Who can create drawings?

[Bob_Koch]

I've had a number of inquiries over time about locating grille bars for our '51 - 53 trucks. Replacements are extremely difficult to come by. Fortunately, I have a set that I am restoring.

I would be willing to LOAN them to a member that can create drawings so they can be posted on our website and be available to everyone. I don't think reconstructing them from sheet metal would be that difficult for someone if they had a pattern. This is beyond my abilities, so who can help?

[Jim Gaspard]

You're absolutely right Bob. 1951 - 53 grill pieces are some of the hardest to find, mostly because these pieces were more exposed and vulnerable to dings in a work truck. At swap meets we find lots of affordable chebby and f*rd grills of our era, both used and re-popped, but hardly ever a Dodge. I also am beyond that stage on my driver and frame-off projects with nice re-worked pieces, but I would be willing to loan them for a re-popped proto-type. I have two types, one is factory tap-welded at joints to create one long grill piece and the other is a later version (or after market) that has slip sleeves at the joints.

[ggdad1951]

You're absolutely right Bob. 1951 - 53 grill pieces are some of the hardest to find, mostly because these pieces were more exposed and vulnerable to dings in a work truck. At swap meets we find lots of affordable chebby and f*rd grills of our era, both used and re-popped, but hardly ever a Dodge. I also am beyond that stage on my driver and frame-off projects with nice re-worked pieces, but I would be willing to loan them for a re-popped proto-type. I have two types, one is factory tap-welded at joints to create one long grill piece and the other is a later version (or after market) that has slip sleeves at the joints.

my '51 has little clips at the joints and is factory. At least they look like clips, I have yet to tear the grill apart....but they are little metal looking strips that run vertical on the bar about 12" from each end.

Edited April 22, 2011 by ggdad1951

[HanksB3B]

I didn't realize just how lucky I was...

It's probably too late for me to help, but...Oh wait! Put me down for 1 set in S.S.

I do have a person in mind that can absolutely fabricate these at what will most likely turn out to be very cost effective. His name is Rosario the brother of Sandblast Jose. He's one of those "lost-art" people and has proven he can fabricate almost anything from sheet metal. He would be classified an "ornate metal worker" and while his small business knocks out things like chassis for electronic componentry as a bread-n-butter thing, his shop is filled with things like art-deco lamps, candelabras and all sorts of cool stuff. Bob and you guys, if this sounds like the direction you think this great project should be going, you can always let me know if you need me to help.

Hank

[richardb]

I think this is a fabulous idea. If someone were to fabricate these bars I would gladly purchase some. I am sure I am not the only one. I am sure that even people who have them would replace them with replacement units. As previously stated they are prone to dings. I would probably even purchase a spare set just to have them on hand. This is one of the best ideas I have heard in a while. I just hope that someone proceeds and follows through with this great idea.

[dontknowitall]

you paint these yourself Hank? they look very nice..

I didn't realize just how lucky I was...

It's probably too late for me to help, but...Oh wait! Put me down for 1 set in S.S.

I do have a person in mind that can absolutely fabricate these at what will most likely turn out to be very cost effective. His name is Rosario the brother of Sandblast Jose. He's one of those "lost-art" people and has proven he can fabricate almost anything from sheet metal. He would be classified an "ornate metal worker" and while his small business knocks out things like chassis for electronic componentry as a bread-n-butter thing, his shop is filled with things like art-deco lamps, candelabras and all sorts of cool stuff. Bob and you guys, if this sounds like the direction you think this great project should be going, you can always let me know if you need me to help.

Hank

[richardb]

As stated before I will definately take a set

[HanksB3B]

you paint these yourself Hank? they look very nice..

Thanks for the compliment. I'll have to let Martin from Alvins Auto Body in Long Beach California know. But I've already told him more than 50 times how much I liked his work.

Hank

[richardb]

Is anyone going to follow up on this great idea? Or is anyone capable of reproducing the grill bars?

[HanksB3B]

I don't have one, but if anyone wants to give away a fairly decent set, I'm quite sure I can get Rosario to fabricate a few pair that are so good you couldn't tell if the were factory or not. Accurate and thorough drawings could work but when it comes to the parking light housing I'm not so sure. Like everything else with our trucks it's either a matter of time, or a matter of money.

God knows I don't need another project, but I am willing to help,

Hank

[george c]

Well, ggdad1951 you up for another project???

George

[ggdad1951]

Well, ggdad1951 you up for another project???

George

can always try.....those models will be interesting to say the least...

[richardb]

I think this is a great idea. Especially since I am in the need for new grill bars from my 53. Is anyone actually planning on reproducing them or is it just a brilliant thought. It is beyond my ability but I am a supporter of the person who can reproduce them.

[ggdad1951]

I think this is a great idea. Especially since I am in the need for new grill bars from my 53. Is anyone actually planning on reproducing them or is it just a brilliant thought. It is beyond my ability but I am a supporter of the person who can reproduce them.

well, if I can model them and goerge has machines to make the tools and press these, it could be a possibility.

[Dave72dt]

Finding someone with pockets deep enough to fund the dies for pressing will be a problem. Modeling isn't as big a problem as funding all the dies. Each bar is different and a die for one side won't work on the other side. I believe there's a different radius on the top flange than on the bottom. But then again ,if a die was made to stamp both sides at once as a single piece and then split it....., would require a bigger press....,could model the stainless bars as well....pattern up some floor boards...

[ggdad1951]

yep, it's all about the up front investment. With today's CNC milling abilities, making tooling for several hundred parts is easier than making tooling for several 10,000's of parts. Something of this magnitude might require deposits for materials for tooling.

BTW, these aren't going to be a peach to model either....lots of curves, compound surfaces

[richardb]

I am hopefull that someone has the time and equipment to make this project a reality.

[richardb]

I am just wondering for those of you who seem to be experts. What kind of investment would it take to make these grill bars. I am just curious to what it would take?

[ggdad1951]

cost of tooling depends on what kind of tool you are looking to get. For a tool to make several hundred parts you might get away with $500 per tool, unless you have stock laying around to make tools. But this also could easily run into over $1000 per tool.

I think right now the drive is for the passenger visor project for george and I. After that who knows?

[george c]

cost of tooling depends on what kind of tool you are looking to get. For a tool to make several hundred parts you might get away with $500 per tool, unless you have stock laying around to make tools. But this also could easily run into over $1000 per tool.

I think right now the drive is for the passenger visor project for george and I. After that who knows?

I've been having some major computer problems lately. I starting machining a test visor mount using hard maple. After the computer died part way through the ruffing cut. After going through about 6 old computers (all of which are now in the back of my '51 Chev 6400) I finally found a laptop with the necessary ports. Hooked it up and got things going again except the Z axis was reversed on the new computer and jammed the Z into the block before I could get the e-stop. Now the motors don't turn anymore and I think I smoked the port on the laptop?

So still working on it, if I could just get past the bad stretch of luck?

George