Charger grille restoration database

[Magnumcharger]

Right-click on each link, then "Open in New Window" ....


3rd gen hideaway grille repair?


'68-'70 grille swap?


'68 Charger grille question


'68 charger grille question 


'68 Front Grille Question 


'68 Grille Assembly 


'68 grille painting advice: who's done it?


69 Charger 500 headlamp assys... Where to re-coat the proper finish?


'69 CHARGER GRILLES BEING REPOP'D 


'69 Charger RT grille emblem 


'69 grille parts same as 68?


'69 grille rebuild 


'69 Grille repair advise needed


'69 R/T grille emblems
 

'70 Charger grille reproduction?


'70 grille on '68 charger?


'70 Grille restoration 


'72 Hidden headlight grille restoration 


1968 Charger Grille Rivets 


1968 front grille, made as repo..? 


1969 Charger - Grille Trim Restoration 


1969 Charger Front GRILLE Repair 


1969 Grille Removal Diagram. Please share?


1969 Headlight vacuum canister 


1970 Charger grille question 


1970 Grille restoration 


'68 Grille trim 


'69 Charger 500 grille 


'69 Plastic Grille Paint Prep...hand sand, light sand blast or glass bead?


ABS plastic.....prepping for paint


Advice on paint for '70 grille 


Anybody else done a body color grille? 


Anyone Sell New "Correct" '69 Grille Hardware (j-nuts, washers, etc.) 


Arrow Emblem on '68 Grille 


Best way to remove '69 Charger grille assembly?


Black or silver grille?? 


C500 grille repair 


Can you install grille frame THEN put in the complete grille on a '69? 


Changing a '70 charger grille to a '69 grille 


Charger grille spacers quantities


Charger Specialties grille trim 


Correct color for '69 Charger grille using spray cans 


Correct colors for '69 charger headlight door actuator and linkage 


Custom '68 grille actuators 


Dark silver paint on '69 charger grille question.... 


Disassembled my grille, have some broken pieces... 


Disassembling front grille and bumper 


DRAINO AS A RESTORATION TOOL? YEP!


Buying a 1968,'69,or '70 Dodge Charger grille


1968 1969 DODGE CHARGER GRILLE, GRILLES NEW


1968 DODGE CHARGER GRILLE, GRILLES NEW COMPLETE


Finally a new project finished... 


Front grille on '68 Charger 


Front grille area '70 


Grille install help needed....pictures included, thanks..... 


Grille installed -- Pics attached... 


Grille is FINALLY restored...Pics included... 


Grille Paint 


Grille paint?

[Magnumcharger]

Part Two



Grille restoration question 


Grille surgery


Grille Trim hardware 


Grille work 


Grille bolts, whats the best way... 


Grille fasteners 


Grille help-sheetmetal frame 


Grille "I" piece and "check mark" trim repopped 


Grille information... 


Grille installation Hardware on 1968 Charger 


Grille kit 


Grille molding question 


Grille repair
 

Grille resto 


Grille resto help needed 


Grille restoration 


Grille restoration 2


Grille silver paint..... what areas? 


Grille vacuum question 


Has anyone bought and used the new repro '69 grille, trim and fasteners?


Has anyone purchased this new grille trim on eBay? 


Headlight bucket blackout 


Headlight door emblems 


Headlight vacuuum pod restored-pics included... 


Headlight/grille support color 


How does the front grille go together on a 1968? 


How much vacuum required to open and close the headlight doors?


How much would it cost to soda blast a '68 headlight support frame?


"I" piece removal on a '69 


I thought I'd share this for 1968 grille paint reference 


I would appreciate advice on removing the grille from a 1968 dodge charger 


I am refinishing a '68 charger grille and need paint that will match as close as possible to OEM finish?


Whats the best glue to use on my '70 Charger grille?


NOS or New Reproduction '68 grille, anyone know of a supplier?


