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Don't throw away your old grille
Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2024 6:36 pm
by 360gts
Had a couple of spare days...waiting on machine work.........decided to have a go at restoring this old MK 2 grille.
I did have a few spare slats...used them to replace the really bad ones.
Stripped....straightened the slats....sanded...then used 400 wet/dry and finished off on the buff wheel using lots of auto sol.
Turned out really good.
Not perfect but I prefer the original 'look' ...a bit of patina....
Will be used on the race mini next year.
Re: Don't throw away your old grille
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2024 1:55 pm
by UHR850
Great well done.
Kees.
Re: Don't throw away your old grille
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2024 8:04 pm
by AndyPen
Now that took some patience!!!
Re: Don't throw away your old grille
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2024 11:06 pm
by Chapmag
That is a good job! I've got two spare Austin wavy grills I may have to renovate like this!!! Thanks fr the inspiration. G.
Re: Don't throw away your old grille
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2024 6:44 pm
by irlmin
Was just about to order a new grille for My 998 Cooper MK 2 and following your inspiring post I will now have a 'go' at a refurb , G
Re: Don't throw away your old grille
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2024 7:00 pm
by abs
I did the same quite a few years back as I wanted an eleven slat grill without a bonnet release so I made one up from two grills.
The bright anodise took a bit of getting off but I was pleased with the end result and a good few winters later it still looks great and a quick rub with metal polish it shines up great.
It`s a polished alloy finish so it doesn`t shine like chrome which is fine by me as it doesn`t show stone chips like the bright finish.
Re: Don't throw away your old grille
Posted: Sun Nov 10, 2024 9:25 pm
by Rich997
Hi Dermott,
Very nice job, an original grille really makes a difference.
Interested to know how you straightened the slats.
I have the original Austin grille for my 997, it's all there, but a number of slats are bent or deformed in some way.
Repro grilles are lighter, brighter and the profile noticeably different, or I would try to replace the bent slats with new.
I've read about straightening aluminum with heat and pressure but have no experience of working with this material.
Any advice or guidance would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Rich
Re: Don't throw away your old grille
Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2024 11:18 am
by Peter Laidler
This has cropped up before but has anyone had anodized parts re-anodized. Such as the grill slats?
Re: Don't throw away your old grille
Posted: Wed Nov 13, 2024 3:52 pm
by 360gts
Rich997 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 10, 2024 9:25 pm
Hi Dermott,
Very nice job, an original grille really makes a difference.
Interested to know how you straightened the slats.
I have the original Austin grille for my 997, it's all there, but a number of slats are bent or deformed in some way.
Repro grilles are lighter, brighter and the profile noticeably different, or I would try to replace the bent slats with new.
I've read about straightening aluminum with heat and pressure but have no experience of working with this material.
Any advice or guidance would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Rich
Hi Rich, I made a template out of some 1/2' x 4" alluninum....clamped it in the vice...
Slid the slat onto the template...used a small plastic faced hammer to straighten the slats. Use a small jewelers style file to clean up before i started with different grades of sandpaper......finished off with 400 wet and dry.
Final polishing done on a buffing wheel with Autosol.
Re: Don't throw away your old grille
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2024 10:41 pm
by Rich997
Thanks Dermott.
I will try this method.
Not keen on heating the slats, but forming them with pressure into a template seems to be a good technique.
Cheers,
Rich