stainless modification

[Young Ed]

Here we have whats left of a 40 plymouth pickup vertical grill trim. As you can see its been smashed into everything possible and the bottom is missing. Now being a rather rare truck with about 12K produced between 39-40 this is a rather rare piece to find. Roadkingcoupe is comparing some measurements I gave him to 39 and 40 plymouth car versions hoping one might be close. Also I came across this P15 front fender trim that seems like it might be able to be modified to fit the front. It looks like the point would come out just about the bottom of the grill behind the bumper. How modifiable is stainless? The curve of the p15 piece would have to change and the whole thing would need to be flattened out some. The 39-40 car stuff would probably need some mods too although maybe not as much as the p15 piece.

[Young Ed]

Oh and if anyone runs across part # 591440 I'm in the market

[bobjob55]

I've been searching some hotrod sites,, and i found out that there is a lot of customizing on stainless trim being done...i'm going to modify all my stainless to fit because of it being chopped and a lot of mods on car..all window trim,, wind wings,, grill...i still need to figure it out,, but if you know a guy,, and have a few bucks ,, it's not too hard... or so i'm told....

[1947PLEVY]

Ed:

To me it appears that you maybe able to use the stainless strip from the center of the hood of a P15.( If it is long enough). My brother in law works with stainless and says it's pretty easy to work with. Just go slow and easy on the massaging of it. I'd say to put a little heat to it so it will bend easier without creasing it..Just my thought...God Bless...John

[42dodgeguy]

Ed: I've done a bit of stainless work, and can offer some insights. It can be worked, however if you get too aggressive it tends to work harden which then makes it tougher. I've also had some luck welding it with my little 110 volt wire feed welder. I got a spool of stainless wire for $20, and although I'd been advised to change the gas, I didn't. I used the same gas as for steel. It welded real well, except for a bit more spatter than you'd expect, but that's what grinders and buffers are for right?...Mike

[P-12 Tommy]

Ed, There's somebody on E-bay selling a '40 Plymouth pickup. Maybe he's got a line on the front trim you're looking for.http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1940-PLYMOUTH-1-2-TON-PICKUP_W0QQitemZ330399793856QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item4ced5cc2c0

Tom

[thrashingcows]

Is that original piece stainless or aluminum?

Regardless if it that rare you could get it straightened and re-polished. Might not be super cheap but definitely an option.

I had some aluminum rocker panel trim that were bent and beat up pretty badly, I couldn't find better. I had a local fellow straighten and polish them. This was 15 years ago and I think it cost me about $350.

[Young Ed]

I have been told that the original is actually chrome plated steel. However any attempts to save the original are worthless as it is missing the bottom.

[thrashingcows]

From the pic you posted it sure looks like anodized aluminum. But I didn't think they were using that technology back in the 40's.

[Young Ed]

I asked the seller of the similar truck on ebay. He answered he already sold the nose. So he may have had an extra but its gone. Back to square one. How do I tell what the original one is made of? If its chrome plated steel a magnet should stick to it right? And if its stainless it wont? Pretty sure its not aluminum.

[P-12 Tommy]

Ed, Sorry he didn't have an extra nose piece. I thought maybe you'd get lucky.

Tom

[blueskies]

Looks like stainless to me...

The stainless on my '50 was all chalky and matte like the end of your trim where it's missing it's bottom. And it shined up like new chrome with a buffing wheel.

On the cars, the only chrome plated trim parts are cast pot metal. Maybe the same for the early trucks?

Pete

[claybill]

stainless is brittle. it ends to crack and crease when bent. also it gets harder when heated..brad aylesworth in the dairyland plymouth club of wisconsin is a wiz at straightening trim..it just takes time =money.

as a joke we took over a 10in.strip that had been heated, bent, crashed, stepped on, a mess, a bit worse that the pics from young ED.....he didnt understand our joke..the next week it was back to perfect. wow! he said you can do most anything if you have the time (6hours)

claybill

[Young Ed]

Ed, Sorry he didn't have an extra nose piece. I thought maybe you'd get lucky.

Tom

He did but he sold it a year ago. He said it along with the entire nose piece it was attached to went to an island south of Italy. Now how the heck did a plymouth truck end up there?! He did ask me what else I needed so I may score some parts yet.