Not sure if I missed something before grille installed 


Paint thinner to clean layers of paint out of the fins of a grille?


Power Actuators?


Reassembling grille and front bumper on '69, what order?


Grille starting point, good page!


Repairing broken grille - 1969 


Reproduction '68 and '69 grille plastic on Ebay


R/T Emblem question 


R/T Grille emblem 


SEM Self-etching primer on the plastic grille?


Spray painted grille 


Started grille work 


TIME TO GRILLE! 


Warped plastic grille 


What paint for vacuum pods and headlight rod?


What's the easiest way to strip the '73 plastic grille inserts?


Who has grille hardware for '68-'70 Charger grilles?


Who makes best metal "I" piece out there?


Who makes new '69 Charger grille centers?


Who makes the best "I" piece?? 


Who sells the correct argent silver for '69 Charger grille?


WIW .....'69 Charger Grill


Grille Corners


The Best Grille repair glue - bar none!!


'69 Charger - How I fixed the vacuum headlight switch dohicky  


Video on aluminum trim repair, Youtube


1969 Hemi Charger Daytona grille

[Back N Black]

Wow! thats impressive. Do you have anything on a GRILL Cheese sandwitch.

[Magnumcharger]

Wow! thats impressive. Do you have anything on a GRILL Cheese sandwitch.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich Recipies

[69bronzeT5]

Thanks Robin. Im in the middle of my grille right now. This thread will help alot

[Magnumcharger]

Same here Cody, which is what prompted this compilation of information.
The best bit of technical information: Having a "parts grille", and using it to create the perfect "grille adhesive" by dissolving small pieces of it in acetone. Mixing it together as it melts to create a paste, which then bonds cracks, or fills gaps in your good grille.

Man! And does that ever work well!!

[bull]

  Hmmm. Which would take more time, reading all those threads or restoring a grill (or two)? Thanks for the database. I'm getting ready to do mine (been getting ready for a while now) so I'm sure I'll be using this thread.

[Shakey]

Well done Robin.  That should help many folks out.   

[69chargeryeehaa]

this is kind of related to the grill topic, my own personal contribution, how to repair the vacum switch....enjoy.
http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,9472.0.html

[runningman]

Great info, I should get to mine this summer so this will help out a lot.  Thanks!  Matt 

[yeahitsgotahemi!]

Here is a great video about restoring aluminum trim that is very informative. Some good tips and best part, all you have to do is watch.  Found it on youtube.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oal0_5Ayjm4

[Magnumcharger]

'69 Charger-how i fixed the vacuum headlight switch dohicky and Youtube aluminum trim repair....both added to Grille repair database!!

Thanks!

[resq302]

Good Grief!  That is really impressive.

[1969chargerrtse]

Oh no, another grille thread.    Great work and something very much needed. 

[DodgeByDave]

http://www.icedoutgear.com/grillz-gold-teeth.php

[Plumcrazy]

Recent before and after pics of mine.

[Magnumcharger]

All I can say is....WOW!
I know how much work is involved there!

[chargerguy111]

Does anyone happen to have the bracing for the surrounding metal frame of the grille?This is the brace that connects the grille to the bottom of the radiator housing?Thanks!

[Charger_Fan]

Thanks for doing this, Man!!

The best bit of technical information: Having a "parts grille", and using it to create the perfect "grille adhesive" by dissolving small pieces of it in acetone. Mixing it together as it melts to create a paste, which then bonds cracks, or fills gaps in your good grille.

Man! And does that ever work well!!

That's a really cool idea, I'm gonna try that!

Does anyone happen to have the bracing for the surrounding metal frame of the grille?This is the brace that connects the grille to the bottom of the radiator housing?Thanks!

For which year of Charger?

[Belgium R/T -68]

Have looked in this very good grillrestoguide but propably missed it, I have seen -68 chargers with bodycolour in the area between the lower chromemolding and the bumper.
Shouldn't that area be black as the plastic is? 

