69 Grille repair advise needed.

[1969chargerrtse]

O.K, so I broke apart my 3 main pieces of my grille today.  I have splits and cracks on all 3 pieces.  Please look at the pictures and advise how you would repair these parts?  The brand product name etc...  Also I have the little slit pieces broken or missing on the center grille.  Does anyone have a used wasted center piece I can cut ribs from?  Does anyone have  any of these 3 pieces they would part (sell) with?  Also, I need a few clips for the straight trim and 1 for the I piece, any ideas or part numbers?   As always, any help appreciated.  

[Shakey]

When I restored/repaired my grille, I had a few broken ribs and some minor cracks but I think you might be better off looking around for used pieces.  Repairs to the two broken ribs as shown in your third photo look doable but when you start repairing all of them, like shown in your first photo, you're just looking for grief down the road as the first bumble bee that smacks into that or the first major bump you hit, all of the ribs are just going to break again.

I used some plastic repair kit (two part epoxy) for some slight repairs but what you have there may be beyond savable.  Well, it may be saved but may not be durable enough for use over a long period of time.   

[Winged 1]

I am with Shakey. It might take awhile to put together but your going to be way better off taking the time to find some other newer pieces. Keep an eye on ebay. There is always one or the other for sale pretty cheap. Going to last alot longer than a patch.
Best of luck.
Eric

[1969chargerrtse]

Yea, thanks guys. I guess thats the way it may have to be.  Many thanks.  What sucks is that repros are out there, but lets not travel that road, because no one seems to know how to actually get one, or know of anyone that has had one?  Crazy.   On the one that has all the broken slits, if I can expoxy the main part together, the slits line up, kinda saveable?

[Shakey]

Yea, thanks guys. I guess thats the way it may have to be.  Many thanks.  What sucks is that repros are out there, but lets not travel that road, because no one seems to know how to actually get one, or no of anyone that has had one?  Crazy.   On the one that has all the broken slits, if I can expoxy the main part together, the slits line up, kinda savable?

Since you've got nothing to lose, try your hand at repairing it while you shop around for a replacement.   

[1969chargerrtse]

Yea, thanks guys. I guess thats the way it may have to be.  Many thanks.  What sucks is that repros are out there, but lets not travel that road, because no one seems to know how to actually get one, or no of anyone that has had one?  Crazy.   On the one that has all the broken slits, if I can expoxy the main part together, the slits line up, kinda savable?

Since you've got nothing to lose, try your hand at repairing it while you shop around for a replacement.   

Kinda where I'm at, but as you know, sanding preping, taping , painting, can take a lot of time.  Tuff call.

[NMike]

my buddy has a platic welding kit. i can't remember the brand name. it is basically a large soldering iron that has a tube to feed in plastic welding rods. i am going to try this on my grill in the spring time. i figure it will be a stronger repair than the epoxy version

[69chargeryeehaa]

I'm in the same boat.  I have one nice crack just above the drivers headlight, actually it's completely separated.  So i removed the grill from the car, and i plan to paint/restore the whole grill.  After looking into all the repair methods, I've settled on using JB weld, and some fiberglass cloth.  I plan to rough up the surface, and make the repair on the inside, first using jb weld, then the cloth, and several layers, I'm sure it will be strong as hell, since i have yet found something JB weld doesn't fix!!!!  There are alot of other methods to repair these grills, problem is i don't want to experiment with a new glue/epoxy that I'm not familiar with.  Your cracks look clean and should be really easy to repair.  I'll let you know how mine turns out.  I have no doubt it will be good.   

[69_500]

I have a spare center section, just laying around. I will try to get time in the next few days to take some photos' of the spare grilles I have, and if you are interested in any pieces off of them, or entire ones let me know. I know I said the same thing in another thread, but with holidays and all I don't get much time to get out to the garage and take the pictures, spend too much time doing everything else.

[1969chargerrtse]

I have a spare center section, just laying around. I will try to get time in the next few days to take some photos' of the spare grilles I have, and if you are interested in any pieces off of them, or entire ones let me know. I know I said the same thing in another thread, but with holidays and all I don't get much time to get out to the garage and take the pictures, spend too much time doing everything else.

  Awesome, I 'll PM you.  Thanks.

[69_500]

Okay anyways I think this is one piece you said you needed. Here are a few shots of the center section I still have.

[69_500]

Here is a spare right headlight bucket piece.

[69_500]

And the other side. I tried to post photo's of every crack or flaw that I saw. Some should be easy repairs, others well to me aren't work fixing.

[69_500]

Some parts that are the flip up part of a grille. A LH and a RH.

[69_500]

Another RH side. but this one has a small flaw on the bottom. pictured below.

[69_500]

Trim pieces to go around the headlights. Both are broken, but probably repairable.

