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1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto.

Posted By: yellow sixpack

1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/25/06 03:12 AM

I am restoring my grill for my 70 Challenger R/T clone. This grill was standard grill with texture argaint paint. Stripped it down now painting it for my clone. The frame around the grill, I have two pics both have different paint combos. Is the outer rim around the grill painted black with just the edge stainless or is the whole frame around the grill stainless?

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Posted By: beepbeep

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/25/06 04:08 AM

Original black


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Posted By: beepbeep

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/25/06 04:09 AM

Original Argent

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Posted By: hemi_rtdave

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/25/06 04:16 AM

This might help.

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Posted By: 70challrtse

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/25/06 01:08 PM

Quote:

I am restoring my grill for my 70 Challenger R/T clone. This grill was standard grill with texture argaint paint. Stripped it down now painting it for my clone. The frame around the grill, I have two pics both have different paint combos. Is the outer rim around the grill painted black with just the edge stainless or is the whole frame around the grill stainless?


I'm not certain I totally understood your question, but here is a pic of how it should look.Those were poor pics,lets try tis one.

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Posted By: jrwoodjoe

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/25/06 01:10 PM

Not to "hijack" the post, but any tips on the best method for polishing the aluminum? Specifically, methods for the egg crate part?

Thanks, Joe
Posted By: 70challrtse

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/25/06 01:16 PM

Here is another.

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Posted By: 70challrtse

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/25/06 01:22 PM

Quote:

Not to "hijack" the post, but any tips on the best method for polishing the aluminum? Specifically, methods for the egg crate part?

Thanks, Joe


The bright parts can't really be just polished, they have to be refinished by removing the anodized finish,polished and then reanodized. As far as the egg crate is concern, it is not supposed to have a polished look.
Posted By: hemi_rtdave

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/25/06 01:50 PM

Steve and I used this product for the egg crate. Soaked it and scrubbed it. It brought it back to a very original looking finish.

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Posted By: hemi_rtdave

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/25/06 01:54 PM



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Posted By: beepbeep

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/25/06 06:27 PM

.

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Posted By: BIGBLOCK_KAT

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/26/06 12:45 AM

yellow sixpack, was your grille in nice condition when you started? ie straight and unblemished.
Posted By: Publicbottle

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/26/06 10:30 PM

Not ot hijack the post.........Can someone post the proper grill for a Challenger T/A??
Posted By: Mastershake340

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/26/06 11:09 PM

Quote:

Not ot hijack the post.........Can someone post the proper grill for a Challenger T/A??


It's an R/T grille on that is used on a T/A. Only difference is the emblem mounted on the grille, no "R/T" emblem and the "Challenger" emblem is mounted in the non-R/T Challenger position.
Posted By: RareTA

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/27/06 02:33 AM

I painted my T/A's with organasal black. The flash makes it look shinner than it really is.

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Posted By: jrwoodjoe

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/27/06 04:19 PM

Thanks for the photos and input. Nice looking grills you guys have.

RTDAVE, I see that product is Canadian but think I found similar products here in the US. My concern is that I believe the grille crate is anodized and that would eat off the anodized part leaving the aluminum "unprotected". But would like to hear your thoughts since you did this. for example, how long ago was it done?

I was hoping to just brighten it up a bit maybe using a dremel type tool to get into the crate part and do some minor polishing. Anyone have suggestions or thoughts?

Thanks, Joe
Posted By: hemi_rtdave

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 03:29 AM

The grille was done well over a year ago and is showing no signs of deterioration. I am not so sure the egg crate was ever anodized, but do not quote me on this.
Posted By: jrwoodjoe

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 01:18 PM

Did you soak it still assembled to the grille or did you remove the "Crate" part?

Joe
Posted By: hemi_rtdave

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 02:39 PM

Entire grille was taken apart by drilling out the rivets. The egg crate was the only piece soaked in the cleaner.
Dave
Posted By: Troy

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 03:56 PM

Here is how I did my grill. On the black I used Eastwood Chassis Black (love the color but hate the paint)
On the egg crate I used the Eastwood Reflective paint (I just lightly fogged it and it looks very close to original)

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Posted By: Troy

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 03:58 PM

I will start from the beginning.

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Posted By: Troy

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 03:59 PM

..

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Posted By: Troy

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 03:59 PM

...

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Posted By: Troy

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 04:13 PM

I drilled out all of the rivets and carefully took it all apart. I used a buffing wheel that was on sale at Harbor Fright ($40.00) and polished the outer lip and the inner lip. When I was done I masked those two areas off and was ready to paint.

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Posted By: Troy

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 04:16 PM

Did the same to the egg crate frame... The egg crate was lightly fogged with Eastwood Reflective paint, the stuff you use inside turn signal housings. If you use too much paint it looks painted and that is not the look I was going for. I wanted something that was a little inconsistent and to give a more original look.