[69bronzeT5]

Before and after....(have to put trim on still)

[mikepmcs]

Ok, I have one thing to say to all you guys/gals that have redone your grilles.....

I just finished my grille center after 3 days of screwing with it and I have every tool you could imagine at my disposal.

It's good to go(no shiny stuff yet) sans the paint which I will do very soon. 
I must be getting old cause that got old very quickly(probably just impatience)

I felt so useless messing with that thing.. I will say this though, fiberglass is the way to go if you are scabbing in pieces and need to fill some meat.

Bill440, I am not complaining by the way, the piece you sent me was very good.  I'm just beeeooothcchhhing cause i'm lazy and this took me too long in my opinion.
Gettin' old gang, gettin' old.  I think I need glasses too, damnit!
v/r
Mike

[AKcharger]

Hole Smokes! nice work


one more to add about 3rd gen grill converion

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,46839.0.html

[THE COLONEL]

I was doing some searching, and HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!  WHAT A SITE!!!  I will be using that when I restore my grille this Winter in The Colonel!!

[bull]

I haven't seen this in among those threads that Robin posted (although I haven't seen all of them and probably never will) but I was just wondering if anyone has or knows of someone who has powder-coated the frame and top piece as opposed to painting them on a 68 or 69?

EDIT** nevermind, I just saw where Norway Charger did it. http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,14432.0.html

[crawfishn]

hi, i am looking for a left side 1971 dodge charger grille,anyone know how to get a hold of one,just got this charger last Monday,the one it has is in one piece,but has a few cracks in it,plus a few tabs came off

[THE COLONEL]

Well, I did some research on this topic, and the previous threads that were posted by MagnumCharger, but could not find my answer.  I will be needing grille spacers and have no idea where to get them.  I have searched, but have come up with nothing.  Does anyone have a direct link to the spacers that I can buy?

[Magnumcharger]

Grille spacers....what do they look like?

[THE COLONEL]

Grille spacers....what do they look like?

i think they are the brackets inbetween the top plate, and the grille.

[jb666]

Well, I did some research on this topic, and the previous threads that were posted by MagnumCharger, but could not find my answer.  I will be needing grille spacers and have no idea where to get them.  I have searched, but have come up with nothing.  Does anyone have a direct link to the spacers that I can buy?

I won this set on EBay a couple of weeks ago (at the request of the guy restoring my grill), is this what you're looking for??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120270518969&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&viewitem=

[mikepmcs]

Wow, that kit is awesome. 

[jb666]

Wow, that kit is awesome. 

Yeah, very complete. When I brought it to the shop and handed it to one of the guys he says "WOW, where do you find this stuff?!?!".

Ebay 

[mikepmcs]

Tell em to quit being loyal to them dang chebbies and jump on the A train... or B train in this instance.

[Landonsrt]

When I went to take mine out a few weeks ago, nothing usable survived. Now im screwed!!  Nice paint job on the grille.

[Silver R/T]

Well, I did some research on this topic, and the previous threads that were posted by MagnumCharger, but could not find my answer.  I will be needing grille spacers and have no idea where to get them.  I have searched, but have come up with nothing.  Does anyone have a direct link to the spacers that I can buy?

I won this set on EBay a couple of weeks ago (at the request of the guy restoring my grill), is this what you're looking for??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120270518969&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT&viewitem=

Are those bolts actually long enough? I got a kit on ebay a while ago for like $45 + shipping and none of the bolts could be used so I got some aftermarket ones. They were not long enough to go from top grille, through spacer and into clip.

[Nassau1969]

Year One has yanked them off the web.  I looked on e bay there is one on there that says its for the scoops but its not its a metal one.

