72 TA : New Project - Page 33

**njsteve** · #**321** 04-20-2007, 05:23 AM

And here is the final result after 48 hours of soaking and some scrubbing with a bristle brush and 000 steel wool. Now its time to soak the other side grill...

**mockingbird812** · #**322** 04-20-2007, 05:50 AM

You do nice work Steve. I like your MacGyver-like approach to tuff problems. Lookin' good!

**njsteve** · #**323** 04-20-2007, 05:53 AM

[ QUOTE ]
You do nice work Steve. I like your MacGyver-like approach to tuff problems. Lookin' good!

[/ QUOTE ]

You should see the size of my Swiss Army knife. It comes with its own golf cart.

**chevelleheart** · #**324** 04-20-2007, 05:36 PM

Steve , Excellent info and pictures ! As Mockingbird said , you do nice work !!

CamarosRus · #**325** 04-20-2007, 06:50 PM

Steve, Very interesting info, much appreciated. If you repaint or touch up the "Argent Siver" will you show or list the specific paint brand and COLOR NAME you thought best!!!!!!!

Thanks,

**njsteve** · #**326** 04-21-2007, 12:04 AM

I will be using the extra can of OEM Paints Pontiac Honeycomb Wheel paint that I used for refinishing the wheels earlier in this saga. I compared the grills to the wheels before I stripped and it is pretty darn close, right down to the sparkle and grain texture. Stay tuned for further episodes...

**njsteve** · #**327** 04-21-2007, 02:23 AM

I had to repair a missing 1/2" wide section of the honeycomb in the grill. I have an extra set of grills but was not about to chop out a piece to repair this grill (That would be sacreligious, I think). Here is the broken section before:

And after I filed the mating areas flat in anticipation of glueing in the repair section:

**njsteve** · #**328** 04-21-2007, 02:28 AM

I hunted around the house and finally found an old broken plastic wiring harness retainer from, of all things, my old 1971 Hemicuda Convertible! (So at least there's now some Mopar in this Pontiac...) It was made of the same type of heavy plastic as the grill.

I cut a small section off and filed it to the correct width but left it with an extra amount of material 3/8" long so I could handle more easily while fitting it into the grill space. I also pre-scored a line before the 3/8" tab so I could break it off once it was glued in and set.

**njsteve** · #**329** 04-21-2007, 02:31 AM

I used a two-part epoxy called "Plastic Weld" and mixed it as directed. (It sets very quickly and dries hard so you gotta move fast!) I set the piece in place and smoothed over the repair. You only have about 45 seconds to do this as it is hardening. It goes from clear to white as it sets. Once it dries in about 15 minutes, you can sand it and reapply it if you need to refill a spot.

Front view:

Rear view:

**njsteve** · #**330** 04-21-2007, 02:40 AM

Once it is set and hardened. I snapped off the 3/8" tab and sanded the repair. For sanding the inside areas of the honeycomb I used a plastic knife from Wendy's (they're much better than the cheap McDonalds plastic kinives) and wrapped it in sandpaper. It fit perfectly and was able to flex to fit the interior areas. Here is the finished repair:

Front view:

Rear view:

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