Need advice on an older Summit

[Rick W]

I have the opportunity to acquire this older Summit grill. I have no experience with restoring the Summit grills, I only have worked on the older Genesis grills. I can get it for free, only have to drive to pick it up. I have read a lot of negativity regarding the Summits, so that is why I am reaching out to this forum for advice. Pictures are provided. First, what model is this grill? The owner says that it is 10 to 15 years old but I have not got a serial number to verify that. What are the major obstacles involved in restoring these grills? This would be a keeper, not a flipper. I can ask for more pics if people think that would be helpful.
It looks to be in decent shape, but with having absolutely no experience with this model, I do not want to go down an unnecessary rabbit hole.

 

[LMichaels]

It looks to be a Summit 470. 4 main burners, smoke burner, sear burner and IR rotisserie burner. If it's only dirty but still solid you would have a VERY fine performing grill. Just beware of the front of the firebox and possibly the flavorizer bars. Though you can still get the firebox for this grill. So especially if getting from original owner maybe you can score a new firebox (and other stuff) from warranty. One thing Weber did well on these grills is engineer them to perform excellently. Just not to hold up

 

[BPratt]

Hi Rick,

That grill is worth a chance. I would proceed slowly. Clean it up, inspect it and see if you can get it working before investing any money. Register it with Weber if possible.

Worse case you have about $30.00 in scrap metal.

 

[Jon Tofte]

I am personally not a fan of these 3rd generation Summits. Although older, the current offerings aren't much different from what you are looking at. I keep hoping Weber has a shocker in store for us with a much better new Summit sometime soon. Hopefully, one that addresses the issues of longevity while bringing back more a "Weber feel." Nonetheless, there could certainly be reasons you would want this:

The positives that I see:

It is the high-end of Summit 4-burners with the smoker box and rear infrared rotisserie burner.
Although obviously somewhat "unloved" it looks like the highly rust-prone cabinetry is OK.
It's a show piece kind of grill, and - like @LMichaels says - it was designed to perform excellently.

The negatives:

You already know about the firebox burn-through issues. Hopefully, you can do a work-around on that. It is almost certainly starting to rust and burn through in the front. The scorch marks on the front of the hood point to that.
The parts you have to buy don't come cheap, and the amount of "doodads" make for a long list of things to repair and maintain.
These things are big and very heavy. Not easy to work on or move around like a Genesis.

 

[Bill Pudim]

Pull the trigger…

 

[Brett-EDH]

Your second pic shows lower box rot where the grate sits on the lower box. IMO, that grill looks like it’s poorly taken care of.

You’ll eventually (very soon IMO) a new lower cookbox. Also likely igniters and a new igniter gas rail.

Recco you get Weber’s exploded view of this grills parts so you can estimate your needed replacement parts. I’m pegging around $700-1000 in parts from Weber if you want to restore to new.

I have owned 2 summits and they all eventually rot. Very poor materials design from my experiences.

 

[Brett-EDH]

Just not to hold up

planned obsolescence. i sold my first one, used and abused for $100 after Weber quoted me over $750 in parts to fix. i then bought a second one (also used, like the first one was) and have owned it for two seasons of which one season it sat still because i bought the E6 as new.

i am most likely flipping my used S670 this spring. i'll clean her up and she's in near excellent condition. and prices have gone up so much that i'll probably clear a free $300 over what I paid for her.

they are exceptional cookers. they just don't and won't last. if i do another gasser, for my island project, i'll go to a SS steel Blaze model and install a wok station (100k btu). i'm even debating whether i even need or want a gasser again. i currently have zero need for one and don't miss it, having not used it for a year now.

 

[Jon Tofte]

If time and circumstances allow you to go charcoal, it really is hard to beat. I like gas grills for two reasons.

FIrst, I can go out in the middle of winter and easily fire it up and be back inside while it gets hot. Fast and easy to do basic grilling.

Second, my wife is one of those holdouts who just does not like or tolerate smoke flavor. She honestly prefers food cooked on a gas grill. (I get the most use out of my charcoal grills when I am making something just for me and me and my son.)

 

[Brett-EDH]

If time and circumstances allow you to go charcoal, it really is hard to beat. I like gas grills for two reasons.

FIrst, I can go out in the middle of winter and easily fire it up and be back inside while it gets hot. Fast and easy to do basic grilling.

Second, my wife is one of those holdouts who just does not like or tolerate smoke flavor. She honestly prefers food cooked on a gas grill. (I get the most use out of my charcoal grills when I am making something just for me and me and my son.)

i was using gas from 2002 through 2021. i fully understand and agree. that IS why i will still contemplate a gasser, but not a giant one like the S670. i'm thinking if i do add in a gasser to the island, i can go smaller on the footprint as the use model will be sparingly and for when our winter rains hit and dealing with charcoal become too much work. thankfully it doesn't snow here. that was part of the plan in moving to our region in 1992.

 

[Jon Tofte]

Brett,
I see a nice used Q3200 in your future! Small footprint but pretty big cooking area when you really need it.

Here's a set of grates from a 3200 set on top of a 300 series Genesis grill. You can see you get almost as much space in a much smaller package. Not to mention that the Q3200 is a GREAT grill, just not so much for low and slow.