Fixing a police grille....

[TimboSHO]

I'm not much of a body man, so I just want some honest opinions from people with body/fiberglass experience. I cracked up my police grille a few years ago. I have the biggest 2 pieces, but there is a triangular shape missing. The all important slots are 99% intact, so I'm wondering if that can be grafted in from another spare grille I have lying around?



I'm not sure if it's worth tackling myself (I'm an ASE certified technitian, not a body man), or paying someone else to do it, or just buying a new grille...
Opinions appreciated from people with some experience in this. Thanks!

 

[Toolman]

It is not worth salvaging. Send it to me and I will dispose of it for you! HEck, with a little patch work (I am no glass man, but I am sure some will weigh in), you are good to go.

 

[TYSHO]

Fiberglass specialist... I would try a boat repair place.

 

[Jonny Cash]

You should be able to save it and keep it under 50 bucks. Make sure to use horse hair filler as a base for flexibility, and then smooth filler for finish. The glass work is fairly easy, just google a diy you';ll be good to go.

 

[sperold]

Any of the supply places like Autozone or whatever, sell a kit for small patch repairs. It has a square foot of fabric, along with the 2 part liquids you mix together in a ratio. It usually comes with a sort of paint roller tray as well. The trick is to have lots of plastic gloves nearby for you to use when the ones you are using become sticky.
Plan things so that all the guck and eventual mistakes will be on the back side of your part when it hardens. You can body fill, sand and paint the front side and it will look great. Try something else first so you get used to handling the fiberglass kit and then the bodyfill.

 

[TimboSHO]

Thanks guys. I guess I'll tackle this as soon as the weather gets a little warmer.

 

[SHObill]

Tim, you would need to cast a stock grill to have a base & shape to rebond the pieces & layup the missing area. I would just trim up both the slots & do a cutout of a stocker & insert them.
-I have the same thing to do on a busted up, piece missing, plus wing!

 

[ShadetreeSHOguy]

smash it........oh wait