Battery acid leak on grill.

[Michael Vogler]

Gentlemen,

Sometime during the life of my car, it’s apparent that there was a leaking battery.  Any way to remove the corrosion, such a cleaning/scrubbing with steel wool???

[Jason Edge]

0000 Steel Wool and some WD40 might lessen the contrast between corroded an the non-corroded anodized layer but once the acid has eaten through the Anodized Layer there is not much you can do.  From the pictures it looks like you have damage on the 4 horizontal slats and maybe the one for right vertical slats.  It looks like the inner C shaped chrome piece next to the fender is undamaged, and the top section of the bottom framing with the painted strip is undamaged which is good,  with damage again concentrated on the 4 horizontals and 2 vertical.  

You can take these grills apart but it is tedious at best. 

I do have a large stash of the individual horizontal and vertical slats if you wanted to take a stab at it. As a chapter member I would do 4 horizontal slats and the one vertical for $25 + s/h.

I do have one complete 64 upper grill but need to take a good hard look at it. The painted top and bottom sections need to be sanded and repainted but the main core grill assembly is probably good.  Price on these are usually $100 Good straight core grill, to $175 for complete upper grill assembly with upper and lower painted section, but the killer is shipping one of these from NC to CA. 

[Jason Edge]

The battery shield used on 1964 Cadillacs is covered in the following Help Page:
Battery Shield, (Battery Acid Radiator Support Shield, 1964 Cadilla...

[Michael Vogler]

Fortunately, I checked the car and the battery is now enclosed in a plastic container..   A little too little.  A little too late.

Jason, I think I'll give the re-lacing the grill a try (since the car will be in for painting soon, it will be a good time).    Please let me know what the shipping will costs and then I can send you the total.  Thank you.

Thanks. Mike

[Jason Edge]

Hi Mike,
I would ship in a PVC pipe to protect and can ship for $20. If interested in going that route shoot me a PayPal to [e-mail] for $45 and I will get the slats picked out and shipped.