58 chevy custom grille ???

[Roddin28]

jep I'm starting my new projekt this days

http://land.heim.at/pampa/251635/bisc.jpg
http://land.heim.at/pampa/251635/bisc1.jpg

- I'm missing the original grill - but it doesn't matter - I prefere the custom style http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
so I'm looking for some ideas for low cash - I like the style they've done in the early sixties with a 58 buick grill and that stuff -- but that wouldn't work for me -- where the hell should I get original grill stuff over here in austria grr http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
-- some ideas here:
http://drd57.hypermart.net/Paso04/XP1010194.JPG
http://drd57.hypermart.net/AntNats04/XP1010118.JPG

some inspirations are welcome http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Slide]

The way a lot of dudes did it in the 60s was to buy about 973 chrome drawer knobs and mount them to expanded metal. Paint the expended metal black (and everything you can see through the grille) then the drawer pulls will hide it all. This gives the Buick look without the scrounging or $$$$.

You can also do some stuff with tubing like the few photos you've shown. I kinda like having alternating sizes of tubing for a little more interest. say 3 tubes are 1/2" dia., then one that's 1" dia, then 3 more 1/2", one more 1", etc. This could work with the tubes running horizontally or vertically.

I guess you'd hafta get your tubes in millimeters over there, huh? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Duck]

'58's look good with tube grills too, Pic of 58 with tube grill (http://www.customgrills.com/chevys/high/1958Impala.htm)

-Duck

[Roddin28]

jep we have millimeters over here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif- but's no problem http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

--- tub grill is cool too, but my wife don't like it -- so what should I do - http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
- I've wrote to "customgrill" a mail but they didn't answer -- I would like to know how much it is --hmm but it isn't realy importent because I'd build it myself

-- saw some single bar grill in an old mag with bullets in the middle too -- great look

[jalopy43]

88chrome ball drawer pulls....served on a bed of flat-blacked expanded metal...grilled to perfection

[Roddin28]

HA very cool -- how did yea fix'd it??

[DrJ]

[ QUOTE ]
The way a lot of dudes did it in the 60s was to buy about 973 chrome drawer knobs and mount them to expanded metal.

[/ QUOTE ]

A good idea but have you priced drawer pulls lately?
When I redid my kitchen the Ikea knobs cost more than the cabinet doors!
Might be cheaper to buy a '58 Buick, Olds, or Caddy grill, even in Austria.

[jalopy43]

Let's see$2.97x88==!!!!! Wow! But it's a look you can't get anywhere else.(at least at the hardware store). You could get the cheaper plastic-chrome ones. The glass ones would look neat with lights behind. Too bad Leggs' pantyhose doesn't come in those chrome eggs anymore. Those were the cheapest bullets around. A larger bullet grille would look good. Also look in the plumbing section,for chromed stuff. I am thinking of using toilet flush handles on the doors of the "A", Glenn

[Slide]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The way a lot of dudes did it in the 60s was to buy about 973 chrome drawer knobs and mount them to expanded metal.

[/ QUOTE ]

A good idea but have you priced drawer pulls lately?
When I redid my kitchen the Ikea knobs cost more than the cabinet doors!
Might be cheaper to buy a '58 Buick, Olds, or Caddy grill, even in Austria.

[/ QUOTE ]

You hafta keep an eye out for the clearance section. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Sometimes you can find last year's design or something pretty cheep. You don't have to use round ones, either. You can even use the handles that mount with 2 screws for an "Olds-ey" look. I have seen knobs in the clearance bin for about $0.50 each...that'd be less than a cheep chrome job on a few tubes.

[cool57]

http://drd57.hypermart.net/Paso04/XP1010194.JPG


I like this one. Simple clean and a ...kilo wide. I've seen early Mustang front bumpers used as single grille bars.

[geemann51]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The way a lot of dudes did it in the 60s was to buy about 973 chrome drawer knobs and mount them to expanded metal.

[/ QUOTE ]

A good idea but have you priced drawer pulls lately?
When I redid my kitchen the Ikea knobs cost more than the cabinet doors!
Might be cheaper to buy a '58 Buick, Olds, or Caddy grill, even in Austria.

[/ QUOTE ]

You hafta keep an eye out for the clearance section. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Sometimes you can find last year's design or something pretty cheep. You don't have to use round ones, either. You can even use the handles that mount with 2 screws for an "Olds-ey" look. I have seen knobs in the clearance bin for about $0.50 each...that'd be less than a cheep chrome job on a few tubes.

[/ QUOTE ]

Might I suggest checking to see if you have any Habitat for Humanity Restores in your area? Essentially they are building supply thrift stores. All kinds of nifty stuff there, heres a link to there directory....

http://www.habitat.org/env/restore.aspx

[luckystiff]

first building a tube grille is easy. your would be much easier than mine was as mine has a very nice peak to it that has to be worked out. i would suggest building a mock up out of regular tubing to get the sizes right and then building your grille using the mock up for example out of stainless tubing. this would avoid the chrome process. i think the tube grille above the tubes are to small or there are to few of them for that tube size. i'm using 5/8in for mine just because it looked a little better than 1/2.

second you can sometimes find bulk draw pulls deals on ebay. i've mocked up a drawer pull grile to but think i like the tube grille for my buick better.

third is inspired by my car actually. i've always thaught the floating bar in by '64 buick would look good in a 50s car set on black expanded metal with a bullet added to the center. it's got a good peak and everything. i'm going to look at a parts car in a day or two and may have a center bar available if interested. this ia a bad pic but the best i could find right now as i don't have a pic of my car that you can see the grille in. you could probably do a search and find it for 1964 buick wildcat and find a better pic. anyhow here's what i've got from an old add...ken....

[Roddin28]

thats funny
this is my el camino - using a buick bar too
http://members.aon.at/hepcat/demons/elcamino.jpg

[luckystiff]

now since i've never seen anyone use one thats some funny shit. i've always thaught it would work well now i'm proved right. nice elkie...ken....

[Roddin28]

thanks ken http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif -- but I'm not realy sure if those thin bars will work on the 58 too without the 4 lights beside - but thanx for your offer!!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[Roddin28]

here are scans from a custom cars mag -- may be some inspiration for some other guys too

http://land.heim.at/pampa/251635/581.jpg
http://land.heim.at/pampa/251635/583.jpg
http://land.heim.at/pampa/251635/584.jpg
http://land.heim.at/pampa/251635/586.jpg
http://land.heim.at/pampa/251635/582.jpg
http://land.heim.at/pampa/251635/585.jpg