TECH: Salvaging a '32 Grille Insert

Since reading this thread I got a beat up grill from Payne with a few good bars. Litterally dug up a bunch of bent chopped bars that had been buried in dry fill behind my buddies motorcylcle shop for 20 years. A little work and I replaced the grill in my avatar. GREAT tech article. Thanks...... Now that I changed the Avatar picture to the new grill this post is a little dated.

 

That looks great Bob...much better than the expanded metal. Glad this post inspired you.

Neal

 

I'll bet ya a dollar I can get that grill shell straight.

 

I bow to you sir.............nice work

 

I wonder if reproduction bars would straighten out as nice or easy as originals?

 

Well Done: I think this is how we get into this. "I can Fix This"!!!

The Old Tinbasher

 

Neal,

I continue to be amazed with the work you so humbly turn out.

 

Nice work!!

 

Finally got mine back on the car. I had to tie a few with bailing wire though for the tabs that were broken.

 

Great job. I'd of thrown it out and bought a repop because I dont have the patience ,but you are definitely skilled....A++++ Dave

 

I picked up another bashed insert to fix...



I got the cross braces straightened and the bent bars fixed...



...now I just need 8 or 9 more repairable, original bars.

Like these...



Anyone have any bars they want to part with...or a whole mangled insert they want to sell for parts?

Thanks,

Neal

 

I have one extra bar. But a very cool guy sent it to me and I am saving it in case I lose another one.

I'll keep an eye out for you though.

 

Thanks.

 

amazing stuff here.

 

In the past I have straightened 3 or 4 of those grille bars by hand like he did.
If I had very many to do I think I would consider making a couple of progressive extruding dies and pulling the bars through them. It sure would be faster.

 

As the Penguin said, "a little patience and alot of tape".....

Man nice effort and it really paid off!

 

Anybody know if cross braces are available anywhere?
The one I got last saturday will need them replaced (many tabs are gone)

 

How does the stainless trim come off? How is it attached, and how do you re-attach it?

 

amazing

 

Awesome work! Nice to see you fixed them and not just toss them in the trash like most people would have.

 

I'd like to know this too. Can you get the bars out / back in without removing the trim piece? it appears to be spot welded in.

 

What the above 2 said. How?

 

Thats nice work from @%&# !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I believe there were at least 2 contractors that made 32 grill inserts for Ford. One is all stainless except for the cross pieces, the other was plain steel with a stainless outer trim. I will begin with a question regarding replacing bars in the insert. What method is best to use. Those in the center appear straight forward, but those on the outer edges appear to be tricky?
Because good 32 Ford grills are so expensive this is what I have done.
I am in the process of piecing together a 1 shell from 2 bad shells. One was a poor very poor radiator hole fill, and I mean poor. Butchered. I used the bottom half of this shell. The other was a shell cut up the sides and badly beaten as well. I used the top half which was not filled. The top and bottom halves were excellent shape. After very careful measuring I cut both shells, tacked them together and fit the insert. Was perfect. The insert I am using is all stainless. I had to weld the broken top cross piece which was broken in the center. It was a clean break therefore an easy fix. That is where I stopped several years ago. Of note, the 2 shell pieces are not exactly the same along the edge for the hood shelf. In retrospect I wish photos were taken from the beginning. But since the project is not finished I will take photos and post and continue taking photos while completing the grafting of the shell and step by step replacing of the bars. I have alot of original bars that someone could have. I removed all the bars because of the heavy pitting. To be continued later.

 

Great save on a job well done. It is amazing just what some time away from the TV will produce.
Vic

 

Great thread! Look forward to updates, as I have a snaggle toothed insert in need of some orthodontia.

 

Looks like the impossible became highly probable! Kudos to you for your tenacity to pull off a very respectable repair job from p.o.s. Nice work!

 

Photos of the resurrection from 2 shells. The welds are my beginning welds some 7 years ago so they look bad. As you can see it can be accomplished to create nearly a perfect grill. The insert fits perfect. When acquired the insert was missing around 8 center bars and the remainder were badly pitted. And some photos of the remains of what was cannibalized. If anyone has questions or would like more photos don't hesitate.

 

Great post and information so bring it back.
I had to make a few grill bars and this is how I made mine.
Started out with 22 gauge or .030 and found its easier to bend on my brake in a bigger panel rather then strips .540 wide. The brake I have wants to slip out when you fold or brake the strips so ended up made some scrap. So the brake will only bend it to about 60 degrees and so need to fold it over and tried a few thing. The first was the bead roller and it worked great but the grill bars got distorted and twisted. I have another brake but its buried away. So I found the vice with a drywall joint knife folded it nicely. I will make a brake press jig to do the full length in the next day or two as I am missing 30 grill bars..
Now cutting it I ended up flipping it upside down and slid it into shear against the blade and did a great job. The look just like the real deal