Re: Bumpers & Grille
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Home away from home
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Restrictions may have been lifted, but who knows how many war chrome parts were in inventory, Packard wasn't in a position to be scrapping anything. My chrome only has minor pitting and given the condition of much of the car I have to think the car has been garaged most of it's life and is being garaged under my care. Our dry prier climate should help preserve it as well. And as you mention, keeping it clean and polished/sealed is probably the best thing for it. If it still looks as good as it does after 71 years I think it'll be fine for the rest of my life! Going to go put it back together and will post pics when I'm done. I'll do a couple of close-ups of the more pitted areas. I always like to hear your insights, you're a wealth of Packard information!
Posted on: Today 15:32
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