Reutterwerk
Go Back   Reutterwerk > Porsche Water Cooled Forums > 928 Forum

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
Unread 07-22-2017, 02:22 PM   #1
928gene928
User
 
928gene928's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 60
Thanks: 0
Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts
928gene928 is on a distinguished road
Default Front Grill Slats

During a recent very cold winter day while leaving my driveway, I heard a funny noise and stopped the car. The plastic bracket supports for the front grill slats had fractured, and the slats were hanging loose, and one had fallen off.

The temperature was near zero, and I guess as the front of the car flexed a little , the old plastic supports cracked. There wasn't really much left of the original plastic supports, so I picked up all the pieces, and waited for a warmer day to review what had happened.

Well I finally got around to replacing most of the parts, and decided to make new ones out of aluminum bar stock. I had some 1/2" x 3/8" that was very close to the old plastic. I just finished the basic pieces, minus the slat holder stubs.

Was hard to fit up the first support without a whole sample to copy; however, after a lot of measuring and trial fitting, I was able to make and install all three sections.

Because of the various mounting angles and geometry involved with the slat stub mounts, I have stopped for the time being: however, now the new parts are supporting the lower slat and the front spoiler.

At least by using aluminum, I know the parts will not fail again.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg img_0089.jpg (251.6 KB, 0 views)
928gene928 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-23-2017, 11:11 AM   #2
GlenL
Workin' on it
 
GlenL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Minneapolis
Posts: 941
Thanks: 91
Thanked 85 Times in 77 Posts
GlenL will become famous soon enoughGlenL will become famous soon enough
Garage
Default

Will you be mounting the bars again or is this a style mod?
__________________
1980 928S Euro x2
1987 944 N/A
GlenL is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-24-2017, 08:51 AM   #3
928gene928
User
 
928gene928's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 60
Thanks: 0
Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts
928gene928 is on a distinguished road
Default Grill Slats

I will be re-mounting the two remaining slats. It is difficult, without a sample, to position and weld the mounting tabs in the correct locations. I will start by adding the two tabs to the middle vertical bracket, then I can mount the other tabs to the slats and mark their locations on the remaining two vertical brackets.

The slats are not the least bit flexible, so the various correct locations are important. I suspect that in addition to the cold weather, and the brittle condition of the original plastic, that there was flex stress present in the plastic from the factory when they attached the slats.

Because of the location, it is difficult to even see the slats. I read that they are important to straighten the air flow at speed through the radiator.

The new aluminum parts will not fail for these reasons. Just need to take the time to complete. Now I have been distracted by the alternator conversion.
928gene928 is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-24-2017, 09:36 AM   #4
CurtP
Super User
 
CurtP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 3,539
Thanks: 675
Thanked 597 Times in 425 Posts
CurtP is a name known to allCurtP is a name known to allCurtP is a name known to allCurtP is a name known to allCurtP is a name known to allCurtP is a name known to all
Default

How much does a factory replacement cost? Now that the struts are fairly rigid, what will be the new weak point to break when you scrub it again? I'd rather replace a $100 piece of plastic trim than an $1500 bumper cover.
CurtP is offline   Reply With Quote
Unread 07-24-2017, 02:39 PM   #5
928gene928
User
 
928gene928's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 60
Thanks: 0
Thanked 10 Times in 6 Posts
928gene928 is on a distinguished road
Default Grill Slats

Curt,
The brackets that hold the three metal slats, also support the air dam. They have no connection to the bumber cover.

I decided to make my own parts, because the original plastic parts were not available, as best I could find. In addition, since I had the aluminum, and all the fabrication equipment, why not make something better as a replacement.

Unless you are at ground level, the slats themselves are hard to see.
928gene928 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:59 PM.

Kirsch designed by Andrew & Austin


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
DTO Garage vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.
Copyright © 2008 - 2024, Reutterwerk.com