[tylers70charger]

  Folks.  I have followed all of the excellent links to restoration of a 1970 dodge charger grill.  My grill is in very rough shape, any handing compounds the damage.  I have checked out the problems with Premier Plastic Restorations (will not go there),  have checked with Goodmark, BEA, and can not reach Cudagrill.com by email or by phone.  No luck.  Sorry to bring this problem up again, but does anyone know of someone that is in business and really produces a reproduction grill for 1970 dodge charger?

[twodko]

The grill on my 69 is in good shape but I still wanted new top and bottom hardware as many of the old fasteners broke during removal. I bought a new set of hardware from Tom @ R/T Specialties. Give him a call, he carries lots 'o stuff. Good luck.

Tom

[tylers70charger]

I did contact R/T specialties, and checked the site.  No 70 charger grills.  Still no luck.  Anyone know if cuda-grill.com is still in business?  anyone know of anyone that carries the 70 charger repro grill?

[mopar_nut_440_6]

Hello and merry Xmas to you all.

I am just working on the grill frame for my 68 and wondering if the clips which clip into the grill frame which the headlamp bezel screws turn into are available? I have a few which are broken. Here is a pic of what  I am talking about. Thanks to Charger4404spd for the liberated picture.

Cheers,

James

[tylerk]

Thanks to all of the things I learned off of this thread, I decided to tackle my grill also.
Thought i'd post these in case anyone wants to know what colors I used.  They were
SEM Trim Black, like I read about on here, and SEM Titanium Metallic.  I don't know
if anyone's tried it, but I matched it to a place on one of the fins that wasn't as worn.
Looking at it in person, it was a perfect match for mine.  Hope you enjoy.

[Chatt69chgr]

There is a dark titanium metallic and a light titanium metallic.  Which one did you use?

[runningman]

Looks great! 

[tylerk]

I'm not positive, but I'd say it was the darker one.
It doesn't say on the can, but the number is 15253, if that helps.
Thanks for the compliments!

[stingger68]

can the center peace be changed on the 68 to make it a 69 or is there more to it?

[stingger68]

on a charger grille

[Troy]

can the center peace be changed on the 68 to make it a 69 or is there more to it?

on a charger grille

Yes. And the driver's side headlight door (and the trim of course).

Troy

[stingger68]

thank you. any idea on were to start looking for one?

[Troy]

There are some reasonably priced complete 69 Charger grills in the Classifieds right now (eBay section). You'll probably have a fair chunk of cash sunk into finding good original parts that will still need restored (for example I've seen centers go for $400 and sides with good corners over $200). Grills are not currently being reproduced so, unfortunately, you're at the mercy of whoever has the pieces.

Troy

[stingger68]

i believe that the grille will be the last thing i dill with unless some parts pop up. my 68 grille is in great driver condition so it  will do. maybe they'll repo some soon lol

[SD80MACKing]

I am trying to find out what color the piece between the bottom of the grille (1969) and the bumper was from the factory. I guess it would be called a filler panel. Was it black plasitc/semi gloss black or was it the color of the body? Mine was painted to match the body which was a non stock color. I am now painting the car black and was wondering what color to paint the seperator? Thanks for any info...

Al Moran

[Charger-Bodie]

Black. no matter what color the car is that part is to be black.

[SmashingPunkFan]

Wow guys! those look wicked! I need to find a '70 Grille so I can start my resto on it... would you guys know of a good place I could look for one?

[SmashingPunkFan]

Also, whats like a good deal for one of these? I've seen some for like $600 bucks w/ a few broken fins. I don't know what would be worth what I'm paying

[fastandfurious]

Before and after....(have to put trim on still)

my dear god that looks soooooo cool!! lovee it. what did you do? just some painting and filling?

[ChargerD100]

I'm restoring my '69 I bought last week, and need the passenger side of the grille only one I could find in better shape was $850 anyone know of cheaper? the rest of the grille on my car is in great shape except the chrome

[Ghoste]

.

