front grill removal

Post by **dennis** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 4:24 pm

can any one tell me the easiest way to remove the front 5 bar grille from a 69 model for painting.
do i have to take the whole fromt off.
help please.

Post by **Willie** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 4:37 pm

The way I did it was to use masking tape on the bright grille surround,
slip a large piece of cardboard behind the grille bars(down the front of the radiator), use newspaper to mask the rest of the front panel and
then spray the bars. As usual the trickiest bit is the masking but that
is a lot less trouble than removing the whole front panel.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 4:50 pm

I fully agree! Depending on how long it's been on you are likely to break the studs on the hockey sticks so you'll end up much worse off.
(The 'hidden' extents of the grille bars can be reached by brush before spraying if you want to get paint right up to the ends)

I have done a couple of them just by brush painting! If you make the paint the right thickness (thin enough to flat down well) and spend some time watching for runs it gives an excellent result. If you are doing a high level concours car it may get spotted, but if you are doing a car for road use it'll get chipped soon enough anyway.

Post by **h_____** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 1:06 pm

no quick solution here.

Its off with the bumper 2 large nuts only, but helps if you there are 2 of you to avoid scratching the wings.

then off with the hockey sticks, this can be a pain, if you havent done it recently, and bank on breaking the 2ba fittings. the nuts rarely come off. But these can be replaced.

Then you can get at all the little nuts and bolts along the bottom edge of the front panel.

You also need to under the 4 bolts that keep the top lip attached to the drain paths of the bonnet, and the bonnet catch release.

Then if you take the 4 bolts out that hold the radiator in, you can pull the radiator back (still full of water) and the front panel forward off the car.

I might have missed something (perhaps your horn is attached to the front panel).????? Can someone fill in what I have missed?

Then the grill is held in by 4 screws, once released, you bend the back plate of the front panel up and pull the grill out.

Its quite a task, I took the front wings off whilst I was at it.

Oh and if you use the car alot, the paint gets chipped quickly again. Will get mine powder coated next time!

Post by **dennis** » Wed Apr 23, 2003 1:38 pm

thanks H.
well at least i do not have to drain the system.
i have to take the valence out any way to repaint.
powder coating sems a good idea.
many thanks to all who posted answers.
bad design fault, the most commonest item that needs refurbing at some times and the worst to get out.