I was tinkering with the opening around my new grill insert. I started trying to bend some tubing (conduit) but that turned into a big h***le. It has a couple of bends on the ends approx 45 degree and a slight V in the middle. 49-54 Chevy guys....show me some pics to help aid the Custom challenged. Not finished pics....progress pics of how you did it.
It's not a Chevy, but in the best of Hot Rod, 1949-1959 they show a couple of the Polynesian Olds getting it's grille treatment put in... Jay
I'd like to see a step-by-step on that gril opening done by the HAMBer in Finland. (Sorry forgot the name...) That was superb!
That's what started it all Doc...I read his post and started looking at my Fleetline wondering...."Where do you start?"
His HAMB name is "KARTSA"...and he was just on here last week...do a search...then do a drawing of what you'd like the grille surround to look like...then remove the old grille, take some measurments...get some sheet metal (22 gauge) and round rod (I prefer 1/4" cold rolled) and build a framework, then attach sheet metal to that, working one area at a time. R-
40, I started with some 1/2" conduit. I thought that might be a good ref. point. I want the opening to be kinda radiused in all directions. It will start about 1/2 way up since the grill overlaps.
I agree with 40 stude. Use the 1/4 inch. It is much easier to bend, you can damn near do it by hand except for the serious contours. It stiffens up just fine when you weld the sheetmetal to it. I used 1/4 inch to make all of the edges on the bed of the spacetruck. It is stiff enough vertically that I don't even have to put in any horizontal braces (like inner fender braces to the frame). Although we are talking about 2 totally different areas of a vehicle, the process of building would be the same.
I'll try,but me english is'nt so good. This time I did not use round rod.That is one way to go and 1/4" is good. Numbers mean the sequence of the pieces i made. 1 First piece is horizontally straight,I weld it to the hood to keep it in place. 2 This one was a litlle tricky to get it in right shape.Hammering and fitting. 3-6 A talented guy would do this in one piece,but i have to make four.A litlle english wheel and lots of hammering,welding and hammering. I hope this helps some.Sorry,I don't have more pics of the progress.
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