Doing the best with what I've got. My custom 72 Duster grille

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turtleheadjoe

turtleheadjoe

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Like everyone I'm on a budget, have a wife, 4 kids, house and car payments, etc. My Duster started pretty ratty but it's getting better. I couldn't find a decent grille and mine was thrashed, so I made this one out of stainless mesh. It's "deep dish" but since I have no hood latch it works.

I'll have some more pictures along the way of the poor man's way to do **** wrong.

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turtleheadjoe said:
Like everyone I'm on a budget, have a wife, 4 kids, house and car payments, etc. My Duster started pretty ratty but it's getting better. I couldn't find a decent grille and mine was thrashed, so I made this one out of stainless mesh. It's "deep dish" but since I have no hood latch it works.

I'll have some more pictures along the way of the poor man's way to do **** wrong.

View attachment 1714960131

View attachment 1714960132
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That looks dope Joe! How'd you connect it to the old frame?
 
Nothin wrong with that at all!! If my 72 would've come with a busted up grill instead of the nice sharktooth I would've done something similar
 
Dude, it looks good. Maybe you could continue "the look" to other parts of your car.
 
1970dartcustom said:
That looks dope Joe! How'd you connect it to the old frame?
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I used plasti weld or some such thing I got at the local tractor supply store. It's a two part epoxy that will stick plastic to damn near anything. I'll grab the tube next time I'm down in the garage and let you know for sure, it's amazing stuff.
 
75slant6 said:
Nothin wrong with that at all!! If my 72 would've come with a busted up grill instead of the nice sharktooth I would've done something similar
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Yeah mine was just a busted up standard grille, I can't find a decent one and don't want to pay for a shark tooth
 
famous bob said:
a guys gotta do what he`s gotta do ! we`ve all had to at one time or another.
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I just feel lucky to have a hot rod, so I'm happy to do things the cheap way and make it a little more custom as I go. I had to sell my 66 Dart GT to take care of some unexpected expenses but the Duster keeps me happy.
 
I like it. - And I like whenever someone can modify materials to get the job done while saving $$ to boot. What's your plan for blinkers? Are you going to cut the mesh and install them in the grill or mount them behind?
 
1967 'cuda said:
I like it. - And I like whenever someone can modify materials to get the job done while saving $$ to boot. What's your plan for blinkers? Are you going to cut the mesh and install them in the grill or mount them behind?
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I didn't really have a plan for blinkers, the cops around here are pretty lenient. If I do put some in they'll be small behind the grille, I've got a bunch of motorcycle parts around here I'm sure I can modify for the job.
 
That's not terrible.

I've seen a LOT worse, even some actually reproduced and marketed...and sold.

Good job.
 
Expanded steel sheet grillework is always appropriate. I like it.
Maybe you could have teeth molded and attach individually from behind?
 
Thank you guys for the kind words, it really came out well. The metal came from the scrap bin at work, so the whole thing cost me about $10 for paint and epoxy.

Hopefully I'll get to some more stuff soon, I really need to do my quarters.
 
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