05 Summit Platinum\Genesis Platinum Frankengrill Build Thread

[BrandonHudson]

I just picked up a decent 8 burner 05 Summit Platinum with side burner for $50. None of the critical rust places, but also not quite good enough to polish and flip. It needs new sparkers, new crossover tubes, and a little bit of rust touchup in the firebox.

I know these are a real bear to repair, and the original owner managed to ruin all the serial numbers so I can't register with Weber to get warranty support.

My 2nd option is to build a Frankengrill. I've always wanted to figure out a way to pull the stainless panels off a Summit and get them onto my restored 05 Genesis Platinum, which also has the stainless frame.

I want to add a side burner and possibly the rotisserie to my Genesis. Anyone know if either will fit?

My brother can weld and has metal working tools, but has no experience with stainless. I figure the stakes are low, so worse case I roll back to what I have and call it failure.

Any thoughts? I think I could probably get the Summit dressed and out the door for $150 all in but in our market that would mean I break even.

If I do the Frankengrill, I can sell the Summit grates and some other pieces on Ebay instead.

 

[Bruce]

I just picked up a decent 8 burner 05 Summit Platinum with side burner for $50. None of the critical rust places, but also not quite good enough to polish and flip. It needs new sparkers, new crossover tubes, and a little bit of rust touchup in the firebox.

I know these are a real bear to repair, and the original owner managed to ruin all the serial numbers so I can't register with Weber to get warranty support.

My 2nd option is to build a Frankengrill. I've always wanted to figure out a way to pull the stainless panels off a Summit and get them onto my restored 05 Genesis Platinum, which also has the stainless frame.

I want to add a side burner and possibly the rotisserie to my Genesis. Anyone know if either will fit?

I would think the roto would be way too long. But, the side burner should fit a Genesis C that has the right side table. I was going to do that with the SS platinum that I have waiting on me, but I might just leave the extra side shelf.
The tables from the Summit will work on the SS Platinum Genesis too.

My brother can weld and has metal working tools, but has no experience with stainless. I figure the stakes are low, so worse case I roll back to what I have and call it failure.

Stainless is a bit harder to weld but not bad. I am very novice at welding and I have done some stainless welding. You need to use stainless MIG wire and gas. I don't even know if they make flux core SS wire. Otherwise, it is basically the same. Try a few practice welds until you feel comfortable and then go for it. Just remember one thing. The grinder is your best friend.

Any thoughts? I think I could probably get the Summit dressed and out the door for $150 all in but in our market that would mean I break even.

If I do the Frankengrill, I can sell the Summit grates and some other pieces on Ebay instead.

 

[Jon Tofte]

Brandon,

I would say you did really well for fifty bucks!

I suppose if you don't have a real need for a big 6-burner grill, you got all the stainless you would need to make a Genesis Platinum and ALL-STAINLESS grill. Put in some high quality stainless grates, and you would have one almost bullet-proof, very cool grill. I will defer to others about working with stainless, but I think Bruce has given you good reason to go for it.

That said, that Summit cleaned up would also be a wonderful grill. I have rep for bad mouthing the current Summit, but I like that one and the one before it. You just will need to be prepared for eventual firebox reinforcement. Whether that is worth it would depend on what you want for yourself. I don't think I would clean it up and flip it for just $150. If you were near me, though, I would buy it from you!

 

[BrandonHudson]

I would think the roto would be way too long. But, the side burner should fit a Genesis C that has the right side table. I was going to do that with the SS platinum that I have waiting on me, but I might just leave the extra side shelf.
The tables from the Summit will work on the SS Platinum Genesis too.

Stainless is a bit harder to weld but not bad. I am very novice at welding and I have done some stainless welding. You need to use stainless MIG wire and gas. I don't even know if they make flux core SS wire. Otherwise, it is basically the same. Try a few practice welds until you feel comfortable and then go for it. Just remember one thing. The grinder is your best friend.


View attachment 24343

Thanks for the tips. how cool to see a red top on that frame.

I'm pretty confident now that I can accomplish what I want now.

 

[Bruce]

Yah, go for it. GOod luck. That is a lid from a 1000 and handle from a Silver B and bottom wire rack from a Silver B and frame and cook box from the Platinum... The SS inlaid tables are from a Summit, I think. Don't remember for sure, but they are not original to the SS Platinum.

 

[BPratt]

You should scope out the work to convert the summit frame to the platinum C. It might be less fabricating. And that would leave you with an extra platinum frame which have some value

 

[Jon Tofte]

You should scope out the work to convert the summit frame to the platinum C. It might be less fabricating. And that would leave you with an extra platinum frame which have some value

That's a pretty cool idea. I would think the measurements are different enough that you would have to make some supports on top to hold the smaller Genesis firebox and then accommodate the control panel on the right instead of up front. But you eliminate all that work on the cabinetry which is perfect as is on the Platinum Summit.

