Grille- yea or neh

I have the new grilles. Not sure yet. One is polished stainless & laser cut.
I'm always looking for something to separate me from the crowd.
Give me a yes or a no- but keep an open mind.

Here's the car- only difference is it has knock-offs on wheels now.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/.../260345032.jpg

SS traditional grille
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/.../290165848.jpg

One of the new grilles- I only leaned it up agains't the other installed grille for visual. Might look better w/ other grille out.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/.../290165852.jpg

Another view
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL22/.../290165849.jpg


I would probably use the outside frame of another SS grille & remove the bars- and tig weld it to the edge of the new grille. The new grille edge doesn't do a thing for me.

So??????? Be nice.:p

The grill with all the flames screams "rat rod".

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Originally Posted by brianrupnow

The grill with all the flames screams "rat rod".

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How do you figure that?

Opinions are like @#holes---everybody has one. Thats just my opinion.

I'm with Brian on this one! You have a beautiful roadster, it doesn't need something like that to draw attention to it.
Oh yeah,that's my opinion!

Mick

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Originally Posted by Steves32

I'm always looking for something to separate me from the crowd.

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Well, if you want your car to stand out in a crowd, the flame grille will achieve that goal, but for all the wrong reasons. Just my opinion, of course.

Bob

You are not the only person with this problem.

I just talked with one of my customers, who has a really nice red '32 highboy roadster. He just did the Goodguys/scottsdale event, and noticed that, unlike last year, when he took his flamed '32 sedan, the roadster was not getting any attention. We are now planning graphics.

The point is that while the '32 roadster might be the "quintessential hot rod", if it is too generic, it will be overlooked when around other rods. I don't personally care for the grill, as well as the original, but that does not make it wrong or right. You need to please yourself first.

Like my friend, you obviously like the classic elements on a rod. On his, the flames will include some sort of "twist" to make them unique and memorable. Scallops might be another possibility, gold leaf numbers on the doors, some sort of a 40s-50s cartoon illustration, or "bomber nose art" pinup girl. I'm not going to get more specific, as this is how I make my living, but you can keep the classic look, and still make it unique.

BTW, beautiful car! I love the Moon tank! :-)

I have both grilles so it's no sweat which I use.
When I saw the pics- I liked it- and ordered it.
I posted the question here because I want opinions from other Deuce owners & you guys know your Deuces! Your opinion matters, that's why I asked.
I could give a crap what some guy w/ a 4x4 truck at a show thinks about my flamed grille, it's the people who love the Deuce that matter. I also don't want it to become a rat rod crossover of some type either. Originally- that was my fear but I ordered it in polished stainless instead of ready-to-paint steel for the flash. Rat rods don't shine.
I have a habit of wanting my cars to stand out. Many things done on my 55 Chevy were quite trend setting. People thought I was nuts when I did them & now there are kits to do the same exact thing I fabricated from scratch. What it got me was class wins 4 years in a row at Super Chevy Shows , 3 years in a row at GoodGuys & several covers & car show T-shirts. I'm always looking for something different but I don't want it different for the wrong reasons.
Sometimes you get caught up in the new & need a wake up call. Sometimes you can't see the forest through the trees.
That Dan Fink grille may be the final ticket afterall (later-long lead time). Unless- I can get someone to fab one out of show polished one-off 1/8" vertical SS box tubing to look like a traditional grille. Did I just say that out loud? :rolleyes:

One of these days- I'll buy a car and leave it alone. Yea, right.

Yeah, opinions are very subjective, but you asked so you must really want to know. I don't care for "gimmicky" things like flamed grilles or those grille shells that are cut out to look like flames are trailing back from it. But that is me. If you like it that is all that counts.

Don

PS, you mention a Dan Fink insert. I have one on my '27 and his workmanship is beyond compare. I had to save up a few paychecks to get it many years ago, but it still looks great after 20 years.

IMO your Deuce should be treated like any other car.... Build what you want, personalize it the way you want, and who cares what anyone else thinks???? Heck, if you have some different grilles, switch them out to match your mood of the day....

Go for it. But hang your original insert on the garage wall. You may change your mind after a while. Or not.

The truth HURTS sometimes ... ;)

But you could not PAY ME to put the flame grill in my car.
I really like your car ... and I believe that a true knowledgeable " Deuce guy " would love it also.

Sometimes at the shows ... the general crowd walks right on by ... and that's cool too ... but when the " Deuce guy " stops and looks my Roadster over and smiles ... or gives you the thumbs up ... That's when I smile ...

Most of the general crowd does not have a clue ...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...160292_JPG.jpg

Photo taken by Don Dillard @ the LA Roadster event 2007

Deuce makes a point that we have also discussed ourselves..........to build a car to please the average non-car crowd that attend shows you would have to put some outrageous accessories on it and paint it with cartoon characters all over it. Then they would love it. But when a real car nut stoops down to study some little detail you have built into the car, that is the real reward. It's even nicer when he or she takes the time to talk with you about the things you have done.

