The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Front Clip and AI

Please take a look at the attached file and let me know if it is correct. I am working alone so i want to be sure, this is my first ever a-temp at this.

Thanks
Shade Baby

That's the basic procedure. But you probably want to have help assembling things like the front fenders to keep from dinging up a paint job. Also, the hood alignment is critical, as you don't want it to get stuck closed when adjusting the latch (don't ask how I know this. ) You'll want to check out the Front Clip Alignment Tech Tip.
Once you have the whole thing assembled, the front clip can be removed and reinstalled as a unit to remove the engine. I've done that a couple times now. The only thing needed then is to position the fenders to line up to the hood, which can stay in place and adjustment.

Is it possible to install the completed assembly with a chain fall? Not sure where safe lift points would be. Maybe at the reinforced fender location. That’s kinda in the center?

The pick point I used is at the brackets for the firewall to inner fender support rods. That's with the radiator in place, although it would probably work without the radiator as well, since that would be pretty close to the balance point. But with a chain fall, the hood would be in the way. As mentioned, in order to remove the front clip as an assembly, you'd have to have already installed it with all the bolts loose, then adjusted for fit and tightened everything.

Am I missing something or did they intentionally Leave out of the FAM the instruction's for the grill from 1947 thru 1953? My front clip and grill component's had the U clips removed when the truck was dipped before I had gray hair! Does anyone have an exploded view showing all the detail? I am like an old truck with a weak battery. I need little push from time to time to get moving again

Thanks
Shade Baby

I'm looking at the 47-54 FAM now and there are several pages of "Grill & Radiator Sheet Metal Instruction Index"

Section 11 Sheet 2.00, 2.01

What exactly are you looking for? I'll take pictures.

Do either of these look like they show what you need?

Subsequent pages show fender skirt, header bar, fender attachment, etc.

I think I am confused because it shows a 1954 grill, I was looking for a 1950 grill with horizontal bars.
Are all the hardware and attachment points the same as the 1954 grill ? If the factory had installed U type clips for the screws I want to make sure I buy the correct amount of clips and exactly were they go. So I am not sure what where a nut and bolt or clip go. Or does it matter I see all the screws and U clips for the 54 grill on pages 2.02 and 2.03

Shade Baby

Yeah they don't seem to single out these things year to year so I assume that they're all similar to each other.

Are these the same pictures that you have in your manual?

Yep, I have hundred and hundreds of pictures of everything mechanical. From removal to tear down to restoring. I kick myself for not taking pictures of this clip. I really never thought it would take a couple of decades to back to it. I know we’re there is a 52, will go climb under it.
Thanks

Shade Baby

Unfortunately the FAM doesn't cover the earlier years (or anything about the pickup beds for that matter.) The GM documents are either lost to history or the publisher of the FAM (not GM) only collected the later drawings.
If you have the grille assembled, it's pretty evident where the connections are. IIRC there are u-nuts along the bottom edge of the grille bar to the front of the lower splash apron. There might be one u-nut on the upper edge, but I believe the grille has weld nuts for the most part. I know there are 3 weld nuts on each side of the grille that get machine thread bolts from inside each fender along the vertical edge.The two heavier tabs extending backward from the lower splash apron attach to two weld nuts on each side of the radiator support.Those bolts go thru the inner fenders.
If you disassembled the grille by drilling the tubular rivets out, there are bolt kits to replace the rivets. The bolt heads are like carriage bolts but without the square under the head. That's the way I went. Here are some pics of grille disassembly and reassembly. THIS POST shows disassembly and the notches for matching up the inner and outer grille bars. And THIS POST has a couple pics of grille assembly.
Feel free to shoot me specific questions on assembling your front clip. I put mine together on the frame with a helper. Starting with the radiator support and working out from there.

This is great, and thank you! I will surely have questions, I need to get the front clip on to see how bad the fenders fit. A local performance restoration shop replaced the entire floor, toe board, inner and out cowl panels and well let’s just say I am Gonna need some advice to correct some of this work. But I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I will be Sedona for a couple weeks. I will reach out to you guys later

Thank You

Shade Baby

I rebuilt my grille and may be able to help when you get to that point in addition to Kevin who really knows this stuff.

Putting this front clip together by yourself is like trying to keep 5 cats in a box. I laugh at myself.

Shade Baby
And Thank You

And we're laughing with you.