From Drab to Fab - Putting together a "How-To" Restoration Guide


 
Bruce said:
Most emblems are push nuts. Some however have the thread cutting nuts.
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Thanks Bruce. Once I get the black gunk off the inside I should be able to see what I have. Is it easier to clean the inside of the lid with the aluminum sides off? I was going to clean the inside with a razor scraper, some 0000 steel wool and Simple Green. I also bought some degreaser but I plan to use that on the aluminum sides and outside of the firebox before I paint. The inside of the firebox I am planing on using a wire brush cup on a drill with a handle.
 
Val Deale said:
Thanks Bruce. Once I get the black gunk off the inside I should be able to see what I have. Is it easier to clean the inside of the lid with the aluminum sides off? I was going to clean the inside with a razor scraper, some 0000 steel wool and Simple Green. I also bought some degreaser but I plan to use that on the aluminum sides and outside of the firebox before I paint. The inside of the firebox I am planing on using a wire brush cup on a drill with a handle.
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I’ve found that the initial razor scraping of the inside of the lid is easier and more stable with the lid end caps still on. I also think it helps protect the outside of the porcelain from getting nicked up.
 
Thanks! Another newbe question - this sounds stupid but when I eventually take the lid aluminum end caps off to de-grease and repaint, how do I remove the bolts if the heads of the bolts are round. I understand the inside nuts are hex but what do I use at the other end to hold the bolt while I take the nut off?
 
Val Deale said:
Thanks! Another newbe question - this sounds stupid but when I eventually take the lid aluminum end caps off to de-grease and repaint, how do I remove the bolts if the heads of the bolts are round. I understand the inside nuts are hex but what do I use at the other end to hold the bolt while I take the nut off?
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Hey Val, welcome to the community...

I just did this on my first Weber renovation — a 1996 Spirit 500.

I learned much of what I am about to share from the experts on this forum. This info is not original to me, but I have found that it works:

The original bolts on my grill were smooth flat heads with splines to give them some grab inside the aluminum endcaps. They were secured by self-thread cutting nuts (I believe 7/16" -- like most bolts you'll encounter on these amazing grills. About half of mine came out by just putting a socket on my impact driver (yep, overkill... you can use a ratchet) and lefty-loosey they came off very easily. The others started to release and then the flat head started spinning. Here's what I did to get them off...

Spray some penetrant on the threads, let it sit for a while. While it is penetrating, go find a skinny blade flat screwdriver. Push the bolt out from the nut side using your hand. Slide the screwdriver in the thin gap that now exists between the bolt head and the endcap. Put some pressure on the screwdriver to pull the bolt, bringing the nut up against the endcap. Now put the socket back on the nut while continuing to hold pressure on the bolt. I like using a drill or driver since it works quickly and your hands are already busy on separate tasks.

If it doesn't work, pull out the skinny screwdriver and grab a bigger one. Now put that between the nut and the endcap. Turn or lift it to put pressure on the nut allowing the splines on the bolt to grab. Again, use the 7/16" socket and drill/driver to spin the nut off.

This worked for me. I guess if it doesn't work for you, I'd get a dremel with cut-off disc and zip off the nut and then tap the bolt out.

Either way, replace the bolt/nut with stainless.
I use these bolts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYVDCL6M?tag=tvwb-20
and nuts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNQY3TVT?tag=tvwb-20

Good luck...
 
Thanks! Believe it or not, I now have three Webers, 2 model B's and one model A. One of the model B's I am cleaning and refurbishing for a gentleman that did not want to part with his old family Weber because all the new grills he bought were not as good as his 20 year old model B. The other B I am restoring for myself. The model A is what got me started. All this happened in a matter of a few weeks. The help I have had on this site is tremendous! inbound4655856759453926332.jpg
 
So I finished with the firebox cleaning, degreasing and painting the outside with high heat flat Rustolium. Now I'm doing an inside of a lid of a Silver B. Man, the inside is hard on this guys grill lid! Lots of really baked-on-stuck-on black tar-like carbon. I'm using a razor scraper and Simple Green but it's taking a long time. The endcaps are pretty much the same. Is there anything you can spray on or apply and then all this tightly stuck on stuff breaks down and scrapes or wipes off easier? Thank!
 
You can try some grill cleaner on the inside of the lid, but on that really hard and thick carbon, I have found it to be of little help.
Some are just worse than others. I have a lid I started and it wasn't long before I gave up. It is a beautiful light gray lid with the red pin stripes so I won't be getting rid of it, but I broke a bunch of razor blades before I finally gave up on it. I am maybe going to try a prolonged approach with grill cleaner with several treatments before I attach it with a razor scraper again.
 
Thanks Bruce. What kind of grill cleaner would you recommend if I wanted to try it? I understand oven cleaning sprays are not good for the aluminum sides. I guess I could take off the sides but it would be nice to find a product that could be used on both porcelain and aluminum.
 
Most grill cleaners won't hurt aluminum if not left on for a long time. However, I would advocate leaving the grill cleaner on for a while. Either way, I would still remove the end caps for proper cleaning on both them and the lid.

Are you interested in cleaning this grill up for a flip or just personal use? If you are not going to flip it, I personally wouldn't worry about a little carbon and gunk inside the grill lid. But if you are reselling it, then I can vouch that buyers like clean.

I use mostly Sams Club Grill Cleaner (Members Mark). But it tends to not stick to surfaces and will run off quickly unlike Easy Off which tends to adhere to vertical surfaces much better.
 
This is what I have so far. Lots of scaping. Two trips to the hardware store for scapers. I don't think I'm going to pull the endcaps off. Maybe on another project.inbound1937750254578551392.jpginbound8698157906826616306.jpginbound8050232456572621198.jpg
 

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This one I was asked to clean and being paid to clean it. I could have bought it for $125 but passed on it for another B for $35. The guy really liked his old family B and sensed I knew a bit about old Webers and asked me to clean it. He is paying me $200 plus new parts and materials. I am sort of new at this but decided to take it on. Here is a close-up of the endcap nuts. I think I can get them off but unsure if they would go back on or whether I buy new ss nuts with cc lock washers. Here is also ainbound8134472527178379000.jpginbound5121117891334710342.jpginbound5072288502133568293.jpg shot of his firebox I repainted.
 
This one I was asked to clean and being paid to clean it. I could have bought it for $125 but passed on it for another B for $35. The guy really liked his old family B and sensed I knew a bit about old Webers and asked me to clean it. He is paying me $200 plus new parts and materials. I am sort of new at this but decided to take it on. Here is a close-up of the endcap nuts. I think I can get them off but unsure if they would go back on or whether I buy new ss nuts with cc lock washers. Here is also aView attachment 115094View attachment 115095
inbound5072288502133568293-jpg.115096
shot of his firebox I repainted.
 
It looks like this is the type where the bolt is part of the frame and the nuts are self grabbing. Do they usually come off easy without breaking the nubbins on the frame? Would I need the same type of nut or can I re-use the originals. I think taking the endcaps off would be a good experience for me but I don't want to screw this guys grill lid up. Thanks.
 
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