Build your own custom grill?

[Keyser Sose]

why not? I had this as a post on the end of Rock E's hello thread, but thought it would make a good stand alone post too. This way, it will come up if someone does a search on the subject too.

Here's one idea.
http://www.gbodycentral.com/forums/s...g+custom+grill


here's a link to the design for one made from flat strap
http://www.gbodycentral.com/forums/s...t=custom+grill


ya gotta have smart brains man!

[ND Harman]

4th gens are easy to do. All stainless.

[centex396]

70 has a face only " A Mother could Love" all plastic.

[ohiohoss]

links wont work but heres a pic of my 5th gen grill i made in my garage

[jkk]

Those look good............links no good

[P8riot]

I will be posting a "How-To" on the fab of my custom grill as soon as I get it created. Two words: Barbed Wire. I AM in Texas, after all...

[RockE]

Not meaning to sound like some newbie owner out to violate a classic car...I can only liken the 5th gen's front to following a gorgeous shaped female walking down the street and then as you pass her and look back, you're confronted with Rodney Dangerfield's face...that said and meaning no disrespect to the car...I'd contract my grill work to ohiohoss any day (after I figure out if a composite headlight conversion is doable)..all well down on my to do list since she just got here and hasn't even fired yet.

[Keyser Sose]

here's replacement for the first link. ignore the first 2 pics

http://s1028.photobucket.com/albums/...d%20again%202/


and here's the drawing on the one using strap



this is using 1" X 1/8" flat stock. Adjust measurements proportionately if they are different.

First, look at the overview section. What do you want it to look like when finished; eggcrate (top), shiny edges w/rest painted black so it looks like lines all the way across (middle), or horizontal bars with verticle bars every so often (bottom)? All are just as sturdy, but you have to know where you're going before you leave, or you'll never know when you get there!

top view is of the strap laying on its widest surface. These are the horizontal bars. Side view is of the wide surface too, but these are verticle. The notches fit together, and when pushed together, you will have a "cross" but the front and rear edges of both bars will be even. Pretty basic stuff so far.

So how does it stay together without welding master?

See the dotted lins at the bottom of each notch? If using 1/8" thick strap, that is a 1/16" hole. It goes half way across the remaining width from back of the notch, in ALL the notches (it is CRITICAL to keep these holes straight!). Then you go to Ace, Lowes or where ever, and get a couple dozen 1/16" roll pins! in this pic, with 1/8" deep hole drilled in the back of each notch, you would need 1/4" long X 1/16" diameter roll pins. Drive them into the hole on one piece, then drive the other piece down onto the roll pin. They won't come loose, and eventually, the 2 pieces of alum will corrode together also.

If you want the whole thing to be black (or pink or whatever), assemble it first, then paint. If you want the outer edges shiny, and the rest black, shine up the outer edges, mask them off, then paint each piece seperately, then assemble.

You can make grills like this as big or as small as you want (overall dimensions).

To attach to the grill frame, make a 1" flange for the frame. Drill holes to match up with the edges of the strap. use small self tapping screws thru the flange into the ennds of the strap. Can also make a frame using more strap like used in the grill, drill the holes, and instead of using self tapping screws, use more roll pins.

[ohiohoss]

i used some really small 1\8th inch round stock and 1\8thinch by 1\2inch flat stock to make mine
you see the bars are chrome? well thats the 1\2inch stick on chrome trim from autozone

[ohiohoss]

if i had to do it again id use aluminum stock instead of steel my grill is kinda heavy and i added more fasteners to hold it better

[Highway69]

I'd like to see any designs on a 69.

[Keyser Sose]

can use both of the designs I posted above, just change the dimensions.

or modify a 61-67 Impala grill.

hard part is deciding what you want, then it's just a matter of finding the material

[texas78]

where is the favorite place to find these materials?

[Keyser Sose]

I guess you'd call it an industrial salvage yard. Here's a tour. they sell stuff out of here by the pound, except glass, plastic, cloth, and rubber is free!!


http://s1028.photobucket.com/albums/...ling%20Center/


pics have captions

[texas78]

wow, i think you could find anything you wanted there, if you looked long enough