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Posted By: Troy

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 04:24 PM

I put it all back together and this is what I ended up with. I was into it for $80.00 including a new buffing wheel. There are people out there that want $1250.00 to restore a grill....there grills look better that mime but I don't think they look $1170.00 better that mine.

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Posted By: Troy

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 04:25 PM

@@@

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Posted By: Troy

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 04:26 PM

####

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Posted By: jrwoodjoe

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 04:57 PM

Troy, Nice work. Looks Beautiful to me.

Dave, To you also.

This is a great thread and hope it gets saved somewhere. I may use a combination of what both you guys have done. Thanks for sharing.

Troy, I had thought about getting a buffing wheel but didn't think about HF. I'll give them a look when I get out that way again.

Thanks again. This has been helpful.

Joe
Posted By: 70RT27N

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 05:24 PM


Very nice job to both Troy and Dave!.

A couple of questions:

Dave, Where in Canada did you buy that Aluminum cleaner?

Troy, What buffing wheel did you use, and did you need to use any compound? Also, what rivets did you use to reassemble the grill?

Excellant info...I have saved this thread
Posted By: Publicbottle

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 09:56 PM

Can we archive this.??

Posted By: Troy

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 11:03 PM

Thanks for the nice words.

The buffing wheel that I got from Harbor Freight came with a flapper wheel for soft or finishing compounds and a standard wheel for hard or cutting compounds.
Posted By: Troy

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 11:20 PM

SOMTHING I FORGOT TO MENTION that is VERY important before you start to polish the grills or other parts. Many of these parts have a silver anodizing on them. That must be removed before you can polish the parts. I used Easy Off oven cleaner and a 00 steel wool. It will take two or three times to get the anodizing off but you have to do it before you polish it. You can tell when the anodizing is off when the steel wool starts to grab onto the part. When the anodizing is still there the steel wool kinda slides over it, making it feel very smooth.
Posted By: hemi_rtdave

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/28/06 11:51 PM

See attached for the name and number of the place I got the cleaner. The rivets and most importantly the tool were provided by mopart member Petes resto parts. Here is a link
http://www.petesresto.com/

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Posted By: 70RT27N

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/29/06 04:42 PM


Thank you.
Posted By: beepbeep

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/30/06 01:08 AM

If you are going to all the trouble of taking the eggcrate apart, you may as well replace it with a new piece. The picture I posted above has a new eggcrate in it.
Posted By: jrwoodjoe

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/30/06 01:26 AM

BeepBeep, are you saying that the egg crate is available new/repop? Who? Price? Just curious. Thanks, Joe
Posted By: hemi_rtdave

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 11/30/06 05:16 AM

Next time you are in an elevator..... look up...and use your imagination!!!
Posted By: hemi_rtdave

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 01/29/07 03:21 AM

Steve and I tried using the "new egg crate" The gauge is much lighter than original and bends very easliy when being handled. The finish is perfect.
Posted By: jrwoodjoe

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 10/02/08 09:51 PM

Thanks to HemiRT Dave for re-finding this topic link for me. Also, thanks to Troy for his input.

I thought I would share what I have been able to do so far. I took the grille apart as Troy had done. Yesterday and today I worked on the egg crate portion and the Challenger emblem. Since I had reflective paint, I decided to follow Troy's advice and did what he had done. I also restored the Challenger emblem.

The grille surround I have is in pretty good shape. I'm going to experiment with some aluminum as Troy recommended to me to see how it will look and then decide what direction to go. Thanks to everyone who posted on this before and the PMs I have gotten.

Joe

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Posted By: KARLN

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 10/03/08 12:18 PM

Quote:

Steve and I tried using the "new egg crate" The gauge is much lighter than original and bends very easliy when being handled. The finish is perfect.



Great info Dave & Troy. I think I'll try and restore my grill with the suggestions that you guys have offered.
Posted By: Troy

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 10/03/08 02:57 PM

No problem, it is my pleasure. Any questions, just give me a call.
Posted By: Lime/RT

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 03/17/16 12:13 AM

Does anyone know the size of the tubular rivets?
Posted By: ct440rod

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 03/27/16 01:43 PM

When I try to go www.petesresto.com to look at rivet and gun it says can not reach this page . .
Posted By: brads70

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 07/12/16 05:57 AM

Originally Posted By ct440rod
When I try to go www.petesresto.com to look at rivet and gun it says can not reach this page . .


Same here, any updates on where to get the rivets and tool?
Posted By: ct440rod

Re: 1970 Challenger R/T Grill Resto. - 07/12/16 06:41 PM

For the egg crate cleaning I just bought a small bottle brush and put it in a drill with aluminum cleaner and cleaned very hole. I think like 615 of them . .
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