[69_500]

Do you need the vacuum pieces as well? RH and LH sides.

[69_500]

Or how about just a scrap one that I have laying around, that is half of a center, and the LH bucket.

[69_500]

Or a complete grille with frame. Not perfect, but I don't see any cracks in the trim pieces. The chrome is shot, but nothing is broken as far as I can see.

[69_500]

More of the complete grille.

[70 Charger RT]

From what I see in the pictures I think it is very repairable.  I would look for some plastic that is made from the same material and use it as patches to reinforce the cracked areas.  Two part epoxy works fine for me.  Just got to spend some time on it.

[1969chargerrtse]

Well, if things work out with 69500's part I won't have to worry about all the work, but then I can post my grille and part it out in pieces for people that were in the same jam as I was (broken ribs).

[gasoline_24]

I would try to use Plasti-Fix.  This is what I used on mine and it allows you to recreate broken tabs etc.  I was real happy with it.  Here is a link.  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=blended&field-keywords=plastifix&results-process=default&dispatch=search/ref=pd_sl_aw_tops-1_blended_14142907_2&results-process=default

[1969chargerrtse]

I would try to use Plasti-Fix.  This is what I used on mine and it allows you to recreate broken tabs etc.  I was real happy with it.  Here is a link.  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=blended&field-keywords=plastifix&results-process=default&dispatch=search/ref=pd_sl_aw_tops-1_blended_14142907_2&results-process=default

Wow, great.  I have several areas to fix and I was wondering what to use?  Thanks.

[gasoline_24]

Eastwood sells one too, but I would stay away from it as the applicator tip is too big and it makes it difficult to work on these small areas.  After you put on the plastifix I used a small file and sand paper to get the rough shape.  Then I painted with SEM primer surfacer.  You can fix the nicks in the fins and elsewhere with a little body filler and then hit with primer again before the SEM trim black.  Call Totally Auto for the silver.

[1969chargerrtse]

Eastwood sells one too, but I would stay away from it as the applicator tip is too big and it makes it difficult to work on these small areas.  After you put on the plastifix I used a small file and sand paper to get the rough shape.  Then I painted with SEM primer surfacer.  You can fix the nicks in the fins and elsewhere with a little body filler and then hit with primer again before the SEM trim black.  Call Totally Auto for the silver.

Well, the total auto silver grille paint is a problem.  That paint is just not correct.  I know people use it,and it shows.  It's just to bright.  "69 0ur tea" has researched this thoroughly, and I can pick it out in a snap at shows and in pictures.  He says the closest color he has seen to the flat gray look of the original color is Eastwoods Detail Grey.  So I'm going to shoot both colors and post a thread about it when I see the results.  I'm sure that will go over well as most people use the grille silver,  but it's just to light in color.

[six-tee-nine]

About these....




I have 2 complete grills and one of them is still in my car, but I don't have them anywhere.  Didn't they come on it in 69 or did they fell off .

[Brock Samson]

'68 only.. 

[Charger-Bodie]

'68 only.. 

That is 100% correct sir ......68 only 

[six-tee-nine]

Pfffffffffff  okay for a minit here I tought I had to start a search for some $ 200 plastic parts....

[Back N Black]

Pfffffffffff  okay for a minit here I tought I had to start a search for some $ 200 plastic parts....

I have them on my 69 because they look good!   

[1969chargerrtse]

I would try to use Plasti-Fix.  This is what I used on mine and it allows you to recreate broken tabs etc.  I was real happy with it.  Here is a link.  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index=blended&field-keywords=plastifix&results-process=default&dispatch=search/ref=pd_sl_aw_tops-1_blended_14142907_2&results-process=default

I wanted to go back to this thread to say this stuff is awesome!!!!   I was able to fix my grille with ease.  This is a great product and I thank gasoline_24 for posting it.  Great great product.  Use the link and order some, glued my split and broken grille back like new.    Thanks again.

[mikepmcs]

69_500
It's Danny right?

Do you still have any of these grille parts? I'm looking for end to end if you still have that one.  I trashed mine pretty good.
thanks
v/r
Mike

[Chatt69chgr]

A year after I had bought my Ford F100 pickup new in 1973, someone backed into it with something and broke a piece out of the plastic grill.  I saw it immediately so the break was fresh.  I used the cyanoacrylate glue (one drop will hold 2000 #) to reattach the piece.  29 years later, when I sold the truck, it was holding just fine.  That worked with just one piece.  With the whole bottom separated, I would think you would have to have something besides just glue to fix it.  And the pieces are of such small diameter that it would be a challenge.  You would have to put small pieces of wire behind and use them as strengthing components.  On a larger flat piece, the idea of using fiberglas cloth is an excellent one.  In this case, a good used grill section would be the best repair.  Fixing the broken one would be my second choice.