NealinCA's grill shell fab Re-post for Rocky

[Anderson]

Here you go Rocky...

I have had an extra 50's GMC grille surround hanging on my shop wall.

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/ericskars/NealinCA/1.JPG

I have often thought that I could use it to make a custom grille shell. I have had a 32 shell hanging on my wall also, but now it is finally going to get used on my RPU project, so I figured I needed something to fill it's spot.

I also needed to brush up on my metal working skills (or lack of) for my rpu project, so about a month ago I decided to give it a try.

Here is what I came up with.

First step was to cut the center out...

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/ericskars/NealinCA/2.JPG

...then I mated up the two outer portions and welded them together.

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/ericskars/NealinCA/3.JPG

I decided that the newly formed grill shell didn't have enough "meat" to it, so I used a piece of 1/4" round to from a new back perimeter. I then hammered some 20 ga sheetmetal to fill in the area. I don't have a shot bag, so I stacked a couple leather welding gloves on the floor, got my ball peen hammer and starting hammering. I roughed the panels out and then got them close enough with a hammer and dolly.

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/ericskars/NealinCA/4.JPG

The shell was now starting to look like something. With the addition of a piece of 1/2" EMT to the bottom it almost looked like a 32 shell.

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/ericskars/NealinCA/5.JPG

I then need to add the lower pan. I cut out some wooden bucks to form the pan in two halves. I then clamped them in and fired up the old Oxy/Acetylene.

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/ericskars/NealinCA/6.JPG

After I got it all tacked together, it really was starting to take shape.

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/ericskars/NealinCA/7.JPG

After I got it all welded up, I cut in the crank hole and drain holes. I then spread on a little filler, spayed on some primer and finished it off with some metallic copper. The coler looks better in person, but I think it came out pretty well.

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/ericskars/NealinCA/8.JPG

I was going to make a stock type grille insert, but that seemed like way too much work for a wall hanging, so I decided on a piece of sheetmetal, ala race car, painted a creamy white.
Here is a crappy picture of the almost finished product.

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/ericskars/NealinCA/9.JPG

Now I just need somebody to lay some cool striping on it and I will call it done.

Neal


Once again, this is incredibly badass Neal. Oh, and these pictures should be around for a while...

[ESnacky6]

I swear half the board(at the time)
shit their pants when that was posted..!!
Myself included....

If you didn't have a stock one to compare,
ALOT of people would be fooled....
ebay perhaps..? hahahaha...!!

[sodbuster]

Every time I see this build up, I shake my head a smile. I printed it off and gave it to my pops and he keeps a copy of it in his truck and shows hotrod guys and restorers and they just skake their heads also. Very cool.........

Chris Nelson
Kansas

[The37Kid]

Guess everyone will be looking at spair parts differently now! Reminds me of the 1930's "How to Build A Race Car" instructions. Back they they would take the upper rear corners of a sedan body and fad a grill shell from it to look like a Miller style shell.

[Rocky]

Since I saw this last year, NealinCa has been my hero.

[NealinCA]

K&R - Thanks for saving and posting this for Rocky. I had those pics on Star Blvd and I couldn't access them.

I will save them on my 'puter this time.

37Kid...I would like to see some of the old how to's on making a grill shell out of a sedan body. I know SamIyam made the nose for the RR out of the back corners of a 50 Chevy p/u cab.

Neal

[The37Kid]

Neal, I'll post some photos later tonite after I locate the info.

[hiboy32]

Thanks for posting the process of using cheap spare parts usfully. I hope to capitolize on this new info in the near future. I have a radiator to cover.

[kentucky]

Awesome fab work. Pure skill.

[Elrusto]

That kicks ass!!!

[29EHV8]

Totally kicks ass!!

I missed the original post also,thanx for reposting this.
I gotta go look for some GMC grill pieces now.....Shiny

[slammed]

Creative, foresight, design and execution. Pure and far from simple. Yet the end result, slap's you upside the head in a inspiring way! May this guy, never stop these work's of sheer talent. Right Freakin' On, Mister!

[atch]

i'm sending this back to the top, 'cause there just might be someone out there who missed it one of the two times it's been up. and this is one of the top ten posts i've seen in the time i've been on here. maybe the number one post. anyone who has missed it needs (yes, NEEDS) to see this. both for the technical aspects involved and for the inspiration it provides.

[ QUOTE ]
I swear half the board(at the time)
shit their pants when that was posted..!!
Myself included....


[/ QUOTE ] yeah, i did too.

[GomezGarage]

Deserves a spot on the tech board. Definitly a double take. Kicks butt.

[Rand Man]

Very creative; I want some of what he’s smoking.

[NealinCA]

Someone was looking for this recently...

[ QUOTE ]
Deserves a spot on the tech board.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe Ryan/Grimlok/metalshapes can replace the original post in the Tech o Matic with this one, since the pictures are still here.

Neal

[hiboy32]

this works for more than a wall hanging, I think it works great.

[A&WAUTO]

Awesome job. Definitely gets the creative juices stirring.One of the neatest things I've seen or heard of in some time...

[jangleguy]

Thanks for puttin' it up again - I'd never seen it, and I'm sure glad I got to tonight! Inspiring is an understatement...

[curbspeed]

Neal, I saw this before and was impressed like the rest of the board. Gotta a few questions for you as I am going to attempt it myself in the future.
1)What exact year is that? 52?
2) Are the depths the same when you lay them flat on the ground?
3)Did you add the area where stock hood welting would normally attach?(Can we see another picture of this area?)
4) Are you normally so modest on your talent?
5)Any chance you can take a few more shots in detail to add to the tech post?
Thank you, Dale

[NealinCA]

[ QUOTE ]
Gotta a few questions for you as I am going to attempt it myself in the future.

1)What exact year is that? 52?

[/ QUOTE ]

Any GMC from 48-53 should work. The one I used was from a 1-1/2 ton truck. They are a little taller than the p/u's, but otherwise shaped the same.

[ QUOTE ]
2) Are the depths the same when you lay them flat on the ground?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, a 32 shell is about an inch deeper. I added a band to the sides and the two pieces to the top to make it "fuller"

[ QUOTE ]
3)Did you add the area where stock hood welting would normally attach?(Can we see another picture of this area?)

[/ QUOTE ]

No, since this was built as a wall hanger I did not spend the effort to add that.

[ QUOTE ]
4) Are you normally so modest on your talent?

[/ QUOTE ]

Talent...I aint got no stinkin' talent. I am just hard to convince that I can't do something myself.

[ QUOTE ]
5)Any chance you can take a few more shots in detail to add to the tech post?

[/ QUOTE ]

I will see what I can do...

Neal

[curbspeed]

Your alright! I bet you read HOP UP as well. Thanks from #19