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Knox Custom Chrome - my grille progress

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When you install the grill be sure to use the spacers between the grill and the body of the car. I learned the hard way that you will dimple the nice fresh grill if you don't.
Charlie
 
I don't ride that tight in the saddle... :smile:
 
What spacers are you talking about. New knowledge to be learned here.
 
Spacers? What spacers?
Rut
 
Charlie, was that a reproduction grill or an original grill that ended up with dimples?
 
That was an original grill that I had rechromed. When I put the speed nuts on the little pegs that protrude through the body I lightly tightened them and that produced a dimple in the outside of the grill right where the peg was attached to the back of the grill. I was told later that there is a spacer or grommet that goes between the grill and the body. That spacer keeps the grill from dimpling where the post is attached.
Has anyone else run into this?
Charlie
 
Just looked at the BMC Body Service Parts List for the bugeye radiator grille. It only lists two parts: the grille and the speed nuts.

Grille-s-radiator ] Sprite 14A 4715 1 1 .
Push-an-fix ................................... H-AN5 BHA 4082 2 18

No mention of any spacers and the Service List is very comprehensive, listing every little nut, bolt and grommet. So I'd say the spacers weren't there as originally designed, but who knows if they were added later on the assembly line when the boffins dimpled too many grilles.
 
HealeyRick said:
Just looked at the BMC Body Service Parts List for the bugeye radiator grille. It only lists two parts: the grille and the speed nuts.

Grille-s-radiator ] Sprite 14A 4715 1 1 .
Push-an-fix ................................... H-AN5 BHA 4082 2 18

No mention of any spacers and the Service List is very comprehensive, listing every little nut, bolt and grommet. So I'd say the spacers weren't there as originally designed, but who knows if they were added later on the assembly line when the boffins dimpled too many grilles.
Click to expand...

At least with my grill I'm sure it would take alot of trial and error to determine the correct lenght of spacer at each point. and how tight is tight enough? my grill is dimpled as well from those speed nuts being tightened too tight. Rick, was knox able to get those dimples out satisfactorily?
 
Mine was dented in several places but not dimpled.
I don't have it back yet but I am expecting it to look pristine, they called and asked if I wanted to approve the extra work to make it perfect and I agreed.
 
Wine corks would be the ideal material for the spacers. Open a bottle, pour a glass, and start cutting the cork to fit. It would take several evenings to get them all done but it would be quite enjoyable. If you pick the right wine you would get to reminisce about it every time you look at the grill.

The early vespas had wine corks stuffed into the ends of the handlebars, I'm sure they were left over from lunch.
 
Thinking some rubber grommets perhaps.
 
Let me share, a stainless washer and a half inch long piece of the correct size of plastic tubing from ACE or such will hold a grill on just fine and is easy to take off as well. One set for each teat on the grill. Almost free.
 
Previously I had used nylon wing nuts, they would screw onto the posts or "teats" but not so tightly that they would cause a problem.
Jack, if I hear you right you are saying to put a washer on behind the metal of the bonnet then a piece of tightly fitting tubing onto it?
Sounds like a good solution and impossible to over tighten which must be the cause of the dimpling mentioned by Charlie.

On a sour note, UPS tells me they had a delay and no longer have an estimated delivery time.
It was supposed to arrive today, I was really looking forward to it.
 
I would think the washer goes on first to spread the load on the grille, tubing, bonnet, and then the springy thing that I've just forgotten the name of. Washer and tubing go on the outside or underneath the bonnet to prevent overtightening?
 
Think I'll stick with nylon wingnuts, easy and quick.
 
It arrived today, and it's beautiful.
One big problem, apparently after they straightened it and removed all the dents it no longer fits my car.
It's too big for the hole, I can't get it to go in so the pegs go through the holes for fastening.
I used a scissor jack and spread the hole out a little, I think I need to go some more, slowly and carefully of course.
Maybe I will get it to fit tomorrow.
 
This is a very common problem which demonstrates why it is a good idea to have all your brightwork in a finished state before doing body work. The other option is to send a wooden or fiberglass buck along with the grill so that they can check the fit. A polished stainless grill for a bugeye would be the bees knees.
 
Rick,
I had the same issue with fit and just enlarged the affected holes, used rubber washers on both sides, and tight fit tubing to keep it secure. I also used a dab of clear sealer to prevent leaks after I painted the inside of the holes to prevent rust.
Rut
 
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