Author Topic: 1969 Mach 1 grille surround  (Read 1609 times)

Offline CCP

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1969 Mach 1 grille surround
« on: May 16, 2017, 11:39:30 AM »
Trying to replace the outer grille surround mouldings. Wow, not much room to get at the retaining clip nuts!
 Is it necessary/easier to remove the headlight buckets?
  Thanks, any advice or past experience would be greatly appreciated.


             Pete.
1969 Fairlane Cobra formal roof drag pack
1968 Shelby GT500KR
6F08A-GT,a/c,4-sp.,ps,build date 16A. DSO 24 Jacksonville

Offline Armond

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Re: 1969 Mach 1 grille surround
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2017, 04:49:31 PM »
Those moldings were installed before the headlight bucket was mounted to the fender.  I have never tried to R&R them with the buckets still attached to the fenders.  I don't think to do it properly, it would be possible.  Good Luck!
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Offline CCP

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Re: 1969 Mach 1 grille surround
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2017, 11:07:51 AM »
Hmm..ok thanks. Next question; is removing the headlight buckets a big job? LOL.
1969 Fairlane Cobra formal roof drag pack
1968 Shelby GT500KR
6F08A-GT,a/c,4-sp.,ps,build date 16A. DSO 24 Jacksonville

Offline J_Speegle

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Re: 1969 Mach 1 grille surround
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2017, 04:58:58 PM »
Hmm..ok thanks. Next question; is removing the headlight buckets a big job? LOL.

If the car is completely together - I would say its a pretty involved task. Lots of things to detach, lots of things to ding into as you remove and reinstall
Jeff Speegle

Anything worth doing is worth doing concours ;)

Offline CCP

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Re: 1969 Mach 1 grille surround
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2017, 12:50:46 PM »
Got them off, what a battle. Is there a different  style clip/retainer I could substitute. A push in or similar type?
           Thanks again.


          Pete.
1969 Fairlane Cobra formal roof drag pack
1968 Shelby GT500KR
6F08A-GT,a/c,4-sp.,ps,build date 16A. DSO 24 Jacksonville

Offline J_Speegle

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Re: 1969 Mach 1 grille surround
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2017, 03:53:39 PM »
Got them off, what a battle. Is there a different  style clip/retainer I could substitute. A push in or similar type?


Don't know a direct replacement - sure there is in all the thousands of plastic ones available but you have them off now I would just go with factory and be done with it
Jeff Speegle

Anything worth doing is worth doing concours ;)

Offline dieseldave

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Re: 1969 Mach 1 grille surround
« Reply #6 on: May 20, 2017, 09:28:56 PM »
I cut down a 11/32nds deep socket to 1 7/8" long and used 1/4" drive wobble extensions. Still took me hours to install 2 nuts. I too did it on the car after the paint. I never thought to install the mouldings before installing the fenders.

Offline J_Speegle

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Re: 1969 Mach 1 grille surround
« Reply #7 on: May 20, 2017, 11:00:24 PM »
I cut down a 11/32nds deep socket to 1 7/8" long and used 1/4" drive wobble extensions. Still took me hours to install 2 nuts. I too did it on the car after the paint. I never thought to install the mouldings before installing the fenders.

Your not the only one that did it that way  ::)
Jeff Speegle

Anything worth doing is worth doing concours ;)

Offline CCP

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Re: 1969 Mach 1 grille surround
« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2017, 09:16:54 AM »
Thanks for the input guys! I already have a bunch of 'custom' tools, so what's a few more.
 Sounds like it's time consuming, but i'm sure it can be done.
1969 Fairlane Cobra formal roof drag pack
1968 Shelby GT500KR
6F08A-GT,a/c,4-sp.,ps,build date 16A. DSO 24 Jacksonville