Hawk Front Grill??

[jg61hawk]

I have a 61 Hawk. The front hood grill is pitted as are most. I just a bought a nice grill from a forum member JImjim../ in Georgia. Nice grill but I want to make it as it came in 61. Does anyone know what Studebaker did behind the little chrome parts on the front. If you look really close these grills are a fake so to speak. They are are chromed up front but the back section APPEARS to be painted. I tested with a magnet and the grill is not steel.

So my question is: If you are a Hawk lover how do I restore a front grill to perfection?

[mbstude]

Hey Jim. It's chromed pot metal, and the "grate" inserts are painted silver.

[rockne10]

Pot metal does not contain iron and will not attract a magnet.
Lightly scuff the areas that receive paint. Tape the areas that remain chrome. Thoroughly clean with Prep-SolDuPont Final Klean 3901S. Spray your paint. Unmask.

[bezhawk]

Jimmijim is in Alabama

[Roscomacaw]

Brad, you need to look at a Hawk grille. If it were me, I'd paint it as good as I could - the whole grille - and then wipe the chromed face with a thinner dampened cloth to remove the paint. Of course, if inside the grates there's severe pitting, there's no easy or reasonalby priced fix.