Cheap Grill Insert Tech.

[Tman]

Easy to make grill insert using an old Model A Stone guard. I will post a couple pics. It is rather self explanatory. Mesh is spot welded to the grill.

[Tman]

I cut it donw to a sqaure that fit the hole and bent it on a brake to fit the contour of the shell.

[Tman]

Had about 30 minutes and zero dollars in it.

[Tman]

I am at home and have time to elaborate. I had made a tubular insert last summer, but I didnt like the look on the car. This stone guard was free. I plan on priming and paint the grill and insert at the same time, thats why I welded em together. I thought about powdercoating the insert, a guy could simply weld threaded studs to the back of the shell. I found the mesh was easy to cut on a stomp shear. It was surprisingly tough to bend on the brake!

[Tman]

I know it is simple but jeeez!? No comments? Does it really suck that bad? hahahahah.................I had been looking at the steel salvage for some cool mesh/extruded sheet etc. for several weeks. I found a place that sells stuff like this but a large sheet of mesh or perforated metal was close to $100 with the shipping included.

[OGNC]

Hey check it out, a tech post that I might actually use!

That's actually pretty cool. I was thinking about making one out of expanded metal for a Chevy grille shell I have, but I like that a ton better. Thanks for taking the time to post it.

[Nick32vic]

that looks awesome trent! Great job. I never would have thought to make a grill insert out of one of those.

Nick

[Tman]

Thanks guys, WTF is up with tech week? Its Weak!? The purpose of the post is to get the wheels turning about the possisbilities for inserts. Eyeball found a cool piece of perforated scrap that got me going.

[fab32]

Unless your a restorer those stone guards are worthless. Looks like you came up with a cool use for one. Be sure to post some pictures of it on the car.


Frank

[30tudor]

Simplicity is the key to a good design.

[skipstitch]

Very cool Tman. I have one of those hangin' on the wall I kept threatnin' to swap meet. Looks like an ideal insert for the modified!!!! It's not for sale now!!!!

[Tman]

Yeah skipstich, it was so simple and in front of my eyes!

[Django]

Creative! Modern yet unquestionably traditional. I dig it. What color are you painting it? Not that my opinion matters, but I would have wanted it removeable and a different color.

[Tman]

Shell will be light blue like the body and I think the insert will get masked and sprayed the red accent color I am using. Silver works well also, I noticed that on Jakes yellow coupe when I was in Pete & Jakes last summer. I hear ya on the removable part. It was easier to tack it in plus myshell was a little out of square and this tuned it up nicely http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I think powder coating it would be the bees knees!?

[willowbilly3]

Cool idea. A friend says he has one that was burnt and the chrome turned blue that I can have when he digs it out of the attic. Also I might mention that the screens for gravel crushers are of the same style and come in dozens of sizes. If anyone knows of an old crusher they usually have some around. Maybe you could even get a half worn out one that had the bars thinner in between the intersections.

[TomH]

Yeah, Eyeball found that scrap at my shop. Got the other half in my mod. To dam bad I didn't make down so you could see it. Thanks for posting the pics.

[67Imp.Wagon]

I like it. Good and cheap idea.

[continentaljohn]

Great idea! looked at it a hundred time and never thought of it?

[stoggie]

Great post. Did you also put a slight break in the center? Surprised it was hard to bend in the brake http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Great use of parts.

[Tman]

Yes, stoggie, it has a "peak" in the center. Wasnt tough to bend but harder than I expected.

[Deuce Rails]

I think that that looks great!

How exactly did you peak the grille?

--Matt

[Tman]

The area in Red is where the stock rad filler hole was. I formed it on a brake and over my knee. I then followed the peak forward (area in green) with a piece of 1/4" rod that was blended in wigh weld. If you cant tell, it is a 34 Commercial grill. I almost forgot, I had to fill the area in front where the emblem was.

[SlowLearner]

WAYYY nice tech. Thanx Tman. Insert and filled shell look great!