ih 350 grille repair

k1hb · Dec 17, 2014

i must not be alone: i only rebuild one ih350, a lot of others are in the same class.... so why buy a tool that you only need once?
specifically: theres a canadian ihc grille tool outfit that sells the dies for 170 bux sh/h incl. Since i will need these only once for a few weeks, its junk in the garage foreverafter.

Q: does anybody else have the complete sheetmetal tool set for the 350 grille that i can buy or rent ....?

Oregon Tractor Jack · Dec 17, 2014

Build your own. I have restored two H's, a W6 and a A using a homemade dolly and a pick hammer. Two of the grilles were about half of there normal depth due to being run into fences and the like. I cut down a piece of flat bar to the inside thickness of the louvers. I then ground it down to a rounded shape similar to the shape of some of my other normal dollies. When I was happy with the shape and fit, I welded it to a chunk of 1-1/2 square stock to add mass. This helps support the louvers while you straighten them. I use a normal body hammer and just whittle away at it. Of course there will always be some Bondo. The nice thing about these old grilles is they are very soft and very thick metal. I did this before I saw the adds for the tooling set. They would be nice, but buying one for every tractor is a waste. If you are like me, money is an issue. I have plenty of time...

P I Pete · Dec 17, 2014

Hi, I just read the post on getting a tool to straighten a grill. I bought one for my oliver a couple years ago I think it was about $40.00 for the two pieces. I got it from a guy who makes them, if I recall correctly it was Sandsdahl machine or something similar. Try to google it. He lives near Faribault, Mn. MERRY CHRISTMAS Pete

CNKS · Dec 17, 2014

See the link
Grill tool

k1hb · Dec 28, 2014

thanks guys for all the advice
i found a shop where they do serious work on sheet metal with presses and spent an hour bending back hood and sides, amazing how well that returns to original shape.
so i bot the dies and that will greatly facilitate the job.
after that? back on ebay!

anybody have the exact dimensions of the top curvature of the grill?
the bottom i copied on 1/2 in plywood to facilitate the work in the shop.
probably will have to drive the tractor to the shop for final fitting.

very pleased so far with result!

thanks everybody!

k1hb · Jan 14, 2015

ok, just went to the shop and we hammered away again. the tool set is not all and to straighten out my grille and the sheet metal to that 350 will cost me 300 just for the use of the die shop and presses and the expertise. plus 120n for the die set....i dont think i could have done it without, but the die set is very very tight.
ebay has a fairly good grille for 260....shipping and restauration would have cost about the same
there is a banged up 450 grille for 75 but looking at it it will cost 300 at least to clobber it into a semblance of normal.
so yes if you have time and tools banging at it yourself is an option but the endresult might suffer....

rhtx55 · Jan 15, 2015

Fixing the original grille is time well spent. Using as many original parts as possible is always best IMO.
By the time you pay for, ship & re-arrange a "new one" to fit properly, you can usually afford to fix that old one.

ih 350 grille repair

k1hb

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Oregon Tractor Jack

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P I Pete

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CNKS

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k1hb

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k1hb

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rhtx55

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