John Morrison Posted May 25, 2006 Report Share Posted May 25, 2006 Hi having very nearly completed my 4 rebuild and colour change the old grill is looking decidedly grotty. I See Moss offer replacements, and there seems to be a constant supply on ebay, anyone any experience of these items regarding quality and Fit? Thanks, john. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kiwifrog Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 John, The gril on a 4 is ali so If its not too bent it should clean up ok with a brillo pad followed with wire wool and a final polish with something like brasso Cheers Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tr4Tony Posted May 26, 2006 Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 My experience with the new repro ones is that they are about 1/4 too big for the hole - so you end up filing large chunks off the edges to make them fit, without knackering your new £200 grill. Neither easy or fun. if you dont do this properly the grill rubs and removes the paint. I would say buy the best used one you can and either polish it up or get it polished. It will cost the same but you will get a far better result. One thing to think about is if your car has repro front wings - these tend to be more bulbous (even when fitted professionally), so are more suited to the repro grills (which to be fair look great when lying on the ground beside the car!), so less filing / bending needed. Regards Tony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Morrison Posted May 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2006 Thanks both, Just as I suspected Tony, wings are origial's via Walter, so the car is spot on, think I will 'Search' a good used one and live with the grotty one for now, it's not as thought I have nothing else left to do. Cheers, john. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TR 2100 Posted May 27, 2006 Report Share Posted May 27, 2006 The gril on a 4 is ali so If its not too bent it should clean up ok with a brillo pad followed with wire wool and a final polish with something like brasso Correct me if I'm wrong (and there's a lot of guys out there that know a lot more than I do) but isn't the TR4 grille 'bright finish' (as against actually polished) and then lacquered? This leaves the problem that of you rub down (I think 600 grade then 1000 grade would be more appropriate that a brillo pad!) then polish, the finish for the re-finished areas won't be the same as existing, plus you would see a line between the two finshes. Assuming I'm right about the lacquer finish, it should be removable by paint stripper, but I'm sure it isn't. So removing this has to be done by rubbing down the whole grille. I think the lacquer doesn't come off so easily so it's a long job. Probably a good idea to get lacquered yourself while you think over the problem and solution. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dale Moore Posted May 27, 2006 Report Share Posted May 27, 2006 THe grill on the 4a ( probably the same on the 4) has a bright anodised finish, and as stated in previously posting will be difficult to blend a "rubbed down" area with the existing (I know from experience!!) The same finish is used on the windscreen capping strip. An area always covered in scratches Regards Dale Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tr4Tony Posted May 28, 2006 Report Share Posted May 28, 2006 Hi the TR4 and TR4a grilles are very different - TR4 is pressed aluminium with annodised finish (not as bright as the repro ones), TR4a is made of welded aluminium extrusions, with polished finish. Either way get an original one ....... same rules apply. Regards Tony Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qkingston Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 Apologies for resurrecting a rather old thread, but would members agree with the statement above re TR4a grilles? I need to remove some historic paint overspray on the grille and I'm nervous of using anything that would damage the annodised aluminium....but if the 4a isn't anodised and is just polished aluminium it maybe isnt so risky to use a cleaning product? Many thanks David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 Hi David, the 4A grill IS bright Anodise finish. Do NOT rub it down. Use thinners or paint stripper to remove your over spray. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iain Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 Thinners only.....if the paint stripper has caustic soda in it it will remove the anodising. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 16 minutes ago, iain said: Thinners only.....if the paint stripper has caustic soda in it it will remove the anodising. That is a possibility if it is in contact for more than a few minutes. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tr4aJim Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 Quick question; is the only difference between 4A and 250 grills, that the 250 has black details? Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 Hi Jim, according to the Moss WebCat the 4A grill has four welded on tags for holding the rad cowl (I think) The TR5 does not have these tags. Also the 4A is not painted. At some pont one or the other had a squared edge to the horizontal bars and the other had rounded bars Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fremont Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 19 minutes ago, Tr4aJim said: Quick question; is the only difference between 4A and 250 grills, that the 250 has black details? Jim The 5/250 grille's lowest bar lacks the [ vestigial ] cutout for the crank handle also. Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 Hi Tom, the Moss WebCat shows it WITH the cut-out. However I do not know if they are actually supplied without the cut-out. Item #68 https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-model/triumph/tr5-6/body-chassis/body-fittings/front-body-fittings-tr5-tr250-1967-68.html Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tr4aJim Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 Thanks. I’ve been toying with the idea of painting my 4A grill like a 250. I like the look (nice car Tom). Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
qkingston Posted January 31, 2020 Report Share Posted January 31, 2020 Thanks all, maybe catch up at Stoneleigh Roger? Rgds David Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted February 1, 2020 Report Share Posted February 1, 2020 (edited) 16 hours ago, RogerH said: Hi Tom, the Moss WebCat shows it WITH the cut-out. However I do not know if they are actually supplied without the cut-out. Item #68 https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-model/triumph/tr5-6/body-chassis/body-fittings/front-body-fittings-tr5-tr250-1967-68.html Roger As they all come from the same source down here in Redruth its probably just an illustration error in both the online and hard copy catalogue If you look in the TR Shop flyer its clearly illustrated as not having the cut out Stuart. Edited February 1, 2020 by stuart Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ricky30dk Posted May 3, 2020 Report Share Posted May 3, 2020 (edited) I bought one of the Cornish TR4A grilles a couple of years back (£195 on ebay) and am very happy with it. It did need a bit of fettling around the edges, but that could just as easily have been due to the panel fit on my car (which has some intersting gaps if you know where to look). A few hours with a file did the trick. The grille is very well fabricated and looks a treat, compared to the slightly dull, patchy original : I just realised these photos were taken before I cleaned the grille - any marks are dust from sitting in the garage over the winter! Edited May 3, 2020 by ricky30dk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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