520H grill replacement?

[Torino 14]

The grill on my 520 is really bent up. I have been looking for a new hood but have not been able to get one. Can I just replace the grill part? If so how do I go about doing it?

[AMC RULES 37,127]

Not to my knowledge, I think it's all one piece of stamped steel. :scratchead:

[Kelly 1,029]

It is welded together the front and top and the stiffener bar, it can be taken apart by grinding or drilling the welds out, then welding another on, but finding another hood would be easier, if you have never done that kind of stuff, show me how bad your hood is I maybe able to tell you how to fix it, I've been doing body work near 30 years.

[TT-(Moderator) 1,131]

If you didn't already know, a hood from a 516 or 518 will also work. That might help in your search. :confusion-shrug:

[littleredrider 409]

I have a 520 hood in NY. If your ever up this way you can have it for $25 before it gets scrapped. (along with all the other stuff I have)

[Operator 7]

I have a 520 hood in NY. If your ever up this way you can have it for $25 before it gets scrapped. (along with all the other stuff I have)

DON'T SAY SCRAPPED!!!! Say stored away.

[rwilson 128]

i'll come up and give you scrap price for everything you have Red!

[Docwheelhorse 2,660]

I hate scrap too..... If your serious come up with a list and I'm sure that several guys including myself will get you respectable cash without having to see the stuff crushed or melted down.... as they say----thery aren't making anymore. I have saved two piles recently from two guys that have given up on the hobby and already have used several parts/helped out other members.

Tony

[littleredrider 409]

I did. I had a list in the classifieds and didn't even get a PM. I don't want to get rich of the stuff, but would like something for it. I don't have a lot, but it's still too much to try to remember and list what I have. I tried to sell the 1055 numerous times, here and craigslist and only thing I got was an old couple wanting to trade for an 80s Honda POS 4 wheeler. Seeing how that tractor was one year only it wouldn't be hard to sell, apparently not.

[baerpath 517]

PM sent Forgot you had the 1055 Little Red

Duane

[546cowboy 301]

Boy I really wish I was somewhere close to the east coast. I see stuff all the time I would love to have that's 1000+ miles awy from here. Everything I find around here is always 100+ miles away usually. You guys there in New England are really lucky to have those Horses all aound you.

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,300]

Boy I really wish I was somewhere close to the east coast. You guys there in New England are really lucky to have those Horses all aound you.

But we also have a huge crowd of collectors/buyers here so when a tractor shows up for sale on craigslist or E-Bay you can bet theres 20 other guys well within driving distance scoping it out.

Mike..........

[AMC RULES 37,127]

You can bet of those twenty, fifteen of 'em were CT guys that have already been there, and that tractor has been long gone too. :teasing-poke:

[Torino 14]

Got around to raking some pictures.

two

[Martin 2,131]

i think with some patience you could save that hood. it hard to tell without a side on pic how bad the damage really is. kelly is the expert and may have a different opinion. ive never had much to do with these models, but if the gauge isnt too thin, it might not be stretched too much from the impact and may come out relatively easy. if youre lucky you might even be able to get it looking better without damaging the paint too much. just dont go beating on it with a hammer without working out how to tackle it or getting some expert advise........ i would make some sort of wooden form for the back of it to push it out and back into shape. from your pic i think the worst area is going to be above the headlight closest, and to that front corner, right where that gray part of the decal is and up to the slight crease in the top front edge of the hood.

still, if you can pick another up cheap, that would be the easiest way out. keep the bent one for a rainy day metal working challenge once youve built up some metalworking skills.

im very interested to hear kellys expert opinion though. im no expert, i dont do it for a living, im only self taught and ive messed up a few things over the years, but thats how you learn. nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[Kelly 1,029]

Well I'd say look for another hood, the 520 hoods are tough, and if you have no metal working experience even tougher, but I can give you a few tips to make it look better.

First take the hood off pull the lights, I use my kids sandbox but soft dirt will work, stand the hood on it's nose, take a 2x4 with the corners rounded off and use that as a punch hit it with a 3 lb hammer don't try to move it all in one swing, move the board around the dent working it out little buy little, but I know the headlight mounts will be in the way do the best you can.

If you pick up another hood be sure the front lower is not rusted out many are.

Oh and could I fix it, probably but I've been doing this stuff near 30 years, and to tell you how in a post never, I couldn't do it, and the time needed to fix it right versus cost of a good hood, buy a hood.

Edited February 11, 2012 by Kelly

[Martin 2,131]

thats a great idea on the sand pit kelly. i know how important it is to support the back side of the area youre working on. and the sand would work great.

one thing i do when i look at whether its worth fixing something is how much is it going to cost to get another. since theres not a lot of parts around here i usually spend the time needed and try fixing it. if that hood was mine and it was here i would tackle it, rather than finding another. if im not happy with the result then at least ive tried. if i just go ahead and put out the money then i have my good hood(hopefully-if theres no rust to fix) and a bent hood that i wont throw out because 'id fix that someday'...

picking up a rust free one around here would be almost hopeless. my hoodstand was one of those situations where like you say, how much time are you going to spend fixing it, rust, broken lower mounts(all of them), too much work. thats why i got one from you, the cost was more than worth it to know it was going to take minimal work to get to paint. this also brings up another point, being able to trust who you are getting parts from, because when you get stuff shipped to you, until you receive them, you really dont know the overall condition.

and id much rather fix dents than rust........