can you bend billet aluminum or how would i bend it

[mr mike]

Ok the new 2010 chevy camaro grill emblem i got is sold billet aluminum i was thinking it would look great on the front of the 69 c-10 but the angle is off how would i go about bending it out with out snapping in 1/2 or will it not snap just bend if you have any ideas let me know
pic to show what i am talking about

[LONGHAIR]

"Billet" in and of itself means nothing as far as bending the part. Billet is simply cut from a solid block....not a "casting".
The important thing here is the actual grade of the alloy. The higher grade alloys are "harder" and thus take to polishing much better, they also retain the polished finish much better. Unfortunately, this may also make it harder to bend.

So, after all of that, what it comes down to is....It depends.
It depends upon the alloy you have and how much you intend to bend it.

[Longhorn Man]

and, if it is a factory production piece, I highly doubt it is billit.

[mr mike]

This is the one I got its after market

http://www.latemodelrestoration.com/item/EMP-CM261P

[cdowns]

i'd take a block of rubber and shape it for a base to mount it

or you can get a very sinilar emblem that is straghter from something like an HHR

[aboveall]

bring to machine shop i had aluminum bent from them couple times they have press machines and stuff to fo that

[bigsnookmaster]

A thin relief cut on the backside would make it bend a lot easier.

[68gmsee]

My experience in bending aluminum is that it's "iffy" as mentioned above. The few times that I've tried, it developed hairline fractures on the stretched side and if I incresed the bend, it broke.

Someone mentioned taking it to a shop. That would probably be the best option. I'd take it to a shop that specialized in aluminum welding and machining. That part is too expensive to experiment on.

[mbgmike]

w/o knowing the grade and temper. If its an 1100 series with an O temper it can bend

I would put it in a press

Thinking about it however, its such a steep angle. If you were bending it more it would probably work ok. But trying to flatten it out it may not work out so good. I think the angle is too steep. I would still try and put it into a press and see what it does. If it springs back it has a high temper and won't bend. It will break. If it stays it has a lower temper, you just have to see the amount of spring to tell w/o knowing the info on it.

[mr mike]

I think you are right, its to expensive to play with. Ill take it to a shop Thanks for the info

[mbgmike]

Originally Posted by mr mike

I think you are right, its to expensive to play with. Ill take it to a shop Thanks for the info

Thats the best way and besides if it broke I would feel bad and feel obligated to replace it.

[mr mike]

lol well I wound not hold it to ya but i do thank you for all the info.