Don

After you put the flamed grille in be prepared for questions like, "How long do you have to leave that in there to pay off the bet you lost?" :D

It really is difficult to do "different" things to a Deuce, especially tasteful mods. There are only so many pieces to work with, and so many have been done. As has been said, it's about execution of the details where the appreciation of the knowledgable comes. If you're thinking (out loud or otherwise)of having custom grille pieces made, look at trimming out a stock (or stock like) insert with some additional patterns. I saw a couple cars at the Roadsters Swap and Show that had a Pines Winterfront trim set (or masterful copies) on them, it really gave some nostalgic pop to the grille. I'd post a pic if I've got one in the file, but I'm visiting my mother, using her decrepid computer, and don't have my pic files handy. But you could spend some time doing online searches of pictures of similar vintage luxury cars (Lincolns, Nashes, Imperials, and so on) for inspiration. Some of their grilles apply trim in a very tasteful way. Another would be sports cars of the era (Jag, Lagonda, Bentley) for some other alternatives.

Once again, just an opinion, but I wouldn't even hang that flamed insert on my shop wall let alone put it on my car. Everyone has different idea of what the "perfect" deuce should look like, if it should have fenders, if it should be chopped, and if so, how much, what kind of hood, what kind of graphics, what type of wheels, how wide of tires, traditional bias plys or modern radials, roadster or coupe, etc... if they were all the same they'd be boring.
Your car looks awesome in the first pic you posted...sometimes changing stuff just for changes sake isn't a good thing... on the flipside of that, if you like it, use it, and tell everyone who has something smart as$ed to say about it (like me!) to $#%*-off.

Well- I've decided it won't be going on the car. Sometimes, a guy needs to be slapped silly before he makes the big mistake & now- it seems it would have been a huge one. Who better to ask advice from than a bunch of Deuce owners?
I keep going out to the garage & look at that grille & the more I look at it- the more I dis-like it. And..... the more I like the Bob Drake grille I borrowed.
I called Dan Fink this morning to get an idea of lead time. They say anywhere from 14 weeks to 24 weeks- depending on style. I see they have these grilles priced starting from $800.00 all the way up to $2200.00
The Bob Drake grille is $400.00
Decisions- decisions- decisions.


Hey- it could have been worse, I could have put this on the car.:HMMM: :LOL:

http://www.speedcult.com/store_pics/...tiki1_bg01.jpg

That would have been nice with some old kerosene cowl lamps, and maybe some platic orchids on the rear view! :-)~

.......and with those wheel spinner things that keep going around when the car stops. :eek: :LOL: :LOL:

Don

I have a Dan Fink grill insert in my '32, but I chose it to stay with the theme of the car--modern California smooth look. I like the traditional grill in your deuce because it is built on a traditional theme. Style is important, and when you have a stylistic inconsistency, it jumps out at you as wrong--like the deuce 3W highboy I saw at GoodGuys in Des Moines a couple of years ago with a 4 piece hood, gas tank out back, independent front suspension, and 20 inch Budniks. Beautifully finished car but a gross mismatch of parts.

I'll give you my opinion - for what its worth & for what I see......

Your "rod" appears to be more "traditional" than a updated "street rod" - I say this when viewing the old moon style tank on the front & being fenderLESS.

So........NO FLAMES on this one (please).

I guess if it were more of a late model styled resto rod I might go with the flames. That would also depend if you car had any other "flamed" items on it. I'm a big fan of tieing things together - not just one-off items with no direction - which your car deffinately has - TRADITIONAL style.

But - as others have said - opinions are like assholes.......everyone got one.........well almost everyone.....

Regs

I like the original better.. On your car anyways..

I'm late but I think the falmes are too gimmicky. When you said laser cut stainless I thought you had an original style laser cut stainless. That would be very nice. Overkill perhaps but nice. You have a very nice Deuce!

Kitz

Too much of somethings can ruin the whole look. I like the original grill, the flamed one is just too busy for my taste. But to each is own.

I have a friend who had a flamed 29 hiboy. Flames on the sides and doors, flames on the hood, flames made into the leather seats, flamed carpets, even had hood sides that were cut out in the shape of flames. Trunk was flamed as welll as the trunk interior. Looked good initially but shortly lossed it's appeal. Too much flame. He traded it for a non-flamed rod.:D Somewhere I have some photos of it and I will post them if I can find them.

