69 GTX grille resto

[69 GTX]

Need some help restoing my grille. Found some at totally auto which looked good. Just need a little direction on best way to attack it. I have to fab some broken pieces. the 2 pieces the GTX bolts to and one plastic stud on the lower right side. What's the best glue/ epoxy ect for doing repairs on this. Any help is welcome! I figure I can spend a whole week doing this for what some of the shops want to do it ($800)!:eusa_pray:

 

[HYRDGOON]

Not GTX Grille's but if you look at a few build threads on here where guys have done the Charger Grille's (747, MrSpeedfreek, Hunt2Elk etc...) there's some good tips.

My honest advice though if you want it done perfectly (for less than that $800) contact 5.7 hemi on here and ask him for a quote. If you look under his name you can see samples of the Grille's he has restored and they are impeccable

 

[69 GTX]

5.7 Hemi wanted 800 also so it's back to doing it myself.

 

[5.7 hemi]

I quoted that price cause there is a lot to do according to the pics that were emailed. It's not just a grind out, slap some epoxy, sand, do it again, and spray bomb it. Your looking at 50-60 hours on the grille that 69gtx sent to me. Also, that price included the headlight bezels so all the painting and polishing would be a dead on match.

I do understand that everyone wants to save money, me included, but when you break it all down, I'm making about 10 bucks an hour.......how many people on this forum work for a living making that wage? Then I have to get (on some grilles) paint, 2 part epoxy, filler, primer, special rivets, etc., and I send the "special paints" back with the grilles so YOU have it incase you need to do a touch up down the road.

Now I'm not getting on anyone's case, but when I see posts like this I want to help you guys understand why my price is what it is, and 9 out of 10 times, I'm less than half of what a shop would charge.....and I do this stuff to kill time while the kids are in school and also to save us MOPAR guys some hard earned cash.

 

[HYRDGOON]

69 GTX if that's what 5.7 Hemi quoted than my only input is that it's probably a very fair price for what will be top quality work. Check around for some of the pics and references from other members he's done them for. I did a quick patch job on my own bezels this year but when it's in the budget to get everything done to top quality I will be sending him mine for sure.

With that said if you're up to saving some money on the labour and doing it yourself then you will find a few tips and tricks around this site (some in the threads I mentioned or just search Grille and Restoration) as well as there's info on here with the correct Argent to use etc...

Best of Luck!

 

[69 GTX]

Please don't take my post as a negative comment. Everyone has different income levels and has a different level they're willing to pay for something. What's pocket change for some is a weeks pay for others. thank you both for your time and effort, I do appreciate it! Again didn't intend to offend anyone.
Tim

 

[5.7 hemi]

None taken. I just merely wanted to point out the "WHY" so everyone has an idea of what a shop or myself has to go thru to get the grille/hl bezels back to snuff.

 

[RJS]

When I had my 69 GTX I took about a week restoring the grill with NO repairs at all.
That grill takes 4 different colors and a bunch of painting drying taping and repeat for 4 separate processes.
Ron

 

[69 GTX]

I had a body guy suggest using a SEM product, bumper stripper to remove paint from the grille, has anyone used that?

 

[5.7 hemi]

Brake fluid will work also.

 

[69 GTX]

I tried the SEM rubber bumper stripper over the weekend. It is very aggresive! Beware! It blisters the paint on contact, but also starts softening the plastic also in short fashion. I think it could be used but very carefully. I have one more idea to try, will let you all know how that works shortly.