1957 grille remove and reinstall

[Paul S.]

I have worked on a lot on corvettes over the years , but i dont think any 57's.
The grille looks like a pain -in -the azz to get out . Can some one give me a road map on how to get it out of the car ?

Thanks !

[James G.]

Re: 1957 grille remove and reinstall

ASSEMBLE MANY ZIP LOCK SANDWICH BAGS

1.-Take the hood off.
2.- remove the brackets from rear of each tooth
3.- REMOVE each tooth. [Note there are numbers inside each tooth to help you during reconstruction ]
4.- REMOVE Grill oval brackets that hold the grill in place.
5.- Remove grill.

I would always use masking tape on the grill teeth, and zip bags to identify each part.

YOU MUST TAKE YOUR TIME, BUT AFTER REINSALL ON A FRESH PAINT AND RECHROME, THE RESULT WILL BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE. AND ''YOU'' DID IT

[Joseph L.]

Re: 1957 grille remove and reinstall

Hi Paul
It is easy to do and it all happens from the front of the grill. You cannot get past the radiator on a 1957.
On the front of the grill you will see five stamped-steel vertical U-shaped support brackets that are behind five of the teeth. Working through the teeth opening, remove the two nuts from one of the teeth, and remove that tooth. Now you have an opening large enough to work easily. Maybe remove a tooth from each side of the grill. Remove the two nuts from each of the vertical support brackets that hold the center bar to the to the vertical supports. Do not remove the nuts at the top and bottom of the vertical supports. Once the 10 nuts are removed from the 5 vertical supports, the center bar and the remaining teeth come off as an assembly.
Joe

[Paul S.]

Re: 1957 grille remove and reinstall

I did it last night , like you said and its going to work just fine .

T h a n k you !

[James G.]

Re: 1957 grille remove and reinstall

Hi Paul
It is easy to do and it all happens from the front of the grill. You cannot get past the radiator on a 1957.
On the front of the grill you will see five stamped-steel vertical U-shaped support brackets that are behind five of the teeth. Working through the teeth opening, remove the two nuts from one of the teeth, and remove that tooth. Now you have an opening large enough to work easily. Maybe remove a tooth from each side of the grill. Remove the two nuts from each of the vertical support brackets that hold the center bar to the to the vertical supports. Do not remove the nuts at the top and bottom of the vertical supports. Once the 10 nuts are removed from the 5 vertical supports, the center bar and the remaining teeth come off as an assembly.
Joe

You are correct. I just remember taking the hood off during restoration of the car. The radiator was out of the car also. So the grill can be removed from the front as well.

[Paul S.]

Re: 1957 grille remove and reinstall

Jim, thanks for the info. I started taking the teeth out last night