Steve -

I researched the cardboard radio grille screen for my '54 a few years ago. A cardboard baffle was inserted behind the dash grille at the factory. It was removed and discarded by the dealer when a radio was installed. Don't know about earlier trucks, but no wire screen or perforated plate was used in 1954. The cardboard screen is shown in a '54 dash in the Factory Assembly Manual.

Here my old post about reproducing the cardboard grille screen in my '54". Photos were linked to Photobucket and no longer are visible. I can send to you if you need them.
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=891514#Post891514

The cardboard was described in the '51 installation manual. Similar description in the '54 Accessories Installation Manual.

> 1951 Installation Radio 986515-986516: "Remove cardboard radio grille cover from inside of radio grille and discard."
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/radios/51rs/51rs06.htm

> 1951 Installation Radio 986443: "Remove the decorative plate, the two buttons from the center of the instrument panel and the black cardboard baffle from the rear side of the radio grille."
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/radios/51rs/51rs41.htm

BTW - Radios were not installed at the factory, so the plate is not a "radio-delete plate." A better term is a "radio block-out plate." Radios were installed by the dealer.

- Lonnie

- Lonnie
My '54 3104
Photos that I have shared on Stovebolt via PhotoBucket are no longer available. Please contact me if you want a photo from an old post.
lonniecook [at] aol [dot] com. I sold my '54 3104 12/12/2017, but I still visit Stovebolt.

OLD STUFF ... houses, furniture, cars, wine ... I love it all