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Old 08-16-2021, 09:39 AM   #1
Krylon32
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Default 40 Standard Grille

I'm no 40 expert but have a question. Were all 40 standard grille centers chrome or were some painted. My 40 standard has a chrome center with painted sides and painted headlight rims. I am purchasing an original grille and the center is plain.
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Old 08-16-2021, 09:56 AM   #2
Fred A
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

I had a '40 V8 grille center that appeared new with no marks showing it's previous installation. It was shelf worn black. installed it on a car and sold it. The next owner replaced it with a Drake as seen later. A critical exam might have shed more truth as there are so many deluxe grille repops that are often obvious. Good Luck: Fred A
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Old 08-16-2021, 09:56 AM   #3
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

ALL 1940 Ford V8s left the factory with a chrome plated center grille. The outer grilles were painted to match the body color.

I have seen after market center grilles that were "plain" as well as Ford service parts that were (also) plain. I'd guess the Ford "plain" centers were service parts around WWII.
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Old 08-16-2021, 04:59 PM   #4
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

I once had an outer half of a '40 Merc grille, a perfect NOS part, never installed. It was painted a very dark brown, no chrome underneath it. We all know that no Mercs ever left the dealer lot with a painted grille.

I think that Ford produced some replacement parts during the war, but never plated them due to government restrictions.
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Old 08-16-2021, 05:14 PM   #5
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

Quote:
Originally Posted by alchemy View Post
I once had an outer half of a '40 Merc grille, a perfect NOS part, never installed. It was painted a very dark brown, no chrome underneath it. We all know that no Mercs ever left the dealer lot with a painted grille.

I think that Ford produced some replacement parts during the war, but never plated them due to government restrictions.
That is exactly correct.
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Old 08-16-2021, 05:16 PM   #6
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

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I recently purchased a NOS '40 std grille, all black . I figured it was a service part.
Drake is advertising all chrome std grilles on his web site at this time. Maybe the last run.
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Old 08-16-2021, 05:40 PM   #7
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

Thanks for the clarification. My '40 standard has painted headlight rims, painted outer grille sections and a chrome grille center, and they all look like they had been on the car since 1940.
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Old 08-17-2021, 05:23 AM   #8
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille


1940 Ford Standard Grille and Painted Head Light Surrounds.

Last edited by mercman from oz; 08-18-2021 at 05:02 PM. Reason: Description change
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Old 02-07-2023, 01:20 PM   #9
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

thats exactly what i have and exactly why i resurected this thread,

I bought a 40 merc and it had a spare grille that came with it painted black, i figured id strip the black paint of and hope the chrome was good. well first off the black paint had a very dark brown underneath and it was very difficult to remove making me think it was sometype of baked enamel ? after i got that off i saw there was no chrome. .. i thought to my self, did i just strip a NOS grille? was this a replacment service item? oh well, it is perfect for chroming though
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Old 02-07-2023, 01:43 PM   #10
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

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Originally Posted by 345winder View Post
thats exactly what i have and exactly why i resurected this thread,

I bought a 40 merc and it had a spare grille that came with it painted black, i figured id strip the black paint of and hope the chrome was good. well first off the black paint had a very dark brown underneath and it was very difficult to remove making me think it was sometype of baked enamel ? after i got that off i saw there was no chrome. .. i thought to my self, did i just strip a NOS grille? was this a replacment service item? oh well, it is perfect for chroming though
That brown is indicative of an early service replacement part.
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Old 02-07-2023, 02:37 PM   #11
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

Although its probably pretty rare to find originals of these, but late production 1941 pickups had black painted grill sides and cream-painted centers with cream-painted hood trim. I believe it was the same Tacoma cream on the jailbar trucks.
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Old 02-07-2023, 06:18 PM   #12
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

Years ago I worked at Habich Ford in Blue Island Ill. On the D.O. Program Half day at school, Half day at work. One of the Old Body guys said during War II ,Ford used wooden grilles for damage repair
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Old 02-07-2023, 09:48 PM   #13
Krylon32
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

I was lucky to get a Drake 40 standard plain grille with chrome center from his last run. Sure looks good and I have been told they fit.
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Old 02-08-2023, 06:28 AM   #14
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

Quote:
Originally Posted by slowforty View Post
Years ago I worked at Habich Ford in Blue Island Ill. On the D.O. Program Half day at school, Half day at work. One of the Old Body guys said during War II ,Ford used wooden grilles for damage repair
wow. never knew that . .
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Old 02-25-2023, 01:01 AM   #15
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

Quote:
Originally Posted by alchemy
I once had an outer half of a '40 Merc grille, a perfect NOS part, never installed. It was painted a very dark brown, no chrome underneath it. We all know that no Mercs ever left the dealer lot with a painted grille.

I think that Ford produced some replacement parts during the war, but never plated them due to government restrictions.

Originally Posted by Kube
That is exactly correct.

Here is a 40 Ford deluxe half that is painted brown with no chrome. Does the stamp not imply this was made 6(June) of 40?
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Old 02-25-2023, 05:44 PM   #16
Karl Wescott
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

The date on the grille appears to be cast so it is likely the manufacturing date on the die, not a casting date, had the date been "stamped" it would be more likely be a manufacturing date. IMHO.
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Old 02-25-2023, 07:04 PM   #17
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Default Re: 40 Standard Grille

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Originally Posted by Karl Wescott View Post
The date on the grille appears to be cast so it is likely the manufacturing date on the die, not a casting date, had the date been "stamped" it would be more likely be a manufacturing date. IMHO.
Karl, It's also possible that the date was an insert, changed as necessary.
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