2nd Chance for a True Weber Classic: A 1998 1st Generation Summit 450


 
Steve Hoch said:
Chris, buy yourself a new Summit. I'm sure you deserve it after all these years. One of the big reasons why I don't buy a new Weber is because I don't want to get used to cooking on the north/south burner configuration. In your case that's not a problem and with the aluminum cook box along with how well you take care of your grill it should last a long time.
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While I agree that the new Summit has some improved features - especially the top-down infrared sear burner and cast aluminum firebox - and that it has great style, it terms of build quality, in my opinion it pales in comparison to the original 1st generation Summit. The 1st gen used pounds and pounds of real 304 stainless, and while the frame is regular steel, it is the most robust frame Weber ever made. $5K is a lot to pay for a grill with painted steel cabinetry, but I do think that @Chris Allingham is in a good location and would, of course, take way better care than typical users.

 
Jon Tofte said:
I am sorry; I meant the tray tables. I think the thermometer and bezel might work. If not, they are still worth salvaging for something else. Tables and knobs as well!

Yes, I am very interested in the manifold if is LP.
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Ok - I’ll check later if LP
Is it attached similar to our OG Summit with the clips on each end?
 
For reference, I found Flavorizer Bar Brackets to fit 1st generation Summit. I can't say that I endorse the price, but as Jon has pointed out, these first gen Summits are built for life. I purchased two and they seamlessly installed in my 425. Also available through ebay from the same supplier.

Mods: let me know if this should go in a different thread.

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@Jon Tofte I agree and also think that the new Summit pales in comparison to the first generation Summit. If I come across the right first generation Summit in good condition I will definitely pick it up for a full restoration keeper. After looking over a brand new Summit from top to bottom inside and out I personally wouldn't be interested in one at any price.
 
LMichaels said:
Honestly Josh given the improvements in design and function I see in the latest Summit models I really would not mind if one showed up on my deck :D
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I think it would be great and I'm sure I would like them in the same way that I like my Genesis ii LX grills. They're nice to use but not built to last. Thin materials and plastic clips holding it together isn't something I would invest in knowing it's not going to last. For short-term enjoyment I can totally see the appeal but I want the forever grills that im building/restoring in my collection to be grills that will outlast me.
 
Josh Dekubber said:
I think it would be great and I'm sure I would like them in the same way that I like my Genesis ii LX grills. They're nice to use but not built to last. Thin materials and plastic clips holding it together isn't something I would invest in knowing it's not going to last. For short-term enjoyment I can totally see the appeal but I want the forever grills that im building/restoring in my collection to be grills that will outlast me.
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I've not seen one anywhere yet so I have to reserve judgement on build quality. I'm simply commenting on the "tech" and some of the improvements i.e. cast aluminum fire box, and the top rear IR burner, to name a couple of them. I'd always thought about some way to do a top rear IR on my old Summit.
I saw a Kirkland SS grill at Costco quite some time ago, made nearly identical to the new Summit. Only it was all 304SS even the fire box. Seemed a little "shakey" on the floor but on examination it honestly looked like it had been dropped prior to assembly and whoever assembled it did not bother to tighten any of the screws.
Honestly it had a lot of great tech. Including the ability to EASILY convert from LP to NG or back with one single change and everything to do so was included! https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland...burner-gas-grill/4000098457?bvstate=pg:2/ct:r
 
Finding a new grill with great tech is the easy part. Finding a new one that is actually built to last is the hard part. I would think for $10,000+ you could find something new that would last and I'm sure there really is some but alot of the very expensive commercial SS grills in that price range come up on the used market not very old where the SS cart and cookbox are usually in good shape but all the internals need to be replaced. I would still consider an Alfresco Grill for the right price.

I haven't used a Kirkland SS grill in years but when I did it was among the worst grills I've ever used and the build quality was complete junk. They may be a little better nowadays I haven't looked at them in years and couldn't say one way or the other.

