My new project

[CUDA JAS]

For as Long as I can remember I have wanted to use a 70 lower grill insert on my 74 cuda and do away with the lower marker lights.

Of course I am cheap and have never been willing to by a new lower grill insert.

Well I recently purchase a slightly damaged piece (well 3 pieces actually) and I am in win the process of trying to fix it.

Here is what I started with.



A little JB Weld:





This is the hard part:






Little reinforcement on the back:





The whole this has a little bit of a warp but I think once its all back together, I will be bale to heat it up a bit and get it to fit on to my lower valence.

I am not sure how I am going to paint it yet, argent or body color, but I will figure that out once it is all back together and fits!

[daveh]

Looks good what did you use to bond it all together?   

[70chall440]

looks like JB weld

[1 Wild R/T]

For the benefit of anyone trying to repair an old grill I saved this years ago when Scott Harms Smith posted it.....

Repairing a cracked grill

Start with 100% pure Acetone, buy a gallon. 
Pour an ounce or so into a glass jar (small open mouth jar). Take a scrap grill and using something sharp, scrape off peelings (like pencil shavings size) into the jar of acetone. Put allot of shavings in, the acetone will gradually melt the plastic into a goo. Add enough plastic until the goo reaches toothpaste consistency. Once you have a good batch melted put the lid on the jar tightly and set it aside. Now, prep your grill as normal, V out cracks on both sides, etc. Use clamps near the joint to align the two sides flush and parallel. Smear on some plastic goo, leave it crowned up over the crack like a regular weld looks, let it cure overnight. Sand to flush the next day, fill any pinholes with JB Weld. The crack will practically disappear at this point, paint as normal

[CUDA JAS]

looks like JB weld

Yep...seems to bond pretty well.

For the benefit of anyone trying to repair an old grill I saved this years ago when Scott Harms Smith posted it.....

Repairing a cracked grill

Start with 100% pure Acetone, buy a gallon. 
Pour an ounce or so into a glass jar (small open mouth jar). Take a scrap grill and using something sharp, scrape off peelings (like pencil shavings size) into the jar of acetone. Put allot of shavings in, the acetone will gradually melt the plastic into a goo. Add enough plastic until the goo reaches toothpaste consistency. Once you have a good batch melted put the lid on the jar tightly and set it aside. Now, prep your grill as normal, V out cracks on both sides, etc. Use clamps near the joint to align the two sides flush and parallel. Smear on some plastic goo, leave it crowned up over the crack like a regular weld looks, let it cure overnight. Sand to flush the next day, fill any pinholes with JB Weld. The crack will practically disappear at this point, paint as normal

I have heard that before, but thought I would give the JB weld a try.  If this work, my next project is to repair a number of cracks etc. in my grill.

Jason

[73440]

Motor Week just mentioned the Corvette drives like it has J B Weld like grip

[Paul97]

I've had good luck with JB Weld on plastic parts.  I try to smooth it out as much as possible because sanding it is not easy.

[1 Wild R/T]

I've had good luck with JB Weld on plastic parts.  I try to smooth it out as much as possible because sanding it is not easy.

And that part of the advantage of the acetone recipe above... The repair acts just like the surrounding plastic because it is just like the surrounding plastic...

[Paul97]

I'll be sure to try the acetone on my next repair!