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Grill for 308?

Discussion in '308/328' started by Spasso, Jan 1, 2005.

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  1. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
    14,656
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    Han Solo
    #1 Spasso, Jan 1, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Thanks to the previous owner I have a large hole in my grill from where a SuperFox radar detector was mounted. I am debating rebuilding the grill versus buying another. Time versus cost.

    Everyone is closed today.
    Just out of curiousity could somebody give me a ballpark value on a used replacement IF there are any out there?
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  2. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
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    North shore, MA
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    THE Birdman
    #2 Birdman, Jan 1, 2005
    Spasso,

    T Rutlands seems to be good for used stuff like this, but beware they charge 50% of new cost for used stuff. Which is to say that it is still 3 times more than it should be! I paid $100 for a small fiberglass AC duct from them! But hey, if ya need it, ya need it! I seriously doubt Ferrari UK is going to have something like this, but it's definitely worth checking.

    Birdman
     
  3. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
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    Dec 28, 2003
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    #3 Jdubbya, Jan 1, 2005
    I thought I remembered something on E-bay but it turned out to be for a 308 GT4 which still might work...however you won't like the price..
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33645&item=7943990034&rd=1

    So I took a look at Ferrari UK and if you didn't like the E-bay deal you won't like this any better. Part # 60226206 list for 552.7 GBP.

    Being a sheet metal guy myself, I'd say take it to a local shop and have them "patch" it. Shouldn't be very expensive and a decent shop will be able to make it appear seamless.
     
  4. Chiaroman

    Chiaroman Formula 3
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    Apr 21, 2004
    1,687
    New Jersey
    #4 Chiaroman, Jan 1, 2005
    It would seem a search through the local Home Depot would produce something that could be "glued" or epoxied into place.

    A bit of flat aluminum paint and from its location on the car and the usual "quick pace" of the driver I hardly think anyone will notice. (I promise...I won't tell anyone!!)


    Tom
     
  5. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

    Feb 16, 2003
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    #5 Spasso, Jan 1, 2005
    Thanks for the research guys. 350.00 would be tops for me. It looks like repair is the order of the day after seeing the prices.
    The grill bars are slotted/interlocking, held in place with tabs that are "staked" at the rear edge at each intersection. I have a sheet of 2024 T'0' aluminum that is 1/10" thick that may come close to what I need. I just need to duplicate the rounded leading edge and cut slots as needed to mount.
    The bars that are cut happen to be the longest ones in the grill (of course) so it would be quite a job to duplicate each rail. I may opt for some splices to each "vertical" and secure with a "cold weld" product, respray the entire thing and call it good. Otherwise it's pretty much a write off.

    I reinstalled the grill this afternoon "as is" to index all of the attach points. I will build some strongbacks to stabilize the grill before I take it out. I'll jig it up on the bench and start fabrication of the new bars tomorrow.

    One good thing about the project is it allowed me to pull the fans, clean all of the crap out of the motor housings and install new brushes. Good for another 25 years!
     
  6. don_xvi

    don_xvi F1 Rookie

    Nov 1, 2003
    2,934
    Outside Detroit
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    Don the 16th
    #6 don_xvi, Jan 2, 2005
    Heck, I haven't had the grill on my car for months! I won't quite sell you mine, but I hardly think it needs to be there! Whacha gonna catch with that big bumper there to protect your rad? :)

    Now, the important part of my post is where'd you get the brushes, and do you have any tips for dismantling the fans? I haven't done any real archive searches on this one yet, but I need to rebuild one motor in a big way, so... Thanks!
     
  7. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #7 Spasso, Jan 2, 2005
    Hi Don,
    The brushes are for Pantera/Lotus fan motors. The sides and bottom have to be dressed with a flat file slightly to fit into the brush holders on the Ferrari fan and the leads need to be soldered to the Ferrari leads. Leave the leads fairly long and keep the heat away from the brush or the lead will fall out.

    Call Terry Smith at C&S Auto Electric, 770-941-0003.
    They are located in Mabton Georgia, near Atlanta.

    Ask for the brushes used for Pantera/Lotus type fans. I think they cost about 9.00 instead of the requisite 80.00 for the Ferrari item (if you can get them).

    You can probably get the same item from Hall Pantera also.

    Be careful pulling the motors apart. DO NOT use the armature as a stop while punching the shaft during removal of the fan blades or motor housing. The armature slides on the shaft and will collapse causing many hours of realigning and redressing of the windings, don't ask me how I know this!

    When pulling the motor housing off look for the ball bearing in the tail end of the motor shaft. It is either there or in a recess in the tail-end of the stator housing.

