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


 
Those are thread cutting nuts. Use a 7/16" socket to get them on/off. They should come off easily and go back on easily. The only caveat is to be careful putting them back on. If you over tighten them, they will strip the stud. Just snug is what you want.
 
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
Steve Hoch said:
Those will come off pretty easily as long as you have cleaned all the gunk off first. They should also go back on with with little problem.
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Thanks Steve, I think I'm going to go for it.
 
Val Deale said:
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

Thanks Steve, I think I'm going to go for it.
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I've taken lots of lids apart and have always reused the nuts.
 
Bruce said:
Those are thread cutting nuts. Use a 7/16" socket to get them on/off. They should come off easily and go back on easily. The only caveat is to be careful putting them back on. If you over tighten them, they will strip the stud. Just snug is what you want.
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Thanks Bruce, I am going to try. I think I could do a much nicer job on the endcaps if they were off. At that point I might as well degrease and paint the outsides. Have to stop now, big storm starting up. Wife just got home too. She was a bit perplexed about all the grills but all in all pretty cool about it. She'd probably rather see me fixing a grill that coming home from a bar.
 
I had a question with painting the endcaps after I take them off the hood, clean and degrease:
Paint them semi-gloss high heat or flat high heat? What does everyone think?
My firebox has three coats of flat (pictures below)inbound27783464435694251.jpginbound6964177921068699844.jpginbound6499708167599723006.jpginbound4582305793606921321.jpg but I think semi-gloss might look nice and more original on the endcaps. But flat would be ok too. Any thoughts?
 
I just found a person that might be able to help me with sandblasting on future fireboxes and endcaps. It's and automotive high performance engine machine shop. Question - for sandblasting, would I have to do any prep work on the pieces? Thanks
 
Val, a good scrape out is probably all that is necessary, but if you hit them with a good high pressure pressure washer or even do a quick scrubbing with some SS household steel wool, it would probably be appreciated by the guy doing the blasting and might help you get a better price.
 
Bruce said:
Val, a good scrape out is probably all that is necessary, but if you hit them with a good high pressure pressure washer or even do a quick scrubbing with some SS household steel wool, it would probably be appreciated by the guy doing the blasting and might help you get a better price.
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Thanks Bruce. I can do that before I bring the pieces in for a quote. I don't have a pressure washer but I can definitely scrub things down.
 
I can't see using steel wool on the firebox. It would grab and pull fibers and make a mess. A good steel bristle brush and the grill/oven cleaner would be better I'd think
 
I am on the Semi-gloss cookbox & end caps team. I just think it looks more uniform, and appealing to my eye.

As for prep for sandblast, I would do my best to get as much off on a good scrape as possible, and anything you can do to get the greasy stuff off.
 
LMichaels said:
I can't see using steel wool on the firebox. It would grab and pull fibers and make a mess. A good steel bristle brush and the grill/oven cleaner would be better I'd think
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It isn't the regular steel wool Larry. It is the stuff made for kitchen use. Very coarse and stainless steel. It does a good job in a cook box with grill cleaner. I had done rehabs with that method when looking for an alternative to grinding the cook box and before I got to having them sand blasted.


 
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