Hello guys, the motor is ok now but here is something else.... the front grill... It does not fit ! I bought the aftermarket chrome grill from our host and the holes are not at thesame part of the grill.When i bold the old lamp brakkets on the lamps don't fit like it must be,not centered. When i put it at the front from the Chevy those holes are also not correct so i can't bold it on,there is approx. 1 inch to short ! You can't change the lamp brakkets,the 1 is the left the other 1 the right. --- Now i made some new holes in the grill,the lamp brakket at the left is ok,the lamp and bezel fits perfect.The right side does not,the lamp is to high so i cant get the bezel on it.I tried everything. --- The big problem is also the difference at the back of the grill when i want to bold it at the front of the Chevy,the holes to put the screw in are ok but there is approx.1.5 inch space between the lampbrakket and the front (the side where you put the 2 screws)the middle 1 is ok. --- Some tips ? Not easy to put this on the forum without seeing the problem i know,meaby someone had this problem also ? The old grill was fitted perfect on the Chevy but is not nice anymore to leave it. Thanks !
That grill looks like a different model of grill than the old one,could be way it not lining up right.
The aftermarket reproduction grills are not perfect. ( ask me how I know ! ) I needed to use longer bolts with spacers on the lowest bolt holes to get it to sit level. I also needed to drill out the mounting brackets to line up with the holes on the new grill. It's all part of getting off-shore parts to work on on-shore vehicles. Val
Thanks for the answer Val,i tought it was me dooing something wrong...and that was normaly the easy part of the restoration Good i tested it before the paint job..all the paint at the front was gone if i did not... The extra large bolts i need also,then it's ok. Just the right bracket ,lamp and bezel are not ok yet but that will be ok in a short period of time,there is some more drilling to do When you put the old and the new grill near each other,the old grill is approx. 1 inch longer ! Just like you told me....those made in Thailand parts Johan
"Just the right bracket ,lamp and bezel are not ok ..." It was the same on mine... By the way, the "off-shore" comment was not directed at our friends in Europe. ( except maybe the French! ) Val
You will have the same problem with a grille from a donor truck. I am installing a grille from one donor truck onto a grille support from another donor truck, only to have the same struggles. I found installing the grille onto the grille support, prior to installing the grille support to the radiator support is easier than installing the grille onto the grille support after the grille support is installed onto the radiator support. With a little persuasion and a bit of flexing, I was able to loosely install all six bolts through the grille support into the grille. Once all the bolts were started, I was able to tighten them, securing the grille to the grille support. The grille mounting brackets can be removed from the grille by grinding off the rivets. There are four on each end. This will allow you to clean and paint the mounting brackets, prior to assembly. Make a mental note of how they are installed, because three of the tabs go over the top of the mounting bracket and one of them goes under the mounting bracket. If you do this incorrectly, it will hamper the alignment of the bolts when attaching the grille to the grille support. I used 1/4" stainless steel fasteners when attaching the freshly painted mounting brackets to the grille. I hope this information is helpful.