    The springs behind the brushes like to fly out and disappear when the armature is pulled out. I lay a rag over my hand and motor when I do this. No surprises.

    Pay close attention to orientation of the fan blades. They can be installed either way. The pitch will be the same but the efficiancy will fall off drastically if flip-flopped due to the curvature of the blade..

    Good Luck,
    DJ
     
  8. Nuvolari

    Nuvolari F1 Veteran
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    Sep 3, 2002
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    #8 Nuvolari, Jan 2, 2005
    Hi Dana,

    That grill looks brutal with the hole cut out of it. Last year I converted my OEM US spec grill to a euro grill to match my bumpers. I was not going to spend over $1000 CDN for a grill. I went all out and disassembled the grill, stripping the annodizing, making the parts needed, and re-annodizing the whole lot before putting it back together. It is a BIG job. The problem is that the grill is made of extruded aluminum sections that follow an arc. They have a front and rear profile that are very hard to match perfectly. To do the job right you need to change the whole piece because welded in sections will ALWAYS show up a different colour when you annodize the pieces. Seeing your grill, I reccomend the following:

    1. Take the grill apart.
    2. Go to an annodizing shop and have the parts stripped. This should take a few minutes while you wait and will probably be a freebee. You need to strip it because the welding will not stick to annodized parts.
    3. Fill the holes on the top piece with weld and grind them flat.
    4. Graft in 2 pieces into your missing grill, and sand smooth.
    5. Re-assemble the grill and paint it with satin finish aluminum silver. The match will be near on perfect.

    Now for the good news with regards to the 'grafting'. Send me a PM because I am almost sure that I still have my top piece when I did my grill. This will be all the alum you need to carefully cut and graft a perfect repair. I'm going to my shop now to see if I have the part.

    On a funny note, upon inspection, when my grill was built at Ferrari, they installed the top part in upside down. I see quaility controal drank a little too much red vino that day.
     
  9. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #9 Spasso, Jan 2, 2005
    A manufactured piece would be quite helpful in creating an accurate graft. I will be painting the entire grill when finished so I am not worried about anodizing matching.

    It's called the "Wine and Cheese Factor"



    You have a PM, Thanks, DJ
     
  10. widdlewade

    widdlewade Formula Junior

    Sep 24, 2004
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    #10 widdlewade, Jan 2, 2005
    What about installing a new detector?
     
  11. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #11 Spasso, Jan 2, 2005
    I have a new V1 with POP mounted on the windshield at a level that gives me forward and aft coverage. It is hard wired to the courtesy light in the top of the windshield frame.
     
  12. 8valve

    8valve Formula 3

    Sep 3, 2003
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    #12 8valve, Jan 2, 2005
    Are the US grills the same as Euro grills? If so, I might be able to help you.(as in: I know of one that is for sale in the UK for 175 GBP) Let me know.
     
  13. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #13 Spasso, Jan 2, 2005
    Hi Mick,
    I believe the Euro and US spec grills are different because the size and shape of the front bumpers are different.

    Now, If there was a Euro front bumper to go with it for a nice price then it would be worth the conversion.

    Thanks for the help,

    DJ
     
  14. 8valve

    8valve Formula 3

    Sep 3, 2003
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    #14 8valve, Jan 2, 2005
    DJ, I am sorry but at this moment I don't know of a used Euro front bumper for sale....
     
  15. gil308

    gil308 Formula 3

    Jun 22, 2004
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    #15 gil308, Jan 2, 2005
    FYI...I had the same issue when I bought my '85 308. I bought a new grill from T.Rutlands...about $700.00.
     
  16. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #16 Spasso, Jan 2, 2005
    No sweat Mick,
    I'll make this one work. Nuvolari is shipping a crossbar left from his grill modification that will fix the problem.
    God I love this site!
    DJ
     
  17. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #17 Spasso, Jan 2, 2005
    T.Rutlands was my first thought.
    700.00 isn't that bad considering the cost of body parts used on most of the newer cars today. Call me frugal.................................
     
  18. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
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    Dec 21, 2000
    6,440
    B.C., Canada
    #18 Peter, Jan 4, 2005
    DJ, if it were me, I'd give no second thought to fab'ing up a new one.
     
  19. Spasso

    Spasso F1 World Champ

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    #19 Spasso, Jan 4, 2005
    My feelings also Peter.
    There is no reason why I can't manufacture some new sections and refinish to "Good as New."

    Too bad you weren't a little closer, I would have you do the welding!

    It will be nice to get it fixed so I don't have to keep explaining what the "secret government thing" is in the grill.:p
     

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