1959 Imperial parts

[DonFromTexas]

My rear air conditioner air intake grille baked in the sun for 61 years and is in rough shape. I have been gluing it back together and trying to restore it, but would love to replace it with something neater. Any suggestions?

[ImperialAtom]

Could probably 3d print something if you know someone with a 3d printer. They even make metallic like plastic that looks pretty good.

[DonFromTexas]

NOW you atell me, after I sold my 3d printer last month! Only problem with that is that to my knowledge you need a perfect one to scan for the print.

[ImperialAtom]

Or just measure it and design a new one that is 95% of the way there. The 3d modeling tools are designed where you can put in measurements for objects and they should come out perfectly sized as you need them. It may not look 100% original, but pretty darn close if you work at it.

[ImperialAtom]

If you do try the 3d printer route to make this, I would recommend using the ABS plastic as it is stronger. That would be good for those thin pieces.

I got a 3d printer that might be large enough to print it, but I've never built a 3d model from scratch.

Before even trying, can you measure the longest width of that vent? That will at least tell me if it will even fit on my printer bed.

[DonFromTexas]

19.25 inch long

[ImperialAtom]

Looks like my 3d printer can go up to 12.2 inches long. Can you send me some more dimensions? I'll take a crack at one of these 3d designer tools to see what I can come up with.

[DonFromTexas]

OK, here are a couple more photos. In sitting thinking about it if you made a print of HALF of it, it could be glued together with another half to make a whole one, easy to do. Also, the holes are somewhat picky on location, so lets say to ignore ALL holes and then drill them with precision. Whadda ya think? Now of course we need a couple hundred other owners to pitch in and one one too!

[DonFromTexas]

Also, the two center bars actually run from side to side, the two vacant places are lost items.

[ImperialAtom]

Don't need a 100 people... that's the beauty of 3d printing. It doesn't cost much to make just one.