Hi First time posting here. (Except for the Welcome page) I’m working on a 1948 Five window Loadmaster. I bought a pickup of the same era for some parts including the grille. I know that the hood and fenders are bigger/different, but I falsely assumed the grills were the same size. After cleaning up the donor grille I realize it’s smaller! It’s the same width and fits in OK, but it’s about 1.5 inches shorter than the original. New repop outlets don’t offer larger grilles, to my knowledge. What is everyone doing to replace the grilles on these bigger trucks? I suppose I’ll need to find a similar donor truck, or work with what I have.
Yes, the pickup grilles are smaller than the Big Bolts. You are correct that no one reproduces the Big Bolt grilles unfortunately, so finding a donor truck is the way to go.
On a good note, pretty much any of the Chevy Big Bolts 1947-53 like yours, with the exception of COE's, use the same grille. They are usually lesser in demand, so perhaps easier to find.
Best of luck in your search.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Is the picture you provided of the truck with its original grille, or with the pickup truck grille? It actually doesn't look too bad in there. Maybe you could use most of it and take one of the nicer segments from the other grille, making one franken-grille to fill the whole space.
It looks from your pictures that the big truck grille is just shorter (less high) than the smaller truck grilles. Possibly the vertical spacing between the bars is different (larger on the big truck grilles.) So grille bars are likely interchangeable. Yours look to be in great shape, so what you'd need are the end pieces and center vertical supports from a donor grille and swap over your bars to those. Shouldn't be too hard to find a grille with trashed bars where the vertical supports are OK. That or a decent complete grille.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
If you are in Brandon, you might check this guy in Wosley SK . If he doesn't have any parts, he probably knows someone who does. Looks like it's 3 hours from you.
Last edited by Gdads51; 03/24/20262:33 PM. Reason: remove tracking from FBM link
A day without laughter is a day wasted- Charlie Chaplin When wrestling a grizzly bear, you have to keep at it until the bear gets tired, not when you get tired. 1948 Chevy 2-Ton
My old chrome grille is in rough shape. The Big Bolt grille bars are bigger and the spacing is wider than the half ton. I need to focus on brakes, exhaust and tires etc. first. Pictured is the smaller/shorter replacement. It's held up in place with a 2x2. I'll either live with the gap and hide it somehow, or add a bottom bar from my old one, or get another Big Bolt grille. Might have to settle for a painted one. Original was chrome, and it's a five window.
Yes Kevinski, that is good info. I’m going the other way though. I bought a small parts truck for 2 ton cosmetic parts including the chrome grille. It’s not the end of the world, just disappointing.
Is the picture you provided of the truck with its original grille, or with the pickup truck grille? It actually doesn't look too bad in there. Maybe you could use most of it and take one of the nicer segments from the other grille, making one franken-grille to fill the whole space.
Hah... I did mock something up like that. I'm not a purist, but don't want to Frankenstein it either. Attached is a 6 bar pictured with short bar. Without it is a 2" gap below. If I went this way, I would use the longer bottom bar off the old one instead of the easier removed short top one pictured.
If you are in Brandon, you might check this guy in Wosley SK . If he doesn't have any parts, he probably knows someone who does. Looks like it's 3 hours from you.
That would work, although the lineup of the bars on each side will be a little wonky with each bar being different length, but two of them being the same. I think I can see that on the lower driver's side of your picture. Not too many might notice that though. The lowest bar is supposed to attach to the lower radiator apron.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
That would work, although the lineup of the bars on each side will be a little wonky with each bar being different length, but two of them being the same. I think I can see that on the lower driver's side of your picture. Not too many might notice that though. The lowest bar is supposed to attach to the lower radiator apron.
You are right. However the one I used for the mock-up isn't the one I would use. It's off the top of the original one. I would use the longer bottom one which is the same length as the bottom donor grille bar. It's not in great shape, but would work for a start, plus it would be partially covered.
Is the picture you provided of the truck with its original grille, or with the pickup truck grille? It actually doesn't look too bad in there. Maybe you could use most of it and take one of the nicer segments from the other grille, making one franken-grille to fill the whole space.
Franken or Frankenstein is such a harsh word. Sounds negative. I like... Altered out of Necessity, but in a Good Way.
