Restoring Engine Grill Material Help

[t6dpilot]

I decided to try and restore my 3 bar grill that originally came with my hotrod. The anodized bars were painted black and after stripping, actually turned out to be in really nice condition. My quandry is with the grill material. Long ago, a previous owner goobered up a 2" X 3" section and the grill "diamonds" are bent a little and broken in some areas. I think that all the material is there, just bent and broken.

My question is this - has anyone here ever restored a grill with the same damage? If so, what methods are the best for bending the narrow pieces back without breaking them? Heat gun? I assume that they will break, so what is the best way to reattach the broken pieces - solder? Just trying to have a little DIY fun and make the grill look better. Anyone here have experience doing This? Thanks!

I'll try to post a pic or two later tonight of the damaged area.

[John Z Goriup]

Scott,

If the "mesh" material underlying the grill bars is broken and torn there's not much you can do except replace. To start the fix-it process, you will have to drill out the rivets ( 1/8" drill bit - after center punching the rivet head to prevent ovaling the rivet holes) pull out the two mesh sections ( they're split in the middle ) ,replace the damaged mesh section, after painting both sections using Worth satin black, and, in the words of most manuals "reverse above for assembly".

Re the rivets, if you're not too Gung Ho on absolute "as-it-left-the-factory" minutiae, please see the attached photos of the way I chose to re-assembled my 5-bar grill. After I received the13 re-anodized bars back from Marco at King-of-Trim and finished painting mesh and grill-bars, I just didn't feel like screwing around with the factory alum. rivets, and therefore decided to use polished stainless allen-head button-head screws ( 3 or 4 mm dia x 15 mm long ) with the appropriate Nylock and / or acorn nuts and s.s. flat washers. You can get it all at Ace Hardware, it worked like a charm and looks like pearls on black velvet.

I happen to have all the bits to build an entire 3-bar grille as part of my stash, and it would be my pleasure to make you a gift of the 2 mesh sections. They're practically new condition, ( could use a coat of Wurth satin black ), and are perfect. I'll need your mailing address via a PM to me so I can UPS them to you.

Anyone who drives a classic Bugatti in the Monterey Historics deserves no less..........those are admirable credentials !

What fun that must have been.

JZG

[JT912]

The whole unit on my '68 came apart quite easily and you should be able to find a similar mesh or locate a donor. Mine had some tweaked bars which I have to imagine was a result of years of shutting the lid using pressure on the grill. I didn't need to do anything with my rivets. The mesh was in halves and not continuous though it.

[t6dpilot]

Gentlemen, thank you for your responses. Mr. Goriup, you sir have a PM. And I love your two tone look with the black painted grill area. Very nice detail. I am currently working on such a covert plan myself.