Hot Rods Where do you buy metals, like, to make a grille out of

So this stude is taking shape and thereare parts I've advertised for and cant find. One is a 54 Grille insert for the C or K bodies drivers side.
I was playing around with metal I cut off a air filter and it came out looking good enough to try to find a source of metal such as this. Now I thought about brazing the metal together but the owner wants to find a supplier that will sell sheets large enough to where I wont be piecing together. My brother said he deals with McNichols but they are a industrial supply house and may not sell small quan***ies. I'll be checking but if anyone has a idea

 

Go to a junk yard and but a hood or roof or something that has enough pretty flat metal of the thickness you want.

 

http://www.mcmaster.com/#raw-materials/=yz8plv

They carry expanded and perforated metal in steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Shipping is reasonable.

 

We have a local steel yard, they will sell any quan***y you want to buy. I'm sure you can find one near you like that.

 

If you can't find a local source google "perforated metal". You will find quite a few places.

 

Check with a semi custom place. My uncle used some in a grill. They use it on large trucks

 

In KC you go to Metal By The Foot, most major cities have a place like that. Also s**** yards will sometimes sell you for dollars what they spend pennies on.

 

wouldn't it make more sense to ask someone local rather than the entire planet?

if I needed metal I would look in the phone book.

 

Or do a google search using metal and your city as search criteria.

 

the phone book is more traditional.

 

Like others have said a local metal supplier would be the first place to start, then the internet. The most fun place for your custom grill parts is s****yards. Hopefully you can befriend your local s**** yard to check their stock, the bigger the better and one that handles industrial s**** the best. 30 years ago I bought a 4'x6' piece of stainless steel industrial mesh for $25. I used it to make 3 complete grills and I still have enough for a track-T or two.

 

Go to mcnichols.com. They carry all sorts of perforated metal including what you have pictured, I believe..

 

True. I still keep some very old ones around to remind me of having little kids at the supper table.

 

McMaster-Carr has smaller quan***ies for less money....

 

You might also try Amazon for comparison. I was looking for a similar material to add to vents on my F-1. They offered a lot of varieties. FWIW

 

You can have any metal water jetted with any design you can imagine. Polished stainless is available online at several suppliers. Just Google stainless sheet

 

nah,nah, most local businesses in the smallish town(used to be a city) have closed, we have one radiator shop, 2 s**** yards that don't usually sell their junk metal, have tractor supply, Lowes, Sam's club , a few welding shops that still get by. The welding shop I was familiar with closed after the owner died.
That said, McNichol's has metal in a bout every size and opening you could ask for, I looked at the site after posting that thread today. Similar metal is available in steel or aluminum in sizes as small as 24 X 24 sheets on up to sizes and quan***ies that that would require a truck to ship. a 4 foot by 30 inch piece is $76. 24" X 24" is 30.34. No bargain but it's new and not old rusty metal from industrial business that has been closed for 20 years.

 

Thanks

 

I did the same with mine. Pretty sure I found the perforated metal at Lowes...



I'll try to find a better pic.

Good luck, -Abone.

 

This pic might be a little better...



I think I cut them to size, then JB welded them to the surround.

I would love to see some pics of your car.

-Abone.

 

I have a picture , not flattering at all as I am just getting to a point to where it looks like something. The owner didn't want the 55 front chrome piece on there, so a long search went into finding the 53/54 front pieces I needed. The whole car had been dis***embled when it wound up in my shop.
What did you do to the front lower opening on yours. I figure the 440 in this one will need all the air it can get. Radiator is leaned back like yours to get as much cooling area as I could, pusher and puller fans I thought about a lower spoiler onto the lower opening but the owner didn't like that thought. hardly anywhere to put a compressor for a.c. Exhaust was a miracle a or debacle. Cadillac seats up front from a STS. I would like to show the owner your pics but I'd have to download to get them.

 

Screen door gl*** protector at hardware stores. Comes in sheets 3x4 or so.

 

I'd go to one of the home lumber yard/box stores. Here is a link for a product that are available in the midwest that might be suitable.
http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...p-1708092-c-5695.htm?tid=-2464948063930522376

 

I use http://metalsupermarkets.com/ primarily because they have a physical location in my town now. I've ordered online from them too along with https://www.metalsdepot.com/

Both carry perforated sheet, will cut it to length, and both ship.

There's also http://www.speedymetals.com/ but I'm not sure if they carry perforated or expanded sheet.