one piece at a time. It may help to attach it to the front fenders or a form to help pull it into the correct shape. I have a 35 grill that looks a lot like that. Begin by getting the main shape back. This may mean standing on it, or jumping on it! You will find that each bent rib is contributing to the problem and to the solution. Maybe attach a come-a-long to pull, then hammer and dolly to regain the original shape. A piece of wood or metal can be inserted behind eadh rib, then hammer on it to get the ribs loking good. Sometimes it is quicker and easier to make a new rib if the old one is too stretched or rotten. Take pics, call it a tech post.
I'd cut it. By taking off the two lower shell pieces, right where it's cracked, I'd be able to flatten the grille bars without removing it all from the shell. I'd leave the bottom piece of the shell hooked to the ends of the grille bars, but, I'd slice that lower piece right down the center, so the left and right grille halves could seek their own plane, easier. I'd rubber hammer the grille part on a piece of plywood (making sure I had just the grille on the wood, and not the shell)... I'd be reshaping the top half of the shell at the same time... jumping from wood to an anvil. I'd expect some broken grill bars, but some low amp trigger welding and that ain't no thing. After I loved what I did with the top and grille, I'd mash the side pieces, on my anvil, until they fit. Once it's all back together, I'd fine tune the bars. Then s***ch it up and grind it. You can do it... JOE
where did you find that?! it's in much worse shape than the 34 chevy grille you told me was junk. Is saving it really worth the time? Don't they repop those?
legit question... i wouldnt save a relic to save money... moreso because i would be restoring something that has survived since 1935.
Chad - it might be a more expensive approach than finding another grille, but you might try making a wooden buck for the grill shape and pounding the basic outer shape first. Eastwood might have some grooved dollies for the bars. For the remaining rough areas, a lot of hammer & dolly, time, and distracting music.
I don't think anyone repops a '35 do they? This is FORD, so it will always be worth saving! Believe it or not, I found it in the weeds at Mom and Dad's, behind the barn, about 30 ft from where your '59 was sitting. Well, I can't make it any WORSE, can I? hahaha.
This goes a little beyond what the Zettle's taught us in Hot Rod 101, huh! I'd hang it on the garage wall as-is...
i brought a similar grill back using jbweld and fibergl*** from the backside.. you can also use por15 instead.. Straighten it out, clean it real good and goo it up from the inside. some primer and putty and she'll look p***able. That thing looks way to thin to try to fix the right way...
The Jalopy Journal
