Removing grill top bar

[Grdpa's 50 Dodge]

Spent a couple hours in the garage working on trying to take the top bar off the grill.  Took all the bolts thought it needed off to remove and its still tight as ever.

 

  So started taking off the lower bars since top bar looks as if it runs underneath as it goes vertical,

 

Took center bolts out of the lower bars and thats loose,,,but the outside end of these bars are tight and cant find any fasteners to remove any more.

 

Already checked my manuel but didnt address this issue,,,all it talked about was removing the bumper and whole grill assemblely,,,all I need it the top bar off(It got dinged pretty hard and smashed both sides since somebody bumped the middle hard,,,about a 8 inch crease on the center section.)

 

Anybody had the top bar off and what is holding same???

[JerseyHarold]

It may not be applicable to the Dodges. but on my '51-52 Plymouths the rubber hood bumpers go through holes in the upper grile bar and must be removed before the bar will come off.

[Grdpa's 50 Dodge]

I thought DUH,,,maybe Harold,,ran out to look,,,alas the 4 bumper pegs are behind the bar and not connected on the 50 Coronet any way.  They are very close tho so I can se how a Plymouth can vary a bit.

 

I will put the coat on tomorrow and break out the trouble light and make double dog sure just in case my fingers lied to me

[49roadster]

_{I am not sure about a 50 Dodge grill but the 49 is all one piece.  Tack welded on the back side.}

[BobT-47P15]

It looks as if the top bar should come off by itself....but ..........

 

                                   

[BobT-47P15]

According to pic in this ebay ad.......the bars seem to be separate............

 

 

Another ad.........back side............

 

[BobT-47P15]

Back side, from yet another ebay ad.

E Bay can sometimes be a good source of parts information when sellers send in useful pictures.

And sometimes their explanations of what or how the part fits are good.

 

[BobT-47P15]

 And........link to a page on the net with pictures of many, many 1950 Dodges in all sorts of 

color schemes and originality (or not)...........................

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=photo+of+1950+dodge&tbm=isch&source=iu&imgil=WZ4ppuMl5lB0TM%253A%253Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fencrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com%252Fimages%253Fq%253Dtbn%253AANd9GcQHXii0pOOG6Bv61WTvkVJmsmZxbVQplOX0zUaaIeJBFf5qHNQbqg%253B400%253B312%253BE1oGN4bC9TBnnM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.oldcarandtruckpictures.com%25252Fhantscountycarshows%25252Fwindsor2006%25252F&sa=X&ei=JBSwUoThGcrCyQG9x4GABg&ved=0CDYQ9QEwBQ&biw=1024&bih=672#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=WZ4ppuMl5lB0TM%3A%3BE1oGN4bC9TBnnM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.oldcarandtruckpictures.com%252Fhantscountycarshows%252Fwindsor2006%252F1950_Dodge_coupe_fv%253DKRM.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.oldcarandtruckpictures.com%252Fhantscountycarshows%252Fwindsor2006%252F%3B400%3B312

[Don Coatney]

Is it possible that when the bar was creased that it tweaked it enough to wedge the fasteners in place? You may have to slightly bend it to remove it.

[Niel Hoback]

     If you have four nuts off of each side, you may just need a putty knife and a lot of nerve.

[Grdpa's 50 Dodge]

Victory!!! Its off,,, took drivers side park light out which is connected to bottom grille peices. 

 

Plus somehow I managed to  miss a bolt.  Taking off drivers side lower grill  bars  was giving me MUCH more room.  getting in the engine compartment may have helped but I drop or forget things  which means climbing alot

 

Biggest obstacle seems to be  Lack of light.  Wonder who thought 2 - 4" florescent shop lights on the other end and ZERO on he end working on

 

Broke one little bolt off stainless

 any ideas how to fix that.????????

Edited December 18, 2013 by Grdpa's 50 Dodge

[BobT-47P15]

Depends (in my opinion) what the bolt was mounted on.  If on a bracket like shown above on rear of the top grille

bars.........I think you could drill out remainder of stud and maybe insert a bolt from the back side.  Or, if not enough

room to do that, take a piece of threaded rod of appropriate diameter, put nut behind the bracket, then one in front

to attach it.  Maybe some Loctite to hold nuts securely.  OR some soldering work.  Just my guesstimate on a fix.  

I'm sure others have more ideas.   

[Young Ed]

These are P15 bottom grill bars but hopefully some of it will apply. When I started cutting out the broken studs I discovered that they were carriage type bolts spot welded in place. For most of them I was able to sneak a bolt in by just twisting the bracket slightly. I think on one of the tighter spaces I cut the bracket to bend it up. A little dab of weld and they were good to go.