'68 Grill Repair: Looking for solutions

[Surf Charger]

Hey guys,

Wondering how many of you restore your '68 Grill? The problem I'm running into is that all mounting points (5 I believe) along the top of the plastic grill that connect to the top metal hood latch bracket, are cracked and broken due to age/brittleness. Is there anything out there that can repair plastic or at least provide an alternative to keeping it together?

Overall my grill is in perfect shape...just the top mounting points. Any tips on repairing this or alternative solutions are welcome.

[WHITE AND RED 69]

There is an item called plastifix. I used it on mine and it worked great.

http://www.amazon.com/Urethane-Supply-PlastiFix-Kit-Black/dp/B0007LTXVO/ref=pd_sim_sbs_auto_1

[Charger_Dart]

I had the same thing on my 68 grill and found that there is a common toggle style drywall anchor that is the same thread as the bolts that go through to the grill u shaped clips. The drywall anchors have a much wider gripping area so they went beyond the broken plastic parts on mine. They have been in my grill now for over a year and have worked great. Simple, easy fix if that's what you are looking for.

[elacruze]

This stuff by Wurth is a two-part plastic epoxy, I was told it was developed specifically to replace broken mounting points on modern plastic bumper covers. In the RV shop I worked at, we used it for everything. I did actually use it once for replacing a broken mounting stud on a bumper surround-squirted, drilled, screwed in about a half hour and AFAIK it never broke off afterwards.

http://www.wurthusa.com/web/en/website/produkte_1/bodyshop/plasticrepairfiller/plasticrepairfiller.php

[Surf Charger]

This stuff by Wurth is a two-part plastic epoxy, I was told it was developed specifically to replace broken mounting points on modern plastic bumper covers. In the RV shop I worked at, we used it for everything. I did actually use it once for replacing a broken mounting stud on a bumper surround-squirted, drilled, screwed in about a half hour and AFAIK it never broke off afterwards.

http://www.wurthusa.com/web/en/website/produkte_1/bodyshop/plasticrepairfiller/plasticrepairfiller.php

Any idea where I can buy this stuff? Can't seem to find any retailers and the main website doesn't seem to list a price or way to buy?

[elacruze]

This stuff by Wurth is a two-part plastic epoxy, I was told it was developed specifically to replace broken mounting points on modern plastic bumper covers. In the RV shop I worked at, we used it for everything. I did actually use it once for replacing a broken mounting stud on a bumper surround-squirted, drilled, screwed in about a half hour and AFAIK it never broke off afterwards.

http://www.wurthusa.com/web/en/website/produkte_1/bodyshop/plasticrepairfiller/plasticrepairfiller.php

Any idea where I can buy this stuff? Can't seem to find any retailers and the main website doesn't seem to list a price or way to buy?

By distributors only, I think. I've always had the Wurth guy come by in a truck like Snap-On.

http://www.wurthusa.com/web/en/website/unternehmen_1/contact/contactus.php

[MoparSam]

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=2646894&Main=2645697

Found that link through the search on this site. I am doing this method and it is working out very well. I used it to make the mounting points on mine where they were busted off. When it sets up, it is not as brittle as the old plastic and i can hold the grill by the mounting points and no breakage.

[elacruze]

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=2646894&Main=2645697

Found that link through the search on this site. I am doing this method and it is working out very well. I used it to make the mounting points on mine where they were busted off. When it sets up, it is not as brittle as the old plastic and i can hold the grill by the mounting points and no breakage.

Sweet!

I love this place.

[twodko]

I had a couple broken top tabs on my 69 too. The fix I did was to use PlastiFix(fantastic stuff) and some thin aluminum tabs. I fabricated these alum tabs to slide inside the tabs and up against the top of the tabs. I drilled holes in each to match the tab holes them epoxied them in place. On those tabs that I had broken pieces of, I used the PlastiFix to fuse them back together, lightly sanded the repair and reinstalled the assembly. This has worked flawlessly and the alum tabs are invisible. Good luck.

[Surf Charger]

Can any of you guys provide pictures of your plastic fixes? I'd like to see some examples. 

[vancamp]

if you can get a piece of grille plastic off another car or a piece of the same type plastic you can cut into little chips put in a glass or metal container with some MEK and it will turn the plastic into a putty like substance that you can patch the original part with once it dries the MEK evaporates out and leaves you with hard plastic again.

[Surf Charger]

Video on Plastifix...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4RECGjEOnE

[68blue]

The grill is made of ABS plastic and responds well to common plastic model glue. I had cracked mounts and other parts in my 68 grill and fixed them with it.

[ACUDANUT]

http://madison.craigslist.org/pts/2743970713.html

68 Charger grill 100 bucks.

[Brent69]

My '69 grille had the same problem as yours - broken mounts.  I used Plastex (http://plastex.net/).  I was skeptical at first because their website and videos are so cheesy, but the stuff works great.  I had some mounts that just had cracks and small chunks missing and I was able to fill those in.  One piece had too much stuff missing so I cut a good one off a donor grill and used Plastex to glue it on. 

If you buy the kit, it also comes with a molding bar that allows to create molds for missing parts.  I did this for one of the headlight doors that was missing a piece right where the screws go.  The pic I included is before drilling the hole and sanding.

Anywhere I had hairline cracks, I carved a valley right on top of the crack using a Dremel tool and filled it in with Plastex and then sanded it.  It gave it structural integrity where the cracks where.  Great stuff!

[Surf Charger]

http://madison.craigslist.org/pts/2743970713.html

68 Charger grill 100 bucks.

Bummer...I missed it

[Surf Charger]

Just curious as to what you guys do regarding repainting the gray part of the grill? What color to use? Same with the headlight surround....what color do you use and where do you buy the paint?

[WHITE AND RED 69]

I used argent silver wheel paint from eastwood on mine.   .


http://www.eastwood.com/

[Surf Charger]

I used argent silver wheel paint from eastwood on mine.   .


http://www.eastwood.com/

That does look nice. I had a silver color...but it was just way too bright. I liked the original dull grey but can't seem to find a paint to match.

[Surf Charger]

Anyone know where I can find the following hardware for the '68 Grill?

Looking for the T shaped screws to hold the trim onto the front of the grill, the grommets that go along the top and bottom of grill assembly to hold it into the metal housing, and the body bolts/metal pre-threaded clips.

[Fred]

Try .............
Dante's Mopar Parts Contact Information:
376 Berlin Cross Keys Rd
Sicklerville, NJ 08081


Phone: (609) 332-4194

Fax: (856) 875-4332

Email: sales@dantesparts.com

[69DodgeCharger]

I made my own replacement pieces out of thin gauge sheetmetal and glued them on with qwik set JB Weld with a very small self tapping screw also ran through the sides. Total price, about $4.00 total time 2-3 hours. They work perfect and are much stronger than the original plastic tabs. Hilllbilly repair? maybe. But nobody is ever going to see it anyways.

[WHITE AND RED 69]

Got mine off ebay. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mopar-68-Charger-Grille-Fastener-Kit-NEW-1968-/370517412092?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1968%7CMake%3ADodge%7CModel%3ACharger&vxp=mtr&hash=item56448f08fc

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOPAR-Grille-Fasteners-clips-68-69-Charger-70-71-Cuda-/330637835556?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1968%7CMake%3ADodge%7CModel%3ACharger&vxp=mtr&hash=item4cfb8cfd24