[Ltaylor0916]

I am having some problems removing my grille in in a 69 Charger. I have everything undone, from what I can see, but I seem to be stuck around the headlight area.  Is there something that I need to undo around there to get the grille out? It seems like I need to take the rod out that opens and closes the headlight, but I am not sure. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

[Cooter]

I am having some problems removing my grille in in a 69 Charger. I have everything undone, from what I can see, but I seem to be stuck around the headlight area.  Is there something that I need to undo around there to get the grille out? It seems like I need to take the rod out that opens and closes the headlight, but I am not sure. Any help is appreciated. Thanks

Have you removed the two bolts in the brackets on each side BEHIND the headlights? They go straight into the inner fender just below the headlight doors.

[Cop Magnet]

Great thread compilation! I am just starting on a 68 grill with the following issue. As you can see, the plastic backing piece is pretty rough. I think I can epoxy some missing chunks, or use the "melted grill material" technique to build it up. However, the protruding end pieces, that fill in the space above the bumper, are gone completely. Any ideas on how to build these out? Anybody sell this piece intact? What is it even called? Thanks in advance.

[JB400]

Looks like you have enough of a profile to make a mold and make a patch to fill in the missing pieces.  You'd have to sculpt in your two ends.  If you want someone to do it for you, Gswrestorations@aol.com .  I haven't had any work done by him yet, but others have and seem happy with the results.

Welcome to the forum.

[Cop Magnet]

Thank you!
I would like to do it myself, if possible. The main issue is how to template the pieces that stick out at the lower front lip. The straight pieces are easy, as I can use the existing panel as a guide. But the curvy parts that stick out are clearly more free form. Any ideas on this?
And thanks for the welcome. This is my first Charger. It will be a resto-mod and you will be hearing more from me

[68hardchargerrt]

Thank you!
I would like to do it myself, if possible. The main issue is how to template the pieces that stick out at the lower front lip. The straight pieces are easy, as I can use the existing panel as a guide. But the curvy parts that stick out are clearly more free form. Any ideas on this?
And thanks for the welcome. This is my first Charger. It will be a resto-mod and you will be hearing more from me

When I swapped out my original grille with a spare, before I tucked it away, I made molds of both corners so that I could repair other grilles I came across.  If someone near you has a good grille and would be willing to spare about an hour, you or he  or both of you could easily make molds with any bodyfiller.  It comes out very accurate and works perfect for a form to repair missing corners...even if the whole area is missing.  Here is one side that I made .  I taped off the grille very well so that the filler doesn't stick and damage the grille, and gently pry the mold out after it hardened.  worked like a charm.

Before repair:

[68hardchargerrt]

after making mold:

[68hardchargerrt]

grille after repair:

[JB400]

Looks pretty good

[Ghoste]

Yeah, nice job!

[resq302]

Very nice job!

[68pplcharger]

 

[The70RT]

 

[FastbackJon]

I painted mine recently. Thanks to whomever decided to recommend the SEM Titanium Metallic paint (15253). That's what I ended up using.

I went with semi-gloss black and decided to shoot the vertical bars black instead of the factory silver as I thought it looked better.

You will notice the grille is also painted black where the wide surrounding piece is instead of silver. A previous owner did that. I don't think it looks too bad.

[FastbackJon]

Comparison shot of a blue car with the silver surround and the silver vertical bars (like the factory did it).

[resq302]

Man, that turned out nice !   

[Cop Magnet]

Here's my thread on my 68 grille restomodded to include angel eye HID headlamps. The post has lots of pics and general how-to on repairing and molding the plastic components.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,118025.0.html

[plum500]

Mostly finished with my '71 hideaways... some pics here:

https://www.facebook.com/plum500/posts/737962233074102

[Wakko]

Are alot of these parts that we used to spend so much time repairing now available reproduction?

[Lennard]

Are alot of these parts that we used to spend so much time repairing now available reproduction?

Yes, the grille frame/header panel, grille plastic and grille trim are all being reproduced.