Restoring my Summit Silver

[Angelo Harris]

Got this for $15 here in Australia.

Have been advised about the rust potential of the firebox. Mine looks fine for now. Any tips on prevention?

Currently restoring the summit slowly so ill need some tips from anyone here who's keen to chime in with advice.

I've taken the lid off and then the side and handle apart from the lid. Everything on this Summit is so greasy and caked on.

Used some oven cleaner on the metal sides. I'm going to repaint them with BBQ high temp black paint. Do you do the inside or outside of these panels only? Some pics of the progress below.

 

[Scott Smith]

I'm just curious - why? At first glance, it looks like you spent actual money to get a disgusting, beat up old grill that will require lots of time, research, and new parts and supplies to make it work. Even then, you know it might have various issues down the road.

 

[LMichaels]

I don't know of any way to prevent the firebox from disintigrating. Seems like you might see one or two little "pimples" in the enamel then suddenly the whole firebox is gone

 

[Eric-NH]

Only paint the exterior, you'll like get fumes that you don't want in your food if you paint the inside

 

[Bruce]

I would advise to rethink this before you get too deep down the rabbit hole. They quickly become money pits if you are not careful. The back and front panels of the cook box do look like they have some corrosion. It will only get worse and once it starts, it goes fast. Availability for replacements is virtually non-existent regardless of price. You could talk to @Jon Tofte about a work around. But since you are overseas, it is going to be even more expensive to restore that thing. How does the inside of the cabinet look? All rusty? Flavorizer bars and grates and are probably still available, but will be very pricey as well...especially over seas.
If you are set on pursuing this, I would stop, assess everything that you think you want to do with it and then source the parts and add up the cost of any parts you need to restore it right now along with cost of replacement parts that you might need in the near future.

It is a shame, but it is what it is.

 

[Angelo Harris]

I'm just curious - why? At first glance, it looks like you spent actual money to get a disgusting, beat up old grill that will require lots of time, research, and new parts and supplies to make it work. Even then, you know it might have various issues down the road.

I know webers are great bbqs and always wanted one. I got interested in restoring them seeing some youtube videos.

$15 is chump change. I didn't know of the potential firebox issues until after ordering parts and coming onto this site.

In hindsight I would have spent less if I was aware of the firebox rust potential.

So far I'm (converting to usd) about $230 out of pocket and I have:

New flavorizer bars
New hot plate
2x new stainless steel grills (these were the most expensive and non essential as the old one would clean up perfect)
New ignition system
New gas hose

All genuine weber. I might ring them and see about the firebox and how pricey it is, if they even stock them. He said they have every part for over 40 years worth of webers here in Adelaide.

 

[Scott Smith]

I know webers are great bbqs and always wanted one. I got interested in restoring them seeing some youtube videos.

Welcome to the group. That's as good an answer as any. We call it Weberitis.

You seem to have gotten a pretty good deal on parts. Personally, I am stingy with money and would have saved something like the grates until after i knew I had a good working grill.

 

[Jon Tofte]

Angelo,
I am sorry for failing to say “Welcome to TVWBB!” We are certainly glad you are here.

Your Summit CAN be restored. It just comes down to how much effort and expense you are willing to put into it. I say if you like it and are OK with it, then give it your best.

Members here have seen a lot of horror stories about Summits, so that is why you are getting so much highly cautionary advice, and understandably so.

Nonetheless, we have also seen Summits restored and being enjoyed by their owners who would not be deterred and went the extra mile. I am thankful for mine every time I fire it up!

 

[Bruce]

Jon is right. It can be done, but it is not easy or inexpensive in most cases. I rehabbed a free SS470 this past spring. I put about $250 US and time and effort and re-sold it for around $600. I first determined the front and rear cook box panels were in serviceable shape and then added up all the parts that needed replacing and their availability. I came to the conclusion that it would be doable, so I took it on and it worked out. And, I did certainly toy with the idea of keeping it after I finished it. Despite their key flaws, they really are great cookers. If you get yours up and running, I am sure you will be quite happy with your investment. Just be careful and do your homework. For every Summit that gets a successful make over there is at least one that winds up on the curb for the scrappers. I know Jon can attest to that.
So, with that, welcome to TVWBB.com. And if you need any more advice or assistance with your rehab, let us know. We love to share our knowledge, experiences and opinions.

EDIT: Actually, I sold the rehabbed summit for $875 which was about a $600 profit not accounting for my time and effort.

 

[Angelo Harris]

Thanks guys, yes I want to get this to work and last a few years. 3 years means it's still more cost effective than a brand new summit or genesis that are around 2.8k-5k over here. (5k over 20 years is $250 a year).

I'll contact weber this week to see if they stock these fireboxes. If they're somehow not too expensive then I'll consider one and keep it as a back up. If it's in the $300-400 range I'll consider it for a backup. If the old one fails I can install the new one and then try fix up the old one. Giving me more life out of the bbq.

I'll post some pics up once I've done some more restoring.

Thanks for the encouragement Jon, and thanks to everyone else for the tips and information.

 

[Bruce]

Good luck and keep us posted on what you come up with.

 

[Scott Smith]

If it's in the $300-400 range I'll consider it for a backup.

I totally agree here. When you get to really old grills, think twice before getting rid of anything. It might have a bolt, or a valve, or a section you could cut or something you might be glad you had years down the road when parts are scarcer.

 

[Angelo Harris]

Here's a few pics of what I achieved from the other weekend and a little this weekend. Time poor with kids but I sneak in a little here and there where I can.

There's still quite a bit of stubborn grease caked on in spots. I'm wondering if it's worth bothering with at this stage or just focussing on the lid and other sections now?

 

[Eric-NH]

Coming along nicely!

 

[LMichaels]

I would not bother much more. You have some pretty good rat nibbles going on there on the front edge of the fire box. They will go fast. My brother's friend had one like that. It went from that to useless seemingly over night. My bro told him I was the "grill whisperer" I believe he was able to lay his hands on a new box though

 

[Angelo Harris]

Thanks LMichaels, I am not going to overdo it as I'm a fan of the 80% rule. Getting something 80% clean can be done relatively fast, the next 20% can take double the time!

Yes those rat nibbles, a good way to describe it! That part looks as though it comes apart with the 2 bolts either side. Would you recommend some sort of rust treatment? I wonder if I could just replace that one part from Weber. I really need to ring them up at some point!

Also a picture from late yesterday on my lid progress. I won't bother getting it sparkling clean as that inside will become black within one cook, but I want to get all the major crud off as I don't want ancient caked fat cracking off onto my food.

 

[LMichaels]

No rust treatment will help plus it will be toxic from inside the box. If you can find anothe box or if Weber can get you one, go that route and keep the good one in spare until absolutely needed

 

[D Ngo]

Everything does not look too bad actually except for the front cook box panel. Maybe hit all the rusted spots with phosphoric acid to prevent further corrosion and paint the outside with high heat paint. Painting the inside of the cook box might be tricky without poisoning yourself. I actually find the best paint is the caked on layer of carbon that envelops the metal

 

[Jon Tofte]

I think you should use it as long as you can safely. Sooner or later, that piece will fail, but in the meantime, grill on. You might look at having reinforcement stainless pieces made to give you a lot more time.

 

[Angelo Harris]

Well I wrapped things up today and put it all back together. I might eventually take the lid back off and repaint the outside of the side panels (ordered some rustoleum bbq paint for it on the black Friday sales).