model a grill shell

i know this is problem for alot of guys over the years, looking for something to use in my a grill shell in front of the radiator, something to use as an insert, but not so dam exspensive. any ideas,pics? thanks

 

34 Chevy grill shell insert Ideas

Here is a few ideas.

whos made model A grill inserts????

 

Would expanded metal work for you?
See McMaster Carr's catalog: http://www.mcmaster.com/#expanded-metal/=fay5ip

 

whos made model A grill inserts????

Here are some more.

 

What makes you think you need one?

looks? protection?

I think they look best without anything, and we have a LOT of miles on my dad's A with no radiator cover and never had any issues with it.

 

Go to your Home improvement center and go to the screen door section. There you will find aluminum mesh that you can cut down and put on the inside of the grill as an insert. You can either use fiberglass to mount it permanent or use epoxy and put in 1/4 20 screws and nuts to hold it in so that the insert is removable. I put one in my 28 Model A and I am happy with it.

Good luck - Jerry

 

Thanks guys, good ideas, just found breeders post, and talk about the screen door stuff. I will ck it out.

 

go to the scrap yard, look for old refridgerators with the oil cooling grid on the back. looks like the real thing.

 

I like this custom made one.

 

Wow! More pics of this A?

 

Since the Model A only had a shell, you will have to make one ...... only your imagination will limit you. There was an option, which you can find from restorer sites, of a bug screen mounted on the outside and they come in chrome. Look for "stone guard"

Check Snyder's Antique Auto Parts = www.snydersantiqueauto.com

You can also check out Obsolete & Classic Auto Parts
www.classicautoparts.com

I have a 27 roadster with a 32 shell, the insert is expanded metal painted satin black as is the firewall - it's a nice contrast to the red lead primer on the rest of the car. If I ever finish it, I may consider a stainless bar insert without the crank hole, but not for now.

 

The typical Model A "stone guards" look awful IMO because they completely hide the front of the grille shell with a big ugly chrome screen.

Very tasteless.

 

I used perforated steel with 3/8" holes.

 

i have a fire place screen mesh, that i'm going to fab. in the inside of my grill shell.

 

Sorry no pix, but at the NSRA appreciation show today at CMC (thanx Ted!) in Dade City, FL, I was looking at a mid-40's Ford pickup that had some fairly wide, vertical grill bars and got to thinking they would look good behind a hot rod grille - vertical or horizontal - welded to a frame of some sort. Or something similar in a SS stock shape if the repro parts are too expensive. Or you could combine some bars with SS mesh? Gary

 

I made mine from some 3/16s stainless rod and some woven stainless screen from McMaster and Carr. Shaped the rod to fit the opening , then cut the screen to fit the rod and TIGed every one of the screen wires to the rod. Takes time but works good. Sorry the pic doesn't look as good as the part when I reduced it the resolution goes away.

Rex

 

Here is the best one I have seen. I seen it on the HAMB!

 

Heres mine made from a redbull rack and perferated steel.
You could find scrap steel anywhere and make something out of it.
Good luck !

 

Hey guys, you don't have to settle for something that is manufacured. One could design anything, holes, slots, etc. and have it watter jetted out of some stainless or aluminum sheet.

 

Expanded metal for a few bucks at the hardware store.

 

IMO
The only thing that looks right in an "A" shell is radiator.

 

Custom radiator cost me 500 bucks to get it made, and it see's too much of the world, too much for me to risk.
My steel guy says "got no drops, 4x8 is 100 bucks plus 10 bucks to cut it in half.." screw him, I can see his drops from the doorway, probably his "bonus".
I had 3/32" alum. sheet at home. Layout, prick punch, drill press until it won't reach then cordless, add something different in the middle. grind it, sand it polish & clear coat. Plan to someday make a ghost "8" of some kind in flatter paint over it.

 

Refrigerator rack on my old sedan......

 

I made an aluminum insert with "lightening holes":

 

Here are a few "good ideas" plucked from the HAMB.

Hope this helps.

 

I dig this!

 

A buddy of mine found a very thin AC condenser in the junkyard that was big enough to cover the radiator core. Couldn't tell anything was there....I wish I knew what the donor car was.

 

That looks great to me. My feeble mind can not think that far out of the box to envision commen items as hot rod parts or art. Good job !!

 

some of them model A shells look like 32's