Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

I've been throwing this idea around for a while and decided I want a grill guard. I was just wondering if anybody built their own or had them done. And some ideas would be great!
Thanks on advanced.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

I saw this one on the forums a while ago. I don't remember who's it was but I really liked it. I had to save the screen shot for when I get around to designing one.
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Hmm that actually looks pretty cool. I talked my wife into one but brakes come first lol

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

yes if the brakes work a grille guard is less of a necessity...

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

I always built my own back when I was 4-wheeling. I made them to look like the brush guards sold by various companies. Those had two cross pipes and I added a third at the bottom between the tow hooks so the sides wouldn't fold in. I also used the next size up pipe (can't recall...2.5"?). Their sides were 1/4" and I used 3/8". And throes came to the top of the grille and mine came to the center. There was only enough room for rectangle lights on mine.

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Lol volks I feel the same but like the idea of both.

Special how did you map/design them first? Did you just look at the pic and go for it?

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

I thought the dealer installed grille guards looked pretty neat, they don't look to hard to fabricate eather
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Black you got a pic?
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Here's a couple
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

I really like that style! What else was available back then?
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Agreed. They don't look to harf to make.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

I might need one of those! A dog ran out in front of my Honda Accord last year and it took out half my front end! Thank God for full coverage!

I'd hate to see my '72 even scratched.

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

^^^ ya unfortunately hondas seem to crunch easy. A lot of plastics
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

On the ones I'd make,yeah I just modeled them off of pictures. We used to fab our bumpers,too. But,later,once I had 4wds I was easier on that I wanted to have a cleaner factory look I'd make them to fit the factory bumper. That was trial and error to fit. I'd use cardboard/poster board to make scribe a pattern. There's a tool with a hundred pins (approx) that you can use to copy contours,also. You just push it into the object and the pins take on the shape of that object. Then you trace that onto cardboard/poster board,then trace that onto steel. We didn't have plasma cutters or mig welders back then. That would make it so much easier.

This was the first one,made pretty much the same as a House Of Steel one:

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Special k you really do a good job on fabrication. I think I've seen a few of your bumpers from other threads.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

So were these made by GM?
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

not made by GM

Attachment 1131911

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Id love to see a video of someone making these things. I might try to find something on youtube.

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

They were to my knowledge dealer installed but I'm not quite sure 100%
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Whoops I was wrong... They were factory not dealer installed
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

They were also available thru the dealer along with another style....both manufactured by the Luverne Company and came in Chevy and GMC versions. I have all of them along with some old Hickey and Smitty Bilt push bars, Ill try and dig them out for some pics when it cools down here.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Hey thanks blazer man!
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Got a chance to pull out a few today, this should give you guys some ideas if you decide to build your own.

Chevy dealer accessory Luvern brush guard.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ps99f07abe.jpg

GMC dealer accessory Luverne brush guard
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psad9bbacf.jpg

Smittybilt push bar
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psfeeb7abc.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...pse726661d.jpg

Hickey push bar
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ps59e2c67a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ps61dd635e.jpg
Optional Hickey push bumpers
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...psf20f283e.jpg
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Push bar made from factory original brush guard.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ps5f500fcd.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ps934b9de1.jpg

Smash Hit grill guard

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...parts002-1.jpg
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Hey thanks the pics look great. I like the push bars the best.
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

I bought a Luverne brush guard from a forum member last year but I haven't decided to put it on yet. If I do, it will be to prevent a dog or deer impact shattering my grill.

The until STILL has the original "Luverne" sticker on it!

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Not built by me, came with the truck when I got it. Rear bumper matches, and I like the look.

I'm thinking about some modifications on the bumper (remove the old winch, mount a new winch inside, trim the back to move the whole bumper back and conform better to the shape of the grill and fenders, maybe add a few lights).

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

See I'd love something like that!

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Does anyone have one of these style brush guards? If so what size is the flat bar it's made out of?

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

its been some years but do you have any of those guards still available?

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

I bought two from this forum so they are still available. Just watch the ads, jump when you see one you like.

I had the first shipped (no box) and the second I drove up and bought in person. I think the first is 3/16 inch thick.

If one can weld, I am sure they could make one.

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

I recently received a welder from my wife for a anniversary gift. I've been building things and repairing things ever since I got it. I'm hoping once I move to a bigger garage I'll be able to start welding on my truck and this will be one of the projects.

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

randy500 built a nice one for a GMC, Im sure it could be modified a touch for Chevy if a person wanted. Here is the thread ...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=783837&page=2

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Funny, but to me the terminology here is flipped. I consider the Luverne/GM acc'y guards to be grille guards because they guard the whole grille and are lighter duty to guard against brush that can get right stout. This is what I thought was meant in the title of the thread. The other type I consider a brush guard because they are tough enough to go plowing trees over w/o damage to them. Extensions were available to cover around the headlights. I recall the basic one called push bars and with the extensions they were brush guards (wouldn't want to go pushing over brush w/ only the center protected). We used to make our own. They are so simple. Just two side plates with a few tubes welded between. Yeah, more to it like cutting the shape & the bumper profile out, as well as a way to attach to frame. The store boughts were 1/4" plate with two thin wall 2" tubes. We'd use 3/8" plate, schedule 40 tube (sometimes 2.5"), with a third tube across the bottom. Reason for that was you'd put tow hooks at the lower outer side plates and first time you'd go to yank someone out of the mud you'd bent the side plates in

Here's one that was on the SWB I had. Not sure if it was homemade or not. It was funky the way the side plates came up so tall, making me think homemade. But at the bumper were welded these special thick oval shaped mounting tabs to help fit the contour of the bumper

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Where I'm from most all 4x4 trucks had brush/grille guards on them back in the 70s & 80s. Around here they were always known as cattle guards and that's still what I call them except on here. I like the nostalgic farm truck look they give a truck but also I dont like covering up that classic grille. I myself have had more grilles damaged by birds than anything else.

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Yeah Rob. I stopped using them when I started treating the trucks as a specialty I wanted to see in it's full glory with no distractions... a cleaner look... and stopped bashing around off road so much. That's when I got into GM bumper guards. But I don't like those (71/72 style) on my GMC. They compete with the grille design. I have the 67-70s style I may install at the 71/72 location. I also used to always make tube bumpers, first round, then went to 2 x 6 tube.

I bought my first pair of extreme bend tow hooks off the classified section of Pickups & Panels In Print from a guy in Chicago. They were new take offs because he installed a push bar thingamajiggy... $35 shipped and he sandblasted them for me :cool:. I didn't like them being bent the same way and never used them. Still don't

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

Tim, funny you say that about the extremes bent the same direction. I had two sets of hooks given to me in the early 90's, one extremes one regular. I used the regulars right away and threw the extremes in bucket thinking they where a mismatched set. I was quit thrilled to find them a few years ago and even more pleased they still had the hardware with them.

Re: Anybody build their own grill guard?
 

hello special -k. I know this is an OOOOOLD post but did you ever find anyone who was fabbing up the old school HICKEY style tube grill/brush guard ??