Sierra Rack Not Fitting

I don't have the experience to tell you why it isn't fitting but I can clearly see that it isn't.  I suppose your options are to drill new holes in the SM frame so that it lines up with the location of the existing holes in your deck lid. Or, you can make a stainless steel sub-frame that lines up with the current configuration of the car and then mount the SM frame to that.

 

The downside to that is the whole thing will sit up higher that it would fi installed to the car without the sub-frame.

Well, the real problem is that the CMC Hibachi grill is NOT a true, Porsche size - As you've found, it's slightly smaller.

 

The CMC Hibachi grill was one of the first things to get the boot when I was building my car - I just didn't like it and got a "real" reproduction grill for a 356-A from Stoddard's (but one from any of the other 356 vendors should work).

 

Besides being a better-quality product, all of the aftermarket luggage racks fit.

Thanks Gordon, I had a suspicion that it was only good for grilling burgers.

 

Did you have to modify the deck lid opening to accommodate the new grille?

Hello,

Yes, your issue is because of the CMC grill. The proper 356 grill is about 1/4 - 3/8ths of an inch wider than the CMC. To replace it, you need to cut away the existing flange/lip on the decklid. I posted pictures of this in my never ending rebuild thread.

Best of luck,
Ted

I have an AMCO rack on my CMC hibachi grill.  Of course the AMCO bolts wouldn't work.  I uses stainless steel all thread rod with SS cap nuts visible.  I covered the all thread with piece of chrome bathroom water delivery pipe from Lowes.  My pipe is probably 1/4" - yours look larger.  You could go with a smaller tube like I did or file the hibachi grill for more clearance.

 

Geez Greg.  Your car looks a tad dusty. Have you not been out recently??

Greg will finish the car, in his next life, upon reincarnation!

Takes time (not much hard work) to build that patina --- you can't buy that. 

I love the turn this thread just took.

Gregs been building his CMC since Moby Dick was a minnow ....

Mike,

 

I ran into the same situation with a rack on my CMC.  I didn't want to drill the rack so made brackets out of aluminum.  The brackets bolt through the grille to the engine lid and the rack bolts to the brackets.  Works well, and I've traveled with a packed suitcase on it several times.  Here are a few photos. 

I like Bruce's idea a lot. Totally reversible.

 

       
       

Since Regan worked with Chimps (in Hollywood, not DC)...

This is exactly what I was talking about.  Nice job making it fit Bruce.

 

Thanks for the input guys. One more ? , does anyone have a picture of the cut required to fit the original style grill and did it weaken the rigidity of the deck lid.?

Ted (TRP) had a thread on it awhile back.  It's enough that you have to rebond the rain shield around the cut.  Make sure you get the OEM grille (replica) for a Speedster/Roadster - not the coupe (as the curvature is different.

You ask and you shall receive:
https://www.speedsterowners.com...y-a-speedster?page=5

Down about 3/4 of the page...

You know when it comes to those Hibachi grills I always have to put my 2 cents in. Michael you have to choose between a luggage rack that you most likely won't ever use or something far more useful such as your Hibachi grill. Don't replace it use it for what it was originally designed for.

 

Really like Bruces 'fix' for this! Easy to remove and there are no mods that need to be done to the deck lid...great idea.

 

Bruce, is there a strap on the inside of the grille also that the upper flanges that hold the rack bolt thru? Wondering how the upper flanges bolt down

I was at a Cars & Coffee and an IM owner said he liked my hibachi grille better than his authentic one!

G.R.,

The rack bolts to the aluminum brackets - bolts go up through the brackets and nuts on top of the rack.  The brackets bolt down through the grille - bolts go down through the inside of the hood and nuts on the underside of the hood.  

Thanks Bruce, that answers my question.

Mike probably spent 6+ hours in front of crackling fire one winter polishing the rough grates on his CMC hibachi like I did.  Hours with wet-dry sand paper then more hours with jewelers rouge and finally Mother Aluminum polish.  It can be polished to look like chrome.