Robert,
if I remember correctly, there are supposed to be 6 or 8 metal tabs on the grill shell - each approx 1 1/4" long X 1/4" wide and they are simply bent around the grill insert. It's not a very elegant way to hold the grill in place but, that's the way the factory did it.

You should be able to tack weld or braze some strips of mild steel on the inside of the opening and then just bend these around the outside edge of the grill insert.

Jim D.

1933 and I assume 1935 were the same.

I can't say for sure Tim...the grill shells in '33, '34 & '35 were all unique to a particular year.

Jim, my 33 Hudson grille is exactly as you described. Yes, they are all a little different, but the build technique is basically the same.

Hello Jim and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.

You have become my Wikipedia on 1934 cars. An exalted position, if I say so myself.

The limited discovery I have done is consistent with what you say. So I think you must be right or close enough. Thank you for sharing. I need to extend my discovery to find out how many tabs I need to replace.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that I will need to dismount the grille surround, weld on the missing tabs, and repaint. Ugh. But that's better than not having more than a ghost of an idea what to do. I need to readjust the whole grille and hood anyway - hood sides waht to bite the surround and keep it paint-free now.

I think the factory appearance of the 1934 grille is is so graceful that it's worth the all work and disruption to re-establish it. Plus it would have to cut down on rattles. It rattles like a kid's toy now. But I'm not going to start it tomorrow. Later.

But the whole situation is better than not having more than a ghost of an idea what to do.

Confusion to the enemy !!

Robert