This topic does intrigue me and I would like to test out some more new American made grills. For the most part for me personally it just makes more sense to restore vintage grills that I know are made to last. I already know what I can expect out of them over the next 40 years or more. Some of these vintage grills the only weak point is the grates and the flavorizer bars or similar systems and if during your restoration you replace those with thick high quality 304 SS parts it's a win for me. I guess to me personally that's worth way more than the bells and whistles that come with a new Grill. But... Im pretty sure that most average consumers just want to buy a shiny clean new grill with bells whistles and aren't concerned at all about how long it will last or even how well it grills.
 
The old Kirkland ones were the ones made by Nexgrill and mainly sold under the JennAire name. Honestly don't know much about those. As while I've seen them I've not been exposed to them to actually cook on. So I will reserve judgement there. Same goes for the one I earmarked. Yeah, I "saw" it, was impressed by the tech, but here too. Never seen one in the wild and seen how it would actually perform
 
LMichaels said:
The old Kirkland ones were the ones made by Nexgrill and mainly sold under the JennAire name. Honestly don't know much about those. As while I've seen them I've not been exposed to them to actually cook on. So I will reserve judgement there. Same goes for the one I earmarked. Yeah, I "saw" it, was impressed by the tech, but here too. Never seen one in the wild and seen how it would actually perform
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Larry I have to apologize for being so negative about newer grills.I would definitely like to do some more testing of some newer grills especially from American made companies. I think there could definitely be some good stuff out there but I'm not sure if the price range would be worth it for me. I can totally understand you wanting a grill with some of these features like the rear IR burner.
 
Josh Dekubber said:
Larry I have to apologize for being so negative about newer grills.I would definitely like to do some more testing of some newer grills especially from American made companies. I think there could definitely be some good stuff out there but I'm not sure if the price range would be worth it for me. I can totally understand you wanting a grill with some of these features like the rear IR burner.
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No need for apology. I feel the same. I've always pondered why companies make things so "backward" when it costs no more to do it correctly in the first place. I had the upper rear IR burner idea a VERY long time ago. Actually the first time I did a rotisserie cook on my original Genesis. And I wanted to "put some real heat" into something and despite the middle burner being off I had a huge fire and nearly lost a bird. And I just thought why can't the burner(s) for spinning be up high and rearward?
 
LMichaels said:
No need for apology. I feel the same. I've always pondered why companies make things so "backward" when it costs no more to do it correctly in the first place. I had the upper rear IR burner idea a VERY long time ago. Actually the first time I did a rotisserie cook on my original Genesis. And I wanted to "put some real heat" into something and despite the middle burner being off I had a huge fire and nearly lost a bird. And I just thought why can't the burner(s) for spinning be up high and rearward?
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I wonder how hard it would be to find a quality built IR burner and incorporated into a Vintage Grill?
 
Josh, I think it would be great to try to incorporate an IR burner into a Genesis grill. I was thinking the Gold and Platinum SS lids would be the best option rather than trying to do it on a porcelain coated lid. Maybe just pull the IR burner out of a Summit and fab it into a Gold B lid.
 
Bruce said:
Josh, I think it would be great to try to incorporate an IR burner into a Genesis grill. I was thinking the Gold and Platinum SS lids would be the best option rather than trying to do it on a porcelain coated lid. Maybe just pull the IR burner out of a Summit and fab it into a Gold B lid.
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I agree Bruce the porcelain lid wouldn't be my choice to install an IR burner on

I was thinking also maybe a grill that has a high back wall on the cookbox.
 
The biggest problem I see with swapping in the summit IR burner to a genesis grill is that if you fab it into the lid, it needs to account for the lid pivoting on open and close, whereas on the summit, it is mounted on a stationary tall back panel of the Summit cook box. The LX grills I know have a high back as well, and maybe that would be an option for swapping in an IR burner.
 
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