Charger grilles

[chargervert]

Today I took the grille frame and welded a cracked support bracket, and tack welded the four mounting bolts so when I bolt it to the front fenders they will stay stationary like the original studs were. Then I located the correct headlight cups,and stainless headlight bulb retaining rings,as well as the correct hardware to install them. I painted the cups with a galvanized spray paint to freshen the 50 plus year old pieces. It looks good.

 

[chargervert]

I set the grille into the frame, because it is the safest place to keep it for now. I have to order the 7 piece molding kit for it and a grille mounting hardware kit too. But the bills are due,and the oil tank is empty so it may be a little while before I get back to doing any more work on the grille.

 

[Richard Cranium]

What in the world are you messing around with a 1969 grille....I thought that you were a 1970 guy?

 

[chargervert]

I got two 69 Charger R/T SE cars,and a 68 too. None of them are pretty, but they are what they are. I moved the grille for my son's 68 to a safer spot in the loft. It's a nice piece.

 

[chargervert]

Today I was picking up some car parts that I had in a pile behind the garage,and I found a pair of the mounting brackets for the vacuum pods that bolt onto the bottom of the grille frame on each side under the headlight assemblies. They are in good shape with all the tabs that hold the wiring and vacuum hoses in place. They look pretty solid,I need to blast them,and prime and paint them. I was happy to find them.

 

[chargervert]

 

[chargervert]

I got the brackets blasted and ready to etch prime and paint them.

 

[chargervert]

I got the vacuum pod brackets cleaned, etch primed and painted. I still need to find a pair of vacuum pods,the brackets that attach to the headlight doors and the clips that attach the pods to the headlight door brackets. I know that I saw atleast one of the headlight door brackets up in the loft, so I got to get up there and dig around some more and see what I can find.

 

[chargervert]

I put the vacuum pod brackets on the grille and they look great. I need to find two more of the nut clips to bolt them on permanently.

 

[myk r sanchez]

Solid work, and the grilles seem straight too...

 

[chargervert]

I was pretty happy to be able to whip up a whole 69 Charger grille from a bunch of junk parts in my loft,and an abandoned grille frame found leaning on a trashcan next to my vending spot at Carlisle! It isn't a show car piece, but it is a decent driver quality piece. With the current asking prices for broken junk ones starting at a grand, I should have this completed with new reproduction grille moldings for under $600.00!