 

[BrandonHudson]

Brandon,

I would say you did really well for fifty bucks!

I suppose if you don't have a real need for a big 6-burner grill, you got all the stainless you would need to make a Genesis Platinum and ALL-STAINLESS grill. Put in some high quality stainless grates, and you would have one almost bullet-proof, very cool grill. I will defer to others about working with stainless, but I think Bruce has given you good reason to go for it.

That said, that Summit cleaned up would also be a wonderful grill. I have rep for bad mouthing the current Summit, but I like that one and the one before it. You just will need to be prepared for eventual firebox reinforcement. Whether that is worth it would depend on what you want for yourself. I don't think I would clean it up and flip it for just $150. If you were near me, though, I would buy it from you!

It is a pretty nice grill, but what a monster this thing is and just pricing out the ignition system has my head spinning on this sucker. Really unfortune that it was left to rot away under there. The previous owner had literally never cleaned the inside in his entire ownership and I cleaned TWO gallons of **** out of it.

We live in Charleston, SC, so you usually don't find Weber non-stainless grill parts lasting more than a 4-5 years without some TLC, and the timer is ticking on this one. I wouldn't feel right sending it back out without replacing that front firebox panel, starter, crossovers, and new wheels.

It still has quite a few good parts on it, so I think I'll just part it out once I finish building the frankengrill. The smoker box and grates are somehow like new. The 2 full sized panels are the perfect size for a Genesis. The rotisserie was brand new in the box under the grill, so I'm hopeful I can clean off all the roach crap, plug it in, and give it a go.

I did a "frame off" restoration of my current Genesis Plat all the way down to a new firebox replacement from Weber about 2 years ago. Along with that came the RCplanebuyer grates and flavorizers, and I love them.

 

[BrandonHudson]

You should scope out the work to convert the summit frame to the platinum C. It might be less fabricating. And that would leave you with an extra platinum frame which have some value

I'll have to break down and measure the overall length. I have a very specific space for the grill, but now that I look at it, the overall width might not be that far off, especially once I include the side burner to what I have. The size of the firebox just really throws all the proportions off vs all the other models I've worked with.

A stainless Genesis frame would be nice... I could drop in a top from a trashed frame, I find those all over the place.

Anyone have advice on how to hide a grill from your wife?

 

[Bruce]

Just tell her you always had it. It was just out back in the shed.

 

[Bruce]

Or tell her you are just fixing it for someone....after a month, it will just become part of the landscape.

 

[LMichaels]

Be careful of burying yourself in it. Those things are $$$$ hogs. Flavorizer bars are like no other grill and cost a first born male child, the ignition system is high $$$ as well and the burners as well. There is no aftermarket for them. After rebuilding my brother's 4 burner version of that SUmmit twice I wouldn't put much in it.

 

[BrandonHudson]

Be careful of burying yourself in it. Those things are $$$$ hogs. Flavorizer bars are like no other grill and cost a first born male child, the ignition system is high $$$ as well and the burners as well. There is no aftermarket for them. After rebuilding my brother's 4 burner version of that SUmmit twice I wouldn't put much in it.

Yea. I think I'm going to scrap and frankenstein.

 

[BrandonHudson]

You should scope out the work to convert the summit frame to the platinum C. It might be less fabricating. And that would leave you with an extra platinum frame which have some value

I just measured and the Summit frame (with burner) is 3in longer than the Genesis frame would be with the burner. That's doable.

It will be much simpler to mock up the firebox and controls vs modifying the 4 panels to fit. I'm excited!

I love this forum. Thanks everyone and I'll continue to post updates as they come

 

[Jon Tofte]

Sounds like a winner! Look forward to some pictures of the process.

 

[Bruce]

Yah, I want to see some before during and after pictures if you have the time and desire to do that.

 

[BrandonHudson]

Had some time this AM to pull apart the Summit and get some measurements.


As you can see, the guy only used 1 side of the grill, so half the flavorizers are in near perfect shape. The other half most of the individual bars are good, but the backbone is trashed. Everything else is in good shape, so if you need parts, let me know!

The moment of truth was measuring. Genesis: 35.5 is what I need.


And the Summit frame has plenty!

 

[Bruce]

Is the bottom pan on that Summit SS as well?

 

[BrandonHudson]

Is the bottom pan on that Summit SS as well?

Yes! Every single piece of the frame is THICK stainless steel. I'm blown away that Weber would get it so right on the frame and then whiff so hard on the actual grill itself, especially when they made the Genesis Platinum at the same time.

 

[Jon Tofte]

Yes! Every single piece of the frame is THICK stainless steel. I'm blown away that Weber would get it so right on the frame and then whiff so hard on the actual grill itself, especially when they made the Genesis Platinum at the same time.

Yeah, and then on the Genesis Platinum they let the bean counters (takes one to know one ) cut costs and use cheap painted steel on the cabinetry. Two fantastic grills with opposite fatal flaws. Go figure.