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-   -   Custom 77-80 GMC grill (https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=358469)

Pyrotechnic 08-18-2009 07:09 PM

Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
My stock grill was starting to look pretty weathered. It was all there and crack free, but it really needed to be taken out the elements and restored. My dad had the idea of buying one of these generic Chevy grills without the logo to put in the truck until we restored the original. To make it look right, we fitted a GMC logo into the center.

I still like the stock grill better, but I thought the new one turned out pretty well ? I think it will look good until we can restore the original.

Before: This was 2 years ago, before the Texas sun destroyed my paint. The grill is still mostly silver here, now it is more yellow.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/5...4324b5f7_b.jpg

After: Texas sun killed my paint. New grill.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2670/...7bac4c17_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/...674aac88_b.jpg

How does it look ?

78 Big10 454 08-18-2009 07:29 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
Pyro, I've always been a fan of the stock grills on our trucks. By the way, that's a nice lookin' ride you've got.

N2TRUX 08-18-2009 07:40 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
Looks good to me...:metal:

silvereagle07 08-18-2009 08:42 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
I like the new grille and the headlamps too.

TexasJeff 08-19-2009 06:46 AM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
Pyro, I love the look, looks almost stock and most people will never know the difference until you get the stock one restored and looking good again.
I have collected about 5 GMC grills for the 79,80 model years, trying to find a decent one. I have cut and glued really bad ones to fix okay ones, the hard part is getting paint to stick that old plastic.

JohnC 08-19-2009 08:10 AM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
I think it looks pretty good too. The GMC emblem really sets it off. It fits it pretty well. :thumbs:

Driveway Dreams 08-19-2009 01:22 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
I like the look of that even more than the original one. Are you dead set on a original resto? If not, I say keep that. It looks great! You think Texas sun kills paint jobs? Try it at a mile high or more. The suns rays kill clear coat, especially cheap ones, up here.

77BBGMC 08-19-2009 01:55 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
I have a 77 as well and was thinking about putting the Chevy grille in it, mine has a square tube chrome that was installed in 1982.

I bid on a chrome NOS grille on ebay a few weeks back and it went for more than I wanted to spend $302.50. Grille looked great. I wish somebody offered a reproduction grille on the 77-80 GMC. I've seen pictures of the one LMC offers, I'd like to see one in person to see how good it looks.

Does anybody have pictures of what the factory grille options were on the 77-80 GMC models...I've done a search with no luck.

Pyrotechnic 08-20-2009 02:29 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
Thanks to everyone for the feedback. Glad to hear that everyone likes it.


TexasJeff - Did you find a good way to get the paint to stick ? The plastic on mine is kinda rough, as if the elements were eroding it. It either needs to be sanded and smoothed, or maybe even a skim coat of body filler laid over it.

Driveway Dreams - I can believe that. I was in Colorado about a month ago and got sunburned. Caught me off guard because I usually don't get sunburned here.

77BBGMC - Don't know of any repro's of the factory grill. For 77-80 grill choices I have seen the one that you see in my first pic, and the other being the same grill with metal trim pieces stuck on the center bar. Seems like the high end Sierra Classic trim level got it.

TexasJeff 08-21-2009 06:51 AM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
Pyro, no I have not, right now mine needs painting again. I have bought some of the Krylon plastic paint to try this time, and maybe a little more prep work before I paint this time, little sanding, and lots of cleaning, hopefully that will work.

ga martin 05-24-2011 06:31 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
where id you get chey grill and especially gmc logo? had mine out painting it dropped and busted it . also how do you open hood?

78 Chevyrado 05-24-2011 09:33 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
I like it! Trying to put a bowtie on one of those grilles always looks funny, but you GMC have it lucky, as they work out MUCH better. Looks like it's supposed to be there.

motornut 05-24-2011 10:02 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
looks very nice
the newer one looks maybe a little shiney-er
before learning what "stock" really is here, i would have prob guess it for stock tho,

big10ratrod77 05-25-2011 07:47 AM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
man that a nice lookin grill ide like to find a new grill for one of my old blue trucks

Pyrotechnic 05-27-2011 03:48 AM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
Whoa I didn't even know this had been brought back to the top. Thanks for the positive feedback everyone!

Jamie McDavid 07-16-2011 09:43 AM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
Looks great man! I'm looking for a factory GMC grille like the one in your first pick for my 79 Sierra. Do you know were I could find one? Mine has about had it but I have plastic welded it to hold out until maybe I could find another like it.

sethv 07-16-2011 01:43 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
I like it!

motornut 07-18-2011 10:23 AM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
1 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by 77BBGMC (Post 3473206)
I have a 77 as well and was thinking about putting the Chevy grille in it, mine has a square tube chrome that was installed in 1982.

I bid on a chrome NOS grille on ebay a few weeks back and it went for more than I wanted to spend $302.50. Grille looked great. I wish somebody offered a reproduction grille on the 77-80 GMC. I've seen pictures of the one LMC offers, I'd like to see one in person to see how good it looks.

Does anybody have pictures of what the factory grille options were on the 77-80 GMC models...I've done a search with no luck.

found this cool pic here and it covers some differences

bwhit10 02-25-2013 05:31 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
Do they even make a repop grille for a 79 GMC or is it the same a chevy repop grills? If so, would the mounting be the same?

Gigem 02-25-2013 05:59 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
Hey, my grill/front end looks like a hybrid of 1980 and 1977-1979 to me. 1980 grill with 1977-1979 headlights... I believe these parts to all be original...

Any ideas on how to restore the "bowtie" on the grill?

http://www.gigem.com/stepside/DSCN0980.JPG

bwhit10 02-25-2013 08:01 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
There is a NOS bowtie on ebay right now.. but way expensive

Sabaka454 02-25-2013 08:04 PM

Re: Custom 77-80 GMC grill
 
Looks good although I do like the GMC grilles better especially 73-74


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