50's GE Fridge Conversion

[countchunkula]

My Fridge looks much like this one. The problem is that ball lock kegs are too tall to fit under the icebox. Can I safely bend the icebox? Is it necessary to the function of the fridge, could I just remove it?

 

[flushdrew42]

i could be wrong, but some old, and new, fridges like that, the icebox is the cooling system, therefore cannot be removed. bending it might not be advised either, fermentation cabinet?

 

[countchunkula]

i could be wrong, but some old, and new, fridges like that, the icebox is the cooling system, therefore cannot be removed. bending it might not be advised either, fermentation cabinet?

That's what I was afraid of. I've seen similar fridges converted to kegerators, so I was hoping that I could get some advice from someone with experience with one of these.

 

[kerber]

How much clearance do you have? I had similar considerations with my rebuild. Turns out pin-lock kegs are shorter, so I picked up a couple that had been converted to use ball-lock posts.

 

[brewingmeister]

In the pic the icebox is the cooling plate. It is what cools the unit and needs to be there. There have been coils bent out of the way, however there are units that never cooled again because of a busted line. It can be done, but there is always a risk.
That icebox in the pic looks quite sturdy, hopefully yours is a little different. Minimalist bending is your friend.