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1973-74grill repaiar / resto . anyone ever do theirs ?

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 7:38 pm
by rav440
has anyone here ever repaired or restored thier 73-74 rr /sati grill ? if so how did you go about it ? what glue did you use and what type of paint .ect

thanks RANDY

Re: 1973-74grill repaiar / resto . anyone ever do theirs ?

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:38 pm
by Serious Satellite
I used fiberglass tape to bridge a gap, then put filler over the top then sanded it down. I painted the grill with black engine enamel, then got a Mopar silver touch up brush/roller application to paint the highlights. It may not be correct, but it looks damn good.

Re: 1973-74grill repaiar / resto . anyone ever do theirs ?

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:06 pm
by Smellslike1974
I might have to do that,previous owners actually sawed off some of the plastic to my grill for the hood pin cables. :mad:

I mean seriously they couldn't come up with any other idea!

Re: 1973-74grill repaiar / resto . anyone ever do theirs ?

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 10:24 pm
by landon1
i've heard of using epoxy for any cracks - could maybe use some fiberglass/plastic/lexan type material to replace pieces if needed and epoxy them in...for paint i'm at a loss...you'll have to use a primer for plastics i'd say...i even tried krylon fusion and it still ended up peeling a bit...never had any luck painting the grille :cry:

Re: 1973-74grill repaiar / resto . anyone ever do theirs ?

Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 11:54 pm
by Smellslike1974
I remember watching my dad repair a plastic bumper cover of a newer thunder bird,it was pretty cracked.He used a solder gun to mend some of the plastic pieces together.He also had some tubed plastic that squirted out liquid but as soon as it got oxygen it hardened really really hard.Not sure if that stuff it purchasable anywhere he got it from his work.He than sanded down the plastic and painted it.

Ill try this technique on mine in the future when i get around to it.Or I might just neatly trimmed was left of it to make it look better.

Re: 1973-74grill repaiar / resto . anyone ever do theirs ?

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 4:13 am
by rr6pak
Get some PVC pipe and MEKI from Lowes or where ever. Use a file to get some shavings from the PVC pipe. Put the shavings in a container with a little MEK. Stir it around till it STARTS to thicken. Pread the "GOO" in cracks etc. Let it harden up. Then you can sand it down and paint. For my grill: I used semi-gloss black then I bought a can of Mopar Ralleye Wheel paint and painted around the black. In this case, painting the "71 grill was a PITA but it turned out great and you can't tell where the repair is. The color might not be "correct" or a perfect "resto" of the grill, but I'm happy with it.

Re: 1973-74grill repaiar / resto . anyone ever do theirs ?

Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:49 pm
by scotts74birds
Seems I remember this stuff from my childhood doing models. The hobby shops carry "styrene" plastic in sheets and strips. I went online and there it was at "Tower Hobbies" and dozens of others in different thicknesses! This stuff sands easy and with some homework on adhesives and primer/paints, it would be a great base material for repairs. :D

Re: 1973-74grill repaiar / resto . anyone ever do theirs ?

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 4:34 am
by rr6pak
I found out that PVC works better. Just let the MEK "soften" it up. P.S, if you use MEK, use a mask. It STINKS

Re: 1973-74grill repaiar / resto . anyone ever do theirs ?

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 6:25 pm
by scotts74birds
Is that available in sheets or strips? Do you have a source for it?

Re: 1973-74grill repaiar / resto . anyone ever do theirs ?

Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 7:52 pm
by rr6pak
I just got a piece of PVC tubing. Can be a long piece, corner (curved), what ever. Dont need that much as long as its PVC. MEK can get at Lowes as well but its like $20 for a can.

Re: 1973-74grill repaiar / resto . anyone ever do theirs ?

Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2009 1:05 pm
by 74rr400
i used the trees from a model car and melted it into the cracks the went over it with super glue. when that dried i sanded the repairs with 250 grit then moved up to 400 then 600 grit. now you cant even see the repairs. had to fix mine since someone kicked in my grill while i was at dinner with my mom on mothers day!!!