The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Installing new Grill

SO I installed a new grill - what a bear that is to line it all up.

One thing that helped lining up the 6 bolts that attach the sides to fenders was work a bolt backwards from the radiator bracket into the fender holes and grill to help line it up.

QUESTION: One of the chrome fins is actually touching the fender and I know it will rub off the finish once I start to drive it. Is there a way to adjust the individual rows?

Surprised no one had an answer for this??? The only thing I can figure would be to egg the mounting holes out so you could move the grill assembly ahead some. If the new grill is made like the originals they were all riveted together.

John

John, I wanted to respond but over the years I've heard the horrors of lining up fenders/grill and other components. Mm panel was torn a part before I got it and the outer cowling, inner to outer and even the inner panel replaced. I had nothing much to go by except that it ALL bolts to the radiator surround bracket and that I may have to shim it up some.

My grille also wanted to cut into the fender where the bars extend over onto the fender. I taped it off good and kept assembling stuff but leaving it all loose. In the end mine is still close but it is OK. I know of no "sure deal" for getting all of it lined up except TAKE YOUR TIME.
Hope you have good luck.

Yeah Alvin, I know what you mean. Seems to be a lot of posts on here with front end sheet metal alignment. That and doors and latches. I just hope time I weld in most of the front of the cab, the parts will somewhat align up. They wasn't originally, someone had trimmed the back of the hood to make it align with the cab..... LOL found another decent hood to replace it. Maybe if I keep reading, time I get to that point in rebuilding I'll do okay at it.
John

Once the grille is bolted in you can grab hold of the bars and pull them out/away from the fender, I've done three of them, works for me.

I found that the chinese fenders and the chinese grille do not play well together!

I have original inner fenders. Nothing lined up and ultimately the top bar
still hit the fenders.... After matching it up with the old original top bar I found
that the nice new chrome job is almost 3/4" TOO LONG. The original fits
great..... go figure.
Made me crazy!

I've yet to go through this fun, but have read these trucks were no where near the perfect fit and finish we've come to expect or demand.

When I brought my '46 home the reassembly of the front sheet metal, by the PO was way off. Since I needed to take things all apart again anyway it was ok. After disassembly down to the frame, I discovered the frame was bent in front and rear. Body shop frame straighting hopefully will help some.