Grille center support

[mlgil063079]

Finishing restoration on my 72 mach 1 wonder why the center grille support is almost 1” between support and grille. anything supposed to between there. Grille was missing when bought car.

 

[Steve McMahan]

I’m not sure if this subject has been discussed on this forum (I’m sure it has), but I couldn’t locate it. I did locate it on VMF, here is the link:

https://www.vintage-mustang.com/threads/71-72-grill-support-question.517441/

There are two different setups on 1972’s. Read the content of the link. Others will chime in on this.

 

[tpj71mach]

I'm no expert, but I don't think anything is supposed to be in between there, my car doesn't have anything there. How does your grille fit against the headlamp mounting brackets, is it flush there or is is hung up on something there? My 71 built in February has two vertical mounting brackets, as I understand later 71's and 72's had only one. Here are some pics of my 71 center grille support and grille fit, hopefully they will be helpful.

 

[jpaz]

I have a 72 with the single support brace. This is how mine is.

 

[basstrix]

I have a 72 with the single support brace. This is how mine is.

Mine is early 72 and is the same as yours....not as nice looking, though.

 

[mlgil063079]

Thanks for the pics John. So there is a spacer between the brace and grille. Looks like you have a nut and washer wondering if that’s the way they were built?

 

[t.kohlmeyer]

I have a 72 with the single support brace. This is how mine is.

Both my '72 Mach 1 and Q Code convertible have that same single support bracket. The convertible is a 12/72 build and the Mach 1 is a 4/72 build.

 

[73429mach]

Thanks for the pics John. So there is a spacer between the brace and grille. Looks like you have a nut and washer wondering if that’s the way they were built?

This is my 72 Mach 1, single bracket no spacer. Hope this helps. Ryan

 

[jpaz]

Thanks for the pics John. So there is a spacer between the brace and grille. Looks like you have a nut and washer wondering if that’s the way they were built?

No, I don’t think it was from the factory like that. I have a lot of after market pieces on my front end.
The pics that 73429mach posted looks factory correct.

 

[Hemikiller]

Thinking the problem is you have a '73 bracket in your pic.

 

[mlgil063079]

Could be 73 bracket. It did have front end damage at one point in its life.I replaced rad.support and front inner fender aprons and grille. Problem solved with some jam nuts. Thanks for everyone’s imput.

 

[MITCH351]

I'm no expert, but I don't think anything is supposed to be in between there, my car doesn't have anything there. How does your grille fit against the headlamp mounting brackets, is it flush there or is is hung up on something there? My 71 built in February has two vertical mounting brackets, as I understand later 71's and 72's had only one. Here are some pics of my 71 center grille support and grille fit, hopefully they will be helpful.

View attachment 86034View attachment 86035View attachment 86036View attachment 86037View attachment 86038View attachment 86039

tpj71mach - Great job on the details on your car - I am putting together a Boss 351 and need to paint every bracket and support in front of the radiator support. Have yours been repainted - if so what paint did you use - thanks

 

[tpj71mach]

tpj71mach - Great job on the details on your car - I am putting together a Boss 351 and need to paint every bracket and support in front of the radiator support. Have yours been repainted - if so what paint did you use - thanks

Thanks, I painted them all of the pieces individually, I media blasted all of the parts to bare metal and then sprayed epoxy primer on them to have a solid base to start with. I then used NPD aerosol slop gray for the slop gray parts. The hood latch and hood pin supports are Eastwood 2X epoxy Detail Gray, and the black parts are Eastwood 2X epoxy chassis black. I also purchased a complete hardware kit from NPD. I like to use all new correct hardware on all my cars, I feel it really makes a difference in the final product. I especially like it with Ford though, as they have the nice cadmium plated hardware, it really pops. The new hardware looks good on my Chevy's, but the cadmium plated hardware really stands out on this car, almost like jewelry, haha.

 

[tony-muscle]

I don't know the details but I know the grill location of my 1971 Mustang is different than a 1973. I exchanged dimensions with a member here about a year ago but I can't find that email. That said you may have a mismatch of parts.

 

[fuzzyflash]

looks like you are missing the bracket that that bracket bolts to.

 

[MITCH351]

Thanks, I painted them all of the pieces individually, I media blasted all of the parts to bare metal and then sprayed epoxy primer on them to have a solid base to start with. I then used NPD aerosol slop gray for the slop gray parts. The hood latch and hood pin supports are Eastwood 2X epoxy Detail Gray, and the black parts are Eastwood 2X epoxy chassis black. I also purchased a complete hardware kit from NPD. I like to use all new correct hardware on all my cars, I feel it really makes a difference in the final product. I especially like it with Ford though, as they have the nice cadmium plated hardware, it really pops. The new hardware looks good on my Chevy's, but the cadmium plated hardware really stands out on this car, almost like jewelry, haha.

Thanks for the response - that helps - now I just need to get busy and do mine. One more question did you use a Clear on them.

 

[t.kohlmeyer]

This is my 72 Mach 1, single bracket no spacer. Hope this helps. Ryan

Does anyone have a spare '72 single bracket available? I could use one for my Mach 1. The original was "straightened" poorly a number of years ago after a fender bender and I'd love to replace it.

 

[tpj71mach]

Thanks for the response - that helps - now I just need to get busy and do mine. One more question did you use a Clear on them.

No, I used all single stage paints on them, they were all activated paints with the exception of the slop gray so I am confident the finish will be durable enough for what my car will experience. I guess you could do a two stage, you just might want to stay away from a high gloss clear, I don't think they are supposed to be too shiny, but I am not an expert on Mustangs.

 

[PoFoMoCo]

Here is a photo comparison of the brackets and their dimensional differences.

 

[MITCH351]

No, I used all single stage paints on them, they were all activated paints with the exception of the slop gray so I am confident the finish will be durable enough for what my car will experience. I guess you could do a two stage, you just might want to stay away from a high gloss clear, I don't think they are supposed to be too shiny, but I am not an expert on Mustangs.

I agree they are not supposed to be shiny - thanks for your help