1939 112 Grill

PaulButler
PaulButler Administrator
edited November -1 in HUDSON
The grill on my 112 is looking a little sad and it got me to wondering what it should actually look like.

I've attached some pictures of how it is but I'd like to see what it should look like to give me an idea on how I should go about sorting it out.

I've got a grill from my old Big Six which I thought about adapting.

Thanks

Paul

Comments

  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    Having restored several '39s I'd try to find another grille.

    It could be made to look presentable by having it stripped at a chrome shop then arduously filling in the pits but you'd not be able to chrome plate it.

    As it is pot metal only way we found to repair the one I had in a '39 CC8 cp. was to make new pieces from copper then silver solder the parts to the pot metal (only way I know of to get metal to adhere to pot metal), then replated the whole assembly.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Is it badly pitted or is the pot-metal cracked anywhere?
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Pot-metal can be moved around a bit and if the pits are shallow enough I could grind and sand past them to prep it for plating but I'd need to see great close-up photos or video or you could send it to me for visual inspection. I straighten and polish stainless professionally and will sometimes take on steel grills or pot-metal to get them ready for plating. Just give me some more details if you're interested.
  • PaulButler
    PaulButler Administrator
    rpmonroe wrote:
    Is it badly pitted or is the pot-metal cracked anywhere?

    It's not badly pitted as far as I can see but without stripping the paint off of it I don't know if there has been any "repair" work carried out.

    There are no apparent cracks either.

    I'll take some more detailed pictures and let you have a look at them.

    Thanks,

    Paul
  • PaulButler
    PaulButler Administrator
    What are the chances of actually finding a grill for a '39 112 at all?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Paul Butler wrote:
    What are the chances of actually finding a grill for a '39 112 at all?



    Sorry to say but not very good, Paul.



    In the 8 years since we bought our '39 112, I have been watching the WTN, ebay, etc. for a spare. Only 3 that had any potential came up for sale and 2 of those would have required quite a bit of repair.



    I know next to nothing about metal but I don't think the louvers are made of pot metal and they have a very small strip of stainless steel on the leading edge (would like to see how they how they made those).



    I would recommend having yours bead blasted to see what it really looks like. It might not be as bad as you think.



    Kevin C.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I'll never be able to remove all the pitting from the stainless if you bead -blast it
    use aircraft paint stripper to reveal whats there
    if the grill-bars are steel and not pot-metal you're definitely in luck because I'll be able to fix it for you. hopefully it hasn't been sand-blasted in the past.
  • PaulButler
    PaulButler Administrator
    Kevin C. wrote:
    Sorry to say but not very good, Paul.

    In the 8 years since we bought our '39 112, I have been watching the WTN, ebay, etc. for a spare. Only 3 that had any potential came up for sale and 2 of those would have required quite a bit of repair.

    I know next to nothing about metal but I don't think the louvers are made of pot metal and they have a very small strip of stainless steel on the leading edge (would like to see how they how they made those).

    I would recommend having yours bead blasted to see what it really looks like. It might not be as bad as you think.

    Kevin C.

    Hi Kevin,

    That's what I thought to be honest. I do have a grill from my old "Big Six" which is in better condition so I may well look to do something with that one in the interim.

    Thanks for your reply
  • PaulButler
    PaulButler Administrator
    edited February 2014
    rpmonroe wrote:
    I'll never be able to remove all the pitting from the stainless if you bead -blast it
    use aircraft paint stripper to reveal whats there
    if the grill-bars are steel and not pot-metal you're definitely in luck because I'll be able to fix it for you. hopefully it hasn't been sand-blasted in the past.

    It will be interesting to see what's underneath the paint that's a fact! Now I'm based in the UK but may be coming over that way soon to visit a friend in OK. If I do then I'll bring the grill with me and drop by to see what you think! That'll be interesting hand luggage.

    Thanks for your reply.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Paul



    I took some pictures of the front and the back of our grille since it is out of the car during restoration but I couldn't get them to size properly (the pics of the front were out of focus anyway).



    We are getting ready to head to Doc's Meet in Front Royal, Va. this afternoon, so I will take some (hopefully) better pics when we get back and try to figure out the sizing issue.



    The center u-channel that the louvers are attached to is made of brass! When we had ours bead blasted, I considered taping off the channel when the rest of the grille was painted and then clear coating it but since there is a chrome strip that runs from the 112 chevron to the opening for the hand crank, I figured you would hardly be able to see it.



    Kevin C.
  • PaulButler
    PaulButler Administrator
    Hi Kevin,

    I dropped a pm to you with my email address if that will make it easier re the pictures.

    I guess that is a question as well - is the grill meant to be painted or chrome?

    Thanks for your help on this - it's much appreciated - enjoy the meet at Doc's!

    Paul
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    Paul Butler wrote:
    It will be interesting to see what's underneath the paint that's a fact! Now I'm based in the UK but may be coming over that way soon to visit a friend in OK. If I do then I'll bring the grill with me and drop by to see what you think! That'll be interesting hand luggage.



    Thanks for your reply.



    There are a few platers here state side that use a process of brass plate, sand, brass plate and sand smooth, and on and on until all the pits disapear. Then when they have all the pits smoothed out they triple coat the metal in chrome. The process is expensive because it is labor intensive. You might want to speak to one of these (many listed in Hemmings or Old Cars publications) and get a price for the work. Nothing is too bad to fix, if you have the patience and money to do the job. Just a thought.....

    Brownie:rolleyes:
  • barrysweet52
    barrysweet52 Expert Adviser
    Hello Paul. You wrote to me previous re parts, but posting parts to UK or USA is difficult and expensive. Ive only seen one 112 Hudson restored in Australia. I have posted a photo previously of my 1939 112 rabbit shooters special - the car with the large hole in the roof and the back doors thrown away. Ive wrecked another 112 and got a set of 4 doors, the nose cone, interior door pillar upholstery badges and lots of other bits. Wish I could sell it all and also all the 1946 bits Ive collected. You seem to be missing the verticle chrome piece on your grill. Have you ever considered using resin on the pitted metal, then chroming? Regards, Barry
  • PaulButler
    PaulButler Administrator
    barrysweet52 wrote:
    Hello Paul. You wrote to me previous re parts, but posting parts to UK or USA is difficult and expensive. Ive only seen one 112 Hudson restored in Australia. I have posted a photo previously of my 1939 112 rabbit shooters special - the car with the large hole in the roof and the back doors thrown away. Ive wrecked another 112 and got a set of 4 doors, the nose cone, interior door pillar upholstery badges and lots of other bits. Wish I could sell it all and also all the 1946 bits Ive collected. You seem to be missing the verticle chrome piece on your grill. Have you ever considered using resin on the pitted metal, then chroming? Regards, Barry

    Hi Barry,

    Yes I remember writing you a while back - I'd still be interested in the parts you know:)

    I think there are a few things I can try the first of which will be to get the grill off the car this weekend and have a proper look at it.

    As you noticed I am missing the chrome bit. Do you have a list of the bits you have at all? I'd be happy to look at and co-ordinate what would need to be done re shipping from over here if you want.

    Thanks

    Paul
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    paul you have mail!



    cheers lester
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VINTAGE-30S-40S-STAINLESS-GRILL-PEICE_W0QQitemZ360051008030QQihZ023QQcategoryZ140704QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



    Found on Ebay, Maybe Hudson ???
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