While Joey Ciolino Works his welding magic to make the frame on this classic Performer rock solid I’ve been cleaning the lid, gas assist cover and bottom rack.
First hit the lid with some dawn and 000 steel wool.
Before and After-
The Lid Vent Is Pretty Sweet Now-
The Gas Assist Cover Shined Up Nice With A Scotch Brite Pad
And Lastly The Bottom Grill Rack Buffed and Cleaned
Got that last nut and the base is secure. Can’t figure out what this wire rod goes to but it did come in handy this morning. I placed the top part of the frame on top of the base to see how it lined up and hooked up the 5lb propane tank to try it out. First ten clicks nothing but I did smell propane. So I stuck the wire rod into the burner tube thinking maybe there was an obstruction, twirling it around a bit. After that, success!
My buddy Joey Ciolino who is a master welder picked her up to secure the top of the frame to the base. I’m excited to see his work!
Last night Super K and I chowed down on some Atomic Buffalo Turds made on the 2010 AD Code Performer-
Setting up to be able to work upright
The plan-
First need to remove the rusted off bolts that secured the Performer’s horizontal cross brace square tubes. Sprayed them with WD-40, put a vice grip on the rusted bolt and another on the nut and with a little pressure they snapped right off, all four of them.
A photo to remember exactly where the Gas assist tank holder goes before I disassemble it.
For anyone that wold rather replace the bolts with more original starnuts and a bolt, the one that came on the Performer originally is 2 inches.
As I decided to run a threaded rod all the way through the square cross-brace tube and the holes where the bolts I removed was located and then cap the rod off with an acorn nut. Here was the hardware from Ace Hometown Hardware store, Gloucester MA.
4 acorn nuts, 8 nuts to secure the washers inside the square tube and 4 washers which were the diameter of the inside of the tube to hold it in place.
So I get to the last nut, 8th out of 8, 7 went on flawlessly and were all adjusted to right where I wanted them on the threaded rod. Wouldn’t you know that last nut wouldn’t go on. So I put the vice grips to it and it wasn’t til I got about an inch on that I realized that I stripped the thread and there would be no way the acorn nut would screw on. So back to the hardware store for a new rod and a three extra nuts (for insurance). the rod was only $2.39 at the Building Center Gloucester MA. I needed two nuts to finish securing the bottom of the frame. I could only get two of them on and I wasn’t about to strip another rod so I’ll have to wait til i get out of work to get a nut that fits. The nuts must be mixed with different threads. Driving me nuts.
So here it is, installed. I used one of the original washers from the Performer just before the acorn nut. On the other side I had to cut off about an inch from the rod but now the frame is much more stable. Hopefully I get out of work in time to grab another nut to finish off this part of the project. Next up having my buddy Joe Ciolino tack weld the top part of the frame to the vertical supports on the bottom of the frame.
So here she sits, uncleaned but with reattached horizontal cross tubes on the bottom of the frame (minus that one damn nut).
Other than the cracked table I knew this Performer had good bones. She was pretty much scratch free, the bowl was regularly cleaned by the previous owner but she just needed to be scraped down and buffed up.
Before and after pics-
There was a little bit of surface rust on the wire shelf on the bottom . When I was at the owners house I scratched at it with my fingernail and saw that it came right off so I knew it would clean up nicely. The broken table surface was a bit of a concern but I knew where I could get one.
Will you look at the inside of that bowl shine after an hour or so with the razor scraper and steel wool?
After cleaning the bowl thoroughly, the lid got some love with some steel wool and soapy water. Just like new! Before and after-
The lid vent was a little dirty but again some dish soap on the steel wool did the trick-
Thanks to Weber Kettle Club Forum Member @TheDude for suggesting CLR cleaner to knock off the surface rust on the bottom wire rack shelf. Again, just like new before and after-
Big time thanks to all the Weber Kettle Club Members that have helped with suggestions and information. This is a really fun group of people and make the hobby so enjoyable.
She’s got a cracked table which I’ll have to replace, a little dusty and just a tiny bit of surface rust that I’m confident will come off with some elbow grease, thanks to Weber Kettle Club Forum Member @TheDude ‘s suggestion of using CLR to knock off that surface rust. I drove an hour and a half away to Rescue her.
The bowl, lid and grates are in excellent shape and with a little elbow grease they’ll shine up nicely. The ash sweeps turn freely and the ash pan is free of pitting.
There’s really not a ton to do other than clean her up and replace the table. This is a $450 grill brand new. With a couple hours of work I can’t wait to shine her up!
This green SS Performer find is in great shape except for the ash pan assembly. Everything else I believe can be buffed up to look like new. I bought it with the intention that if my buddies Craig Kimberley or James Eves didn’t want it I was going to keep it for myself. But I could not, in good conscious let it sit there and sell to someone who would not appreciate it. I was secretly hoping neither of them really wanted it so I could keep it for myself but James jumped at the chance and he will be doing the restore. He promises to send in pics of the project.
The Bowl and lid were in excellent shape. The stainless will clean up beautifully with a little bartenders keeper. The frame solid.
I would replace the bolts with stainless but I’m not sure it’s necessary. The only bad spot are the arms on the ash pan assembly that are rusted.
I’m going to ask my friends at the Webber Kettle Club Forums for suggestions.
Northeast BBQ 