Clean Cut Creations Heritage Grille - Retro SS Emblem

Clean Cut Creations Heritage Grille 2010 Chevy Camaro

Chevy got some of its muscle car street cred back with the release of the new Camaro. While it is a very nice blend of old and new, there is one area that can be improved upon-the grille. The factory egg crate looks decent, but adding a painted Heritage grille puts some visual separation between the front-end components like the headlights, turn signals, and the center of the grille itself. This is closer emulation of the older Camaros, and much more eye pleasing, in our opinion.

The Heritage grille is a GM-offered upgrade, so you won't have to worry about it not fitting or being a substandard piece. The grille comes in one color and one color only-flat metallic grey, but to really make it look right some areas need to be painted body color. Enter John Meyer from Clean Cut Creations in St. Louis. John is a great painter and a muscle car guy at heart, so he offers to paint the grille any factory body color and then ship it to you finished and ready for installation. Look to spend $396.00 for a painted grille, plus $45 shipping costs. Mention you read about it in Super Chevy, and you will receive a $10 discount on shipping.

Even though the Heritage grille looks good sans emblems, Clean Cut offers multiple emblem options like the Retro SS, modern SS, RS, and he even makes some clips so you can reinstall your factory Bow Tie. We are kind of partial to the Retro SS emblem (adds $36 to the total) so we will cover that in this story. The emblem cost $38 but Super Chevy readers will get a 2-buck discount on the emblem-pretty sweet, huh? We are going to show you what John and his crew do to get some color on the grille, and also map out how to R&R the assembly. Clean Cut Creations offers other '10 upgrades, including painted interior items, so make sure to check out the company's website for more details. Now on with the grille upgrade.

Here are the products offered by Clean Cut Creations. The Heritage Grille is a GM piece and can be sourced from multiple suppliers, but unlike the others Clean Cut will paint it to match any factory color offered on the new Camaro. Also shown are a couple of the emblem options to choose from. We are partial to the Retro SS emblem because it compliments the retro look the grille provides.
Here are the products offered by Clean Cut Creations. The Heritage Grille is a GM piece an
Before any color can be sprayed, Grant Burch is going to prep the grille. All the areas that will receive color are scuffed up with a dark grey Scotch-Brite hand pad, which is equivalent to about 600-grit paper.
Before any color can be sprayed, Grant Burch is going to prep the grille. All the areas th
After the area has been scuffed, the center section where we don't want paint is masked off, both front and rear.
After the area has been scuffed, the center section where we don't want paint is masked of

Next, John mixes up some Valspar De Beer Inferno Orange Metallic, dumps it into his spray gun, and works his magic. Again, John can spray the grille in any of the factory Camaro colors. After the base coat is dry, John tops it with a few coats of clear.
Next, John mixes up some Valspar De Beer Inferno Orange Metallic, dumps it into his spray
When it's dry, the part is de-masked to reveal what now looks like a separate grille assembly.
When it's dry, the part is de-masked to reveal what now looks like a separate grille assem
The grille assembly installs from the backside so the front fascia will need to be removed. There are two 10mm bolts at each end of the fascia and 6 scrivets (GM's fancy word for a reusable plastic rivet) that need to be removed from the engine compartment area. The scrivets can be detached with a panel/clip removal tool like the one shown in the photo. You'll want to use the tool to pop out the center of the scrivets, which will release their hold so you can pull the entire scrivet out. There are also two more 10mm bolts under the car that need to be removed.
The grille assembly installs from the backside so the front fascia will need to be removed

There are 10 more bolts to remove, five on each side at the front edge of the fender that are hiding behind the wheel well liner. Removing the five Phillips screws and five scrivets allows the liner to come out of the car.
There are 10 more bolts to remove, five on each side at the front edge of the fender that
Four of the previously hidden bolts will need a 10mm socket and one will need a 7mm.
That will free the fascia, but you'll still need to unplug the wiring harness that is on the passenger side of the vehicle.
That will free the fascia, but you'll still need to unplug the wiring harness that is on t

John Meyer and Richard Kuehl carefully remove the fascia from the car and place it on a padded stand. No, the license plate is not installed wrong. This car has an Altec retractable front license plate holder that allows the plate to be slipped under the car for clean looks and popped out when driving to keep Johnny Law happy.
John Meyer and Richard Kuehl carefully remove the fascia from the car and place it on a pa
The grille has a bunch of tabs that snap into the fascia. Some even have retaining clips on them that will need to be removed before the tabs can be released.
The grille has a bunch of tabs that snap into the fascia. Some even have retaining clips o
John uses a panel tool to help him release the tab's grip on the fascia.

After fighting a bunch of tabs, John got it. The egg crate-style grille is placed in the swap meet pile.
After fighting a bunch of tabs, John got it. The egg crate-style grille is placed in the s
Since the new unit going in is freshly painted, John takes his time and slowly installs the grille into the fascia.
Since the new unit going in is freshly painted, John takes his time and slowly installs th
Again, since the Heritage grille is a GM piece it has all the proper tabs in all the right places.
Again, since the Heritage grille is a GM piece it has all the proper tabs in all the right

Even the factory retaining clips fit into place.
The Retro SS emblem is held on with two screws and a simple backing plate that is not visible from the front.
The Retro SS emblem is held on with two screws and a simple backing plate that is not visi
Finally, the newly upgraded front fascia is reinstalled on the car just like it came off, except in reverse order. As you can see, the painted Heritage grille and Retro SS emblem look more at home than the factory egg crate unit. You are looking at about two hours to swap in the Heritage grille at home with the tools mentioned in the story. The upgrade shown will set you back $467 with shipping. Not too shabby for a new grille that is painted to match and makes such a visual improvement.
Finally, the newly upgraded front fascia is reinstalled on the car just like it came off,