'72 Grilles

[Joe L.]

Re: '72 Grilles

All-----


Well, I've positively confirmed the material that the 70-72 grilles are cast from. As it turns out, I was incorrect. The material is aluminum diecast. This was absolutely astounding to me since I have always felt very sure that the material was zinc diecast. It's not, though.

[Roger D.]

Re: '72 Grilles

Good job Joe! Ok so if it is aluminum diecast is that enough information to give a weld shop to fix a crack? I'm having trouble finding anyone in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area who will touch it.

[Joe L.]

Re: '72 Grilles

Good job Joe! Ok so if it is aluminum diecast is that enough information to give a weld shop to fix a crack? I'm having trouble finding anyone in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area who will touch it.

Roger-----


I had some GREAT help on this one, so any cudos don't go to me.

I would think this would be enough information for a welding shop. However, keep in mind that this material should also be repairable using the low temperature, specialty rods available from MuggyWeld (www.muggyweld.com). You might want to contact them for a referral on shops in your area that are expert in the use of this product.

Also, be advised that the MuggyWeld rod will work fine for most zinc diecast repairs as well as aluminum.

[Roger D.]

Re: '72 Grilles

Very interesting. I had found a video on the Muggyweld site a week or so ago showing a solder type repair to a pot metal grille part. Looked like it was fairly simple. You think it would take someone with experience in it to fix the '72 Corvette grill crack I have? I could try it myself assuming they have a rod compatible with the aluminum diecast material of the grille.

[Joe L.]

Re: '72 Grilles

Very interesting. I had found a video on the Muggyweld site a week or so ago showing a solder type repair to a pot metal grille part. Looked like it was fairly simple. You think it would take someone with experience in it to fix the '72 Corvette grill crack I have? I could try it myself assuming they have a rod compatible with the aluminum diecast material of the grille.

Roger-----

I think it would be very possible to do the repair yourself. However, before I did the repair, I'd want to get a lot of practice on similar material.

MuggyWeld should have no problem supplying you with the correct rod for your requirements.

[Steven G.]

Re: '72 Grilles

The melting temperature for pot metal, pewter and die cast zinc is about 700 degrees. Aluminum melts about 1218 degrees. www.muggyweld.com sells rods and flux that welds at about 600 degrees. Steve

[Roger D.]

Re: '72 Grilles

I also ran across this video from the Durafix website on welding/soldering aluminum. Kind of a bizarre demonstration. Could it really be this easy?

http://durafix.com/demo/256.html

[Joe L.]

Re: '72 Grilles

I also ran across this video from the Durafix website on welding/soldering aluminum. Kind of a bizarre demonstration. Could it really be this easy?

http://durafix.com/demo/256.html

Roger-----


I think that "Durafix" is just another supplier of the same sort of product originally and currently sold by the Cecil Muggy Company, now MuggyWeld. And, yes, using it is pretty much as easy as is shown in the video. Of course, there's a little bit of technique required and I recommend getting some practice using it before trying to do a repair on something important.

[Roger D.]

Re: '72 Grilles

I guess go to the junkyard and find something cracked that looks similar in metal type. I wonder if the rod metal can be chromed after repair just like the parent material?

[Joe L.]

Re: '72 Grilles

I guess go to the junkyard and find something cracked that looks similar in metal type. I wonder if the rod metal can be chromed after repair just like the parent material?

Roger-----


I believe the weld repair area can be chromed. The welding rod is really just a specialty aluminum alloy. Keep in mind that chroming non-ferrous metals often requires special procedures like copper and/or nickel underplating. However, the sort of substrate materials (i.e. the material that you're going to be repairing with this type of rod) are going to require that treatment, anyway.

[Roger D.]

Re: '72 Grilles

Thanks so much Joe. I appreciate your help.