Re: Reviews on Duster shark tooth grille from Classic Ind.
[Re: 70Duster440]
#1796449
04/06/15 11:12 AM
04/06/15 11:12 AM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,379 KY USA
mopargem
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,379
KY USA
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I got one from Classic Industries a couple of months ago with a 20% off code, couldnt beat the price. The grill looks great in every way but my car is still at the interior shop so I havnt tried to fit it.
68 Polara 500...LL1 Y7 M6X 69 Hemi road runner...X9 X9 M6X 69 A12 road runner....R4 R4 M6X 69 ModTop FLORAL Super Bee...F6 M6W 70 AAR 'cuda...EW1 EW1 H4X9 71 Duster 340...FJ6 V24 L6X9 71 road runner FC7 V1X M6X9 72 Rallye Charger B5 V1W 74 'cuda 360...KB5 V1X A6X9 08 SRT Challenger #234
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Re: Reviews on Duster shark tooth grille from Classic Ind.
[Re: moparmatt]
#1798139
04/08/15 12:26 AM
04/08/15 12:26 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms
Mr Wizzard
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Mr Wizzard
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
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Ok, my grille arrived and I looks very nice, just don't expect it to be the 100% cure for the highest restorations due to several detail items. It will work just fine for 90% of the guys out there looking for a nice Shark Tooth Grille.
Here's a list of what I noticed so far as compared to my NOS example:
*The molded part has several areas that look to have been modified intentionally to eliminate cast in part#s. These areas, rather than being smooth and even are rippled looking, it's pretty obvious but it's on the back side so not really visible once installed.
*There is a molded area in the lower face that has a couple bumps in it, almost like a repair was made to the sample grille used as a pattern and it was duplicated in the tool, small, but visible in the front when installed (this is the flaw I'm least happy with because it's right in your face when installed).
*The mold machining in the marker lamp areas is very roughly done and the transition rings from the cutting tool are quite visible in the molded piece. Again, on the back side and not highly visible when installed.
*There are two small areas of the molded grill vents that did not fill entirely when molded (this is called a "short shot" in the injection molding industry). These are small and not easy to see when installed.
*The two small oval tabs which hold the head lamp bucket bezels on the lower ends are badly warped/curved, likely from deforming while the parts cooled. These need to be flat/straight when the screws are tightened or they can potentially stress from bending and snap off, we'll see how that plays out once installation commences.
*The paint, close in shade but noticeably shinier than original which has a flat/dull sheen compared to the glossier sheen of the reproduction. Also, may prove difficult to match the head lamp bucket bezel paint to. The overall masking and resulting paint job isn't O.E. correct but similar and looks pretty nice.
I have not tried to fit the original trim moldings, marker lamp assemblies, or head lamp bezels to the new grille yet, or any of the other small parts, that comes next.
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Re: Reviews on Duster shark tooth grille from Classic Ind.
[Re: mopargem]
#1798148
04/08/15 12:34 AM
04/08/15 12:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms
Mr Wizzard
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Mr Wizzard
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
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Hang in there, 16 pics to follow. NOS is the bottom one
Last edited by ScottSmith_Harms; 04/08/15 12:35 AM.
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Re: Reviews on Duster shark tooth grille from Classic Ind.
[Re: moparmatt]
#1799021
04/09/15 12:26 AM
04/09/15 12:26 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,323 NY NY
340duster340
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,323
NY NY
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looks really good...and for the price, its certainly cheaper than restoring an original (especially if you have plastic damage).
PS -- sure glad i sold of my 340 grills, i was hoarding them for a while and sold off the last 5 (all broken) as a lot a few years back.
1966 Dart GT
...down to only 1 mopar for the first time in 15 years!
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Re: Reviews on Duster shark tooth grille from Classic Ind.
[Re: mikemee1331]
#1800015
04/10/15 01:49 AM
04/10/15 01:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714 Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms
Mr Wizzard
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Mr Wizzard
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
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I wonder if you could heat up the tab with a blow dryer while installing it. that might provide some flexibility?
Possibly, you'd need to be REALLY careful adding heat. Also REALLY careful if forcing the screws tight against the warpage. I am not sure I can live with the glossy silver paint, it's a mile off on the gloss, also good luck matching the Chinese sourced/applied silver paint to paint your headlamp bezels. What this means (to me) is that a complete repaint is going to be required. Oh well, at least the basic molded part is decent.
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