The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 54 grill how-to?

Already posted this in the general section and received help, notably in detail from Tim E, but was also advised to post here. So here goes, if anyone wants to add to Tim's advice.

Any tips, do's and don'ts etc., on assembling and installing a 54 1/2 ton grill to get everything right first time? (Just back from chrome.) Please no rivets--I'd prefer nuts and bolts throughout. (Know of any good non-rivet hardware kits for this application?)

Consider me deeply ignorant and unskilled but ready to jump in (yup, dangerous combo)--by comparison, Homer Simpson is up there with Jesse James. Jessica Simpson too, come to think of it. Not sure about OJ.

Thanks!

Christian

Tim E? Who he? Sorry, I meant Tim Lederman...

I went with pop rivets which are real easy to install - you can get the set up at any auto parts store. Nuts and bolts can and will eventually loosen up in this application, rivets never will. Just my $.02

Mainer54, thanks for the tip. This site is brilliant--such a mine of info. I like the sound of "real easy", it's one of my favorite phrases in any advice about truck work, but couldn't I just use nuts and bolts and thread locker? So next time some heathen backs into the grill it'll come apart easier than with rivets? (Recent heathen apologized, said he couldn't find the brake. Obviously trashing my grill wasn't his fault, then--his brake pedal had suddenly gone AWOL. I opened his door, had a look for him. No wonder he couldn't find it, it was way down in the dark on the floor by his feet.)

Anyone else have opinions on rivets v nuts and bolts? Or baler twine?

Christian

I recently rebuilt my 54 grill and learned there is a right way and a not so right way to do it.

The right way is:
1. Assemble turn signal panels to bottom panel ends.
2. Assemble middle bars to nose piece. Make sure the bars are centered vertically and laterally on the nose piece. My repro nose needed slight modifications to the holes to get things aligned.
3. Place nose/middle bar assy on bottom pan and connect middle bars to turn signal panels.
4.Position nose piece over mounting holes in bottom pan to determine alignment. This is another area where modification of the holes was needed.
5. Working from front to back, attach the nose piece to the bottom pan. After installing first two rivets (or nut/bolts) inspect alignment again. The side of the nose may need a little encouragement to come into proper alignment but be gentle or it will bend on you.
6. Attach remaining hardware for nose to bottom pan connection.
7. Install top bar to nose piece then attach the ends to the middle bars.

I purchased a 54 grill hardware kit from Chevy Duty. It includes all the necessary hardware to assemble the grill and to mount it to the truck. It includes steel rivets and stainless hardware. I recommend the rivets but if you are going to bolt it together I would suggest using the elastic stop nuts and loctite to help mitigate future problems with hardware falling off.

Good luck.
6

I bought a box of 5/16" dia x 3/4" long grade 5 bolts at the Home Depot. I also bought nuts, washers and lock washers. This hardware was used to attach the grill to the fenders and for assembling the fender skirts, brace and radiator frame. I used 1/4" bolts to attach the grill nose to the pan and middle bars.

Patience is a virtue here; especially with the bolts in the middle bar furthest from the center - someone with tiny fingers may be helpful in holding the bolts in place while the nuts are started.

Thanks guys. As a precaution I'll borrow someone's tiny-fingered child. Or a dextrous midget. Just finished prepping priming and anti-rusting all the reverse surfaces prior to assembly. Most of the paint is on our deck now but some reached its target. Some even adhered.

BTW Houston54 the text and photo documentation of your resto is awesome. Seeing yours without the front bumper made me think it's a shame 54s can't be left like that, or at least finished off with a custom roll pan--the bumperless look gives gives them some cool attitude. But leaves the grill too vulnerable I guess.

Christian