73 L & R Front Grill Threaded Hook & Grommet

[73tiiDavidPA]

Hello All,

 

After 30 years of ownership, I figured I would make an effort to thoroughly clean my '73tii.  Hell, it's winter and I'm procrastinating working on my '74tii project.  Anyway, beginning at the front, I decided to take off the grills and clean them and areas behind them one can't reach otherwise.  After figuring out I needed to undo the threaded button near the headlights from inside the engine compartment, the grills came off pretty easily.  It might be the first time the grills have ever been off the car (other then when the A/C was installed). 

 

So my question is what is the goop (black putty like, tacky, sort of clay-ish) stuff at the hooked end of the threaded hook (hook is # 10 on the diagram).  Is the black gooey goop stuff what remains of the grommet (number 17 on the diagram) ? 

 

Here is a shot of the two grills with the black goop

   

 

Reference from the parts manual (never knew how useful the 3 ring binder parts manual was going to be 20 years ago... 30 years ago - even with the internet today, it's my go-to)

 

description page

[esty]

i suspect that is some sort of goof a previous owner used to hold the hooks in place while they threaded the nut on

 

[RogerRamJet77]

I believe in is the deteriorated rubber grommet.

[esty]

8 minutes ago, rockyford77 said:

I believe in is the deteriorated rubber grommet.

there wasn't a rubber grommet..it's old goop

[RogerRamJet77]

Goop is what many rubber compounds turn into when they deteriorate, it’s called rubber reversion. 

 

[Einspritz]

I thought the grommet was clear plastic.

 

That looks like "dum dum" squished over to prevent rattling.

[73tiiDavidPA]

1 hour ago, esty said:

i suspect that is some sort of goof a previous owner used to hold the hooks in place while they threaded the nut on

 

Could be, I at first thought it was perhaps some sort of anti-rattle bit. The threaded hook is pretty "hooked" so I don't think there would be a problem with it staying in place.  

 

41 minutes ago, esty said:

there wasn't a rubber grommet..it's old goop

 

If there isn't a grommet, then what's #17 on the diagram?

 

[beammmer]

#17 is the clear plastic grommet used to avoid metal to metal contact, same part as used on the door internals.  

 

The "goop" looks like old strip caulk, i'm thinking Esty's original reply is correct.  Next time my grills are removed strip caulk will be used, it's not the easiest thing to get the hooks through the body while hooked to the grill.

 

Don

2 hours ago, esty said:

i suspect that is some sort of goof a previous owner used to hold the hooks in place while they threaded the nut on

 

 

[dlacey]

There was a white/clear plastic grommet in that hole and the J hook fitted snugly when new... it needs to be snug as that J hook needs to stand erect on its own so that you can guide it into the hole (fnarr fnarr) in the front panel.  That goop has been added as some automotive viagra to get the J hook to stand to attention even when the grommet is lost or disintegrating.

 

[jp5Touring]

I've replaced these parts and there is a clear grommet.  The grommet held things in place to install the knob.

It's pretty  straight forward install , just need a soft touch and a little patience. 

All the parts are still available .

[73tiiDavidPA]

2 hours ago, beammmer said:

#17 is the clear plastic grommet used to avoid metal to metal contact, same part as used on the door internals.  

 

The "goop" looks like old strip caulk, i'm thinking Esty's original reply is correct.  Next time my grills are removed strip caulk will be used, it's not the easiest thing to get the hooks through the body while hooked to the grill.

 

Good to know these things (this board is ever so helpful).  If I have problems with the re-assembly (same as dis-assembly in reverse - lol) I might use this trick.  I might have to because there may be some extra angling / twisting as I plan to install fog light brackets that the grills will need to twist over.  

 

[Son of Marty]

Try rubbing some perfin wax on the hook threads as thy tend to  grab on the plastic thumb screw.

[esty]

use blue painters masking tape to hold the hood threads at attention...it's easy to remove

 

[ray_]

I've seen those hooks purposely bent to remain in place. 

 

They don't seem to break from that tweak.

 

Cheers,

 

(mine are in an envelope somewhere)

[jimk]

I leave the hook/thumb nut in the car and hook it in the grill as the grill is put in place, then tighten the thumb nut.  The grommets have been gone for eons.