Humble Beginnings, Grill surround joint clips

[AweMan]

I can`t find the Grill Surround joint clips for my Smallmouth Tr-3, So ....... I decided to try and manufacture some. I started out with a piece of 1/2 In. copper tubing {Water Pipe}
Cut it on one side down the middle and formed to to the somewhat correct contour of the grill surround. Here are some Humble pics of my FIRST attempt.

Eventualy {When I am satisfied at the outcome these will be chromed}

The next feat will be to silver solder on the attaching bolt so it can be bolted to the apron.

More pics to come as progress continues.

Hopefully this will work and look correct. {NOT building a concourse here, but do want the correct look.}

Am I an idiot, or does anyone think this will work?

 

[roofman]

Looks like it is working to me.

 

[TR3driver]

Hey, thanks for the tip, Kerry !

If I ever switch back to the proper 'smallmouth' apron on my project TR3, I'll have to solve the same problem. And your method looks very good to me.

 

[AweMan]

Pictured here are the surround molding hardware I am making to attach the chrome moldings to the apron this first one is the original

Here is my version

This one is the template use to sand the flats sides on the washer to the correct size, the screw is a 10/32 {the originals are metric 100 pitch}

And lastly here they are installed on the molding

Next I will be figuring out a method to attach the mounting screw to the previously made joint clip.

Randall
After I cut the copper tubing I spread it open about 1/2 Inch.
I used needle nose vise grips to clamp the copper Tubing to the molding {Near center as I could get} then gently squeesed down the sides to match the contour of the molding
with regular pliers. The copper forms really well around the molding with very little effort.
The next trick will be silver soldering the screw on the copper without distortion.
We will see how it goes!
Kerry

 

[Geo Hahn]

You're a crafty guy... but then so were the fellows who built these cars the first time around.