VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 37 grill emblem

I suspect this may be a single year question, but I finally spent the money on a new grill emblem and for the first time took a close look at the process of replacing it. There is no easy access to the back of the grill, do I have to take the nose off to get to it?

Eli
If the front end assembly is similar to my '37 Chevy 1/2 ton truck it might be possible to get access. But, it will require long arms and flexibility. Try removing the lower baffle. Removing the valance and bumper might be needed too. All these needed to be removed to repair and clean the truck grill.

Hey Eli, I know if you can take off your chin pan baffle, mine was attached by machine screws, AND are able to reach way up with your fingers or a wrench, you might get it in that way. Or the radiator will have to come out to gain access. Hope this helps a little.
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joes37

Sounded like an awful lot of work for a single nut. Using that little access hole at the top of the radiator shell, I fished a flexible shaft bit driver with a nut on the end and guided it on with a simple tool I fabricated. Took longer to think it through than to do it, but there is no way my arm was long enough to go in from the bottom. Thanks for the advice though.

Great!
Maybe others could benefit from the posting of photos, or a link to same, of the tool referenced in your post.

It may also help others with an option for another way to remove the grill for repair, replacement or installation.

I'll try but I'm probably the least qualified person to be doing this. The first picture should show the access (plugged) in the radiator shell, I just popped out the plug and inserted the flex shaft with the socket. Second picture should be the tool, simply flat metal stock that I bent and notched so it was large enough for the shaft to slip in but small enough that I could pull against the socket and hold it against the nut sitting behind the emblem. Giving the tool a twist, it fit easily between the centerpiece of the grill and the first slat. Last picture is roughly the flex it took to go from the access hole to the emblem back, using the little tool to guide. Not a very good description, but best I can do. [img:center]http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/1923wk/media/Emblem%201_zps8f0r6gu6.jpg.html[/img] [img:center]http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/1923wk/media/Emblem%202_zpsif6mrgu6.jpg.html[/img] [img:center]http://s1329.photobucket.com/user/1923wk/media/Emblem%203_zps3sv92iqp.jpg.html[/img]

In the last picture, imagine that the flat part of the tool is just behind the grill and emblem and the tang is sticking through the slats of the grill. Hope this helps anyone with the same problem.

Eli
Thanks for the photo links. They work fine. That is a really good idea!

There must be another difference in the car vs truck designs I was not aware of. The trucks, at least my '37, are absent the access port at the radiator shell shown in the first photo. The only port is for the radiator cap/pipe on the right side, which is just slightly larger in diameter than the pipe.

Thanks for posting the info and photos.

Eli,

Nice idea and execution! Certainly easier and quicker than the alternative.


37Blue - my 37 coupe does not have the access port either. Must have been added to Eli's by a former owner that wanted to remove the grill emblem. That guy probably has a tool similar to Eli's design in his tool box!

And Eli - from what I could see in the pics, the car looks great.

-Michael

Eli, GREAT looking 37 coupe, my compliments!! Good idea about that access hole and a great idea on that tool. This should help, if I ever need to change mine.
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joes37

Lee and Eli
My 38 has 37 front tinware and I noticed a slight difference between mine and Eli's but is the same as Lee's in regards the access hole. The difference being potmetal piece that bolts between the radiator/grille support and headlight bucket on mine doesnt have the line along the middle, it is a smooth taper similar to a rose thorn with the point trimmed off.
Tony

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I was beginning to think the same about a prior owner, the old emblem was a very poor reproduction, added by someone. Tony, you have me interested but confused on your reference, I don't suppose you have a picture?

Eli
I am not much with the camera, (mostly forget about it until too late). I noticed the headlight mount on yours because I am attempting to cast replacements for mine without much success. There was someone looking for taillight stands to copy but he isnt answering my PM but I havent seen him on this site for some time.
Tony

Tony, if I am interpreting correctly your reference to a bisecting line, it's background glare off the paint in my picture. My headlamp mount is a single, solid color and smooth, no ridge or such. I have not had the pleasure of looking at a 37 truck recently, but I remember them looking the same, so if you get a car mount as a mold, I'm pretty sure you would be OK.

Eli
I have emailed you a pic of my mount, keep in mind it is broken and needs replacement.
I think you will agree it is different to yours.
Tony