Well, I think Jon awoke and finally did some "real" work. He is making some good progress. His mold fabrication for a first-timer is excellent!:TU: The mold material picks up all the details and is very flexible. This should be very interesting! I learned a lot from the Mold Master!:Smarty: Oh yes, almost forgot, the hoax is over! This is for real!:laugh:
Here is another pic of the flexible mold. I can't wait to see when Jon makes his first grille. He also made improvements to the mouting bosses for the metal studs. This should be interesting!:grin:
You know, I was in the shower, minding my own business, and I look out the window and theres George wth his camera...... Pervert. Youd think he was taking pictures of my wife, or trying to get a couple thrills. Found him lying down next to my Buick..... taking pictures. Geesh! Actually, it was cool showing off my grill mold. Well see how it goes on the pour, but it has really come far since the last post. Should have the grill released form teh mold here shortly. With this new material, I should be able to reproduce just about any part for the Buicks, including the GS hood scoops inserts, and actually, George and I were talking about reproducing the scoops for the GS hood to turn all the Skylark hoods into GS hoods. Thanks yall for your interest. The shot of me, the beer, and the grill turned out great! To be continued..... -Jon
If you do the GS scoops count me down for a pair. Keep up the goodwork. Was that Bud Light I saw?????????????? High roller I guess, in school we get stuck w/Natty Light
THIS IS TRULY AMAZING W :eek2: W GREAT JOB JON :beer :TU: BUT WHAT'S SHOCKING TO ME :shock: uzzled: o No: Is all I've heard for the past few years is it cost 50.000-100.000 and a bunch of commitments just get the project started.......what givesuzzled: o No: :shock: now Jon is doing it in his garage for a few hundreds what gives :shock: :shock: :shock: way too pick up the dropped ball and run with it Jon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! truly amazing :rant: I'll take a 69 Gs grill when you get around too it infact i might take a 71 just to help you out :beer :bglasses: :TU:
Well, its no picnic believe me! But hopefull, this release trouble was from an oversight on my part. Lets just hope the ones that follow will be easy! I dont know if I would ask so much why it hasn't been done before, cause the chem that I used has not been out very long. It may not be 50k, but $350-$400 is a hard chunck of money to lay down for a "hope so". I will be curiouse to see how this pours. I still have a littel work to do to get the mold level, and sitting aquare. Then I will pour one and well see how it goes. Heres a picture of teh mold entirely out of its master. It has a couple flaws that can be corrected following the pour wiht a file, or before... havent decided yet. More to come.. -Jon
Not sure about the prototype yet... Still have some clean up to do to the mold with an exacto knife. I would say in about a week or so.... I need to walk away from it right now, I am really burned out from trying to release it from the grill. Dont want to get frustrated you know? Plus, need to find a place in the garage to actually pour the mold. Thanks for the compliment. -Jon
For those of you asking why it hasn't been done before, it has. Duane from here on the board did them a few years ago. He has posted about it here before, but I believe the gist of it was that all he got were people complaining because the grill was resin and not plastic, not original, etc etc. Maybe now that the grills are so much harder to find, people will give them a chance. I'd rather have a resin grill on my car than none at all. :beer BTW, lookin good Jon.:TU:
mold Looking great! With the mold so flexible, how will you keep it stiff for the pour? Ar you making a stand to hold it at the right angle?
mold Looking great! With the mold so flexible, how will you keep it stiff for the pour? Ar you making a stand to hold it at the right angle?
Re: THIS IS TRULY AMAZING As mentioned further down, as technology allows some newer ways of doing things, perhaps we will get our pieces. Also, there will be lots of guys who won't want them because they are resin or whatever...but it certianly allows the more "normal" resoration enthusiast a chance.....as long as they are straight and look-more or less- correct, they should be usable. Later Tim
You hi tthe nail on the head Tim! This project started out not to make axact replicas of the grill, although I could, but to make something that looks "good" on a normal restoration. Tim is correct that there are some people who are die hard original, and would have no use for these grills. Let them pay the $2000. I however, want something that looks nice, and is structurally stronger. To answer the question about keeping the mold stright for the pour, before the mold was removed form the box, a foam impression was made of the backside of the mold. This will make a level and strong support area for the grill to rest on when flipped on the other side. Its a sorta craftmatic adjustable grill.... Since its raining today, I will probably do some of the clean up tonight. -Jon
Looks Good Looks real good, I think I might have to put my spare 71 grill up for sale, hang the original on the wall and put one of yours in the hole! :grin: :TU: !!
71 GS Grill Jon, Do you accept credit cards p maybe down the road, or maybe I tell my wife the 500.00 is for the special mufler bearing the car needs:rant: . My 71 is a work in progress, like reading books or doing cross stitch:laugh: . Anywho if I don't make it to the nationals I would like to get one before you mold goes kaput. I gotta say you might have a new side job with the molds, great job in follow through what you set out to do regaurdless of the obstacles:beer . Steve Johnson 71GS work in progress BTW Thanks to George and his pleathera of knowledge.
I forgot to ask? Jon when will you be making a mold on some 71 tail lenses? I let you finish one huge project at a time lol. Steve Johnson
Havent forgetten bout you all... I have been doing much trim work to the mold, and some stuff to make the release easier. I should be getting to the pour sometime this weekend, or early next week. -Jon
