grille removal. ..

[draggin49]

How many bolts holding the stock 1969 c10 grille in place? I spotted the 1/2" bolts near the top/fenderwells. There is no access though to turn a wrench or get a socket on them . How.do you get those out? The matching bottom ones look more