You had me scared - I thought for sure that you were really going to put that insert in your grille shell - it's too nice of a car to cheapen it

Now - a Dan Fink grille insert for mine........I have a jug of pennies, a big bag of returnable bottles, a property tax refund, and a $5 scratch off lottery ticket - wonder what kind of a Fink grill insert that would get me

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Originally Posted by IC2

You had me scared - I thought for sure that you were really going to put that insert in your grille shell - it's too nice of a car to cheapen it

Now - a Dan Fink grille insert for mine........I have a jug of pennies, a big bag of returnable bottles, a property tax refund, and a $5 scratch off lottery ticket - wonder what kind of a Fink grill insert that would get me

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A few cut-offs from the scrap barell!!!!!!:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

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Originally Posted by Dave Severson

A few cut-offs from the scrap barell!!!!!!:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

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But just think of the QUALITY:whacked: :eek: :LOL:

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Originally Posted by mopar34

Too much of somethings can ruin the whole look. I like the original grill, the flamed one is just too busy for my taste. But to each is own.

I have a friend who had a flamed 29 hiboy. Flames on the sides and doors, flames on the hood, flames made into the leather seats, flamed carpets, even had hood sides that were cut out in the shape of flames. Trunk was flamed as welll as the trunk interior. Looked good initially but shortly lossed it's appeal. Too much flame. He traded it for a non-flamed rod.:D Somewhere I have some photos of it and I will post them if I can find them.

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I just saw an interesting comment on another forum. He said " sometimes it's not what you ADD to a car, it's what you DON'T add that makes it interesting." When I thought about that statement it is very true. We hotrodders get our cars done then try to find things it still needs to make it better, and sometimes those add-ons make it look like we bought out a Pep Boys store.........sort of gimmicky.

Don

Steve: Its your rod do what trips YOUR trigger. Thats why we have rods so every guy can have it to his tastes. Personally I like the stock look, but not everyone has the same tastes thank god or we would all be driving the same cars. Good luck

Definately the stock one, the other one is like something Jesse James would throw on a car, of course thats only my opinion

Well- it doesn't do it for me anymore. I now hate the thing. What the hell was I thinking??? Thans for the kick in the azz- I needed it. I called the guy back east & if I ship it back in original box, he will give me a full refund. That's pretty cool. I mailed it this morning.


Later- I'll start a new thread on different grilles to find out who to steer clear of & what's the best. There's a sea of grilles out there & many may be imported. Of course- they won't tell you that when you ask. I'll try & compile a list of venders & prices & we can run down the list. I think this will help more than just me.
Remember- I'm new to these cars- all my experience is with Tri-fives & 40 Fords.

Good call Steve. The car really looks great.

Jake

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steves32

Well- it doesn't do it for me anymore. I now hate the thing. What the hell was I thinking??? Thans for the kick in the azz- I needed it. I called the guy back east & if I ship it back in original box, he will give me a full refund. That's pretty cool. I mailed it this morning.


Later- I'll start a new thread on different grilles to find out who to steer clear of & what's the best. There's a sea of grilles out there & many may be imported. Of course- they won't tell you that when you ask. I'll try & compile a list of venders & prices & we can run down the list. I think this will help more than just me.
Remember- I'm new to these cars- all my experience is with Tri-fives & 40 Fords.

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Not to short circuit your plan for another thread, but to my knowledge there're only two sources of repop grilles in today's market. One is Vintique, the other is Dale's Manufacturing (it was a week or two ago we had a thread that covered this). They each have many dealers so it appears there are many sources, and of course each dealer is free to price at his own level, so there are a variety of price points. The general concensus (there's always going to be some level of disagreement)is that the Dale's is pretty accurate for fit, the Vintique ranks somewhat to much less so.

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Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Not to short circuit your plan for another thread, but to my knowledge there're only two sources of repop grilles in today's market. One is Vintique, the other is Dale's Manufacturing (it was a week or two ago we had a thread that covered this). They each have many dealers so it appears there are many sources, and of course each dealer is free to price at his own level, so there are a variety of price points. The general concensus (there's always going to be some level of disagreement)is that the Dale's is pretty accurate for fit, the Vintique ranks somewhat to much less so.

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I have a Dale's and it's very nicely made - it was that @#$%#$ POS Brookville shell that needed to be massaged with a big body hammer and a small dolly. But then there were several other problems with the POS shell, too that I've discussed ad nauseum:LOL: :LOL: .

I called a bunch today (before I read Bob's response)
Seems like many are supplied by Gearhead Enterprises. They won't tell me where they are made. :HMMM:

So- there's only Dales & Vintique? That narrows it down alot. Who makes the one that Bob Drake sells? I called & they said they make their own. In fact- alot of them said that. :eek:
There's also one made from Aluminum but I don't remember who now.

The old adage :

are you trying to make youreself happy, or everyone else

seems to apply.

BUT.. one should consider that even if YOU love it, you may get tired of hearing the smart-assed opinionated comments eventually.

Really, it is a nice grille, but probably not for your car.
( based on previous comments )

I agree that your car looks awesome as is, but if you want different why not play around on paper and design your own. Draw your ideas in small scale first and if you come up with something cool, trace the outline of your insert and do it in large scale cardboard. jmo