<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Eric Aarseth:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Scott Foreman:
...mounting an 18 1/2" OTG to an old gas grill frame ... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Scott, any photos of this mount job? I've been looking for a long time on craiglist for a 18 1/2" performer but haven't seen one. Lots of 18 1/2" silvers for sale as well as crappy old gas grills. Converting to a gold is easy, but would like to see the gas grill frame mount. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Eric,
No, not presently on the photos. I travel during the week but will try to get some taken when I'm home this weekend and post for you. I think I can easily explain the basic concept for you in the meantime. Please bear in mind that I'm a technician, as opposed to a fabricator. Obtain old gas grill (in my case I rescued one from curb in front of a neighor's house) and remove grill body, burner, propane plumbing, and side burner and/or shelf/shelves. You are left with a pretty rickety cart at this point. I cut two pieces of angle iron about 48" in length and spot welded them across the top of the existing grill frame for support. This will firm up the cart. Take the 18 1/2" OTG body, no legs, and set it on top of the angle iron. You may need to add two pieces of flat iron front to rear of the cart on either side of the OTG in order to have a total of 4 points to attach the OTG, one front, one rear, one left and one right side. I used L-brackets and bolts to attach and you will probably need to slightly bend the L-brackets to conform to the curve of the OTG body. Pay attention to your mounting points with respect to the OTG cleaning fins. I made this mistake and got lucky. Ideally, you'll want your mounting points to be high enough on the OTG bowl that the bolts/nuts do not interfere with the OTG cleaning system. When you settle on this, mark and drill holes then install bolts/nuts to mount the OTG bowl. I ground off the excess bolts on the inside of the bowl and here is where luck shined on me. The cleaning fins rode right over the nuts without interfering with their range of motion. A little more thought put into this detail would have saved me some worry but all was well ultimately. Once you are happy with this you can add a side shelf or shelves (I used an old large cutting board that volunteered for duty) and reinstall the side burner if equipped. If it does have a side burner, you'll need to at a minimum change out the regulator to a single and use a 20lb tank or you could even convert to a disposable propane cylinder if desired.
I did a couple of these a few years ago, one with a side burner and one without. The one without was my first attempt and a bit rough but completely functional. I still have it. The other with the side burner was coveted by a friend so I gave it to him as a housewarming present. About this time last year, I actually scored a Platinum NIB that might have actually been the last one offered by a retail outlet in the country. That is another story but it is what I primarily use now. I'll see if I can get some pictures taken and posted for you when I get back home, ut hopefully you get a general idea of what I did.
