Well, thanks to whoever (I didn't check) posted that thing for sale on craigslist. I got the guy to meet me a little over halfway (4 1/4hrs)!
I really thought I only wanted a 48, but wasn't resigned to paying full price AND picking it up (10+ hr drive each way) which would require two days travel, tanks of fuel, and a hotel...I also couldn't stomach the freight shipping charge either, and to boot they never responded to my online questions I asked to date from three weeks ago. So, I decided to lay low and see of something used surfaced and it actually worked out great. I got something bigger for less, and it took way less effort to get it!
Now the pics. This thing wasn't in BAD shape, but it wasn't where it needed or needs to be. I do actually like the older wheels from this model year (2006).
Inside before:
I had to scrape everything out with a small flat spade. Looked like it had three years worth of grime in it. I then had a sand down and respray the firebox. As you can see it was pretty rusty...
A couple people have said that the paint is going to burn right off as soon as I cook, but we'll see. I scraped everything down with a steel brush, wiped it clean, and put on several coats of high temp grill paint. It's looking much much better. I also had to put some pb blaster on the air intakes. The rust underneath them was making it super hard to open and close them. It's already getting much better.
After pics to follow....
I really thought I only wanted a 48, but wasn't resigned to paying full price AND picking it up (10+ hr drive each way) which would require two days travel, tanks of fuel, and a hotel...I also couldn't stomach the freight shipping charge either, and to boot they never responded to my online questions I asked to date from three weeks ago. So, I decided to lay low and see of something used surfaced and it actually worked out great. I got something bigger for less, and it took way less effort to get it!
Now the pics. This thing wasn't in BAD shape, but it wasn't where it needed or needs to be. I do actually like the older wheels from this model year (2006).
Inside before:
I had to scrape everything out with a small flat spade. Looked like it had three years worth of grime in it. I then had a sand down and respray the firebox. As you can see it was pretty rusty...
A couple people have said that the paint is going to burn right off as soon as I cook, but we'll see. I scraped everything down with a steel brush, wiped it clean, and put on several coats of high temp grill paint. It's looking much much better. I also had to put some pb blaster on the air intakes. The rust underneath them was making it super hard to open and close them. It's already getting much better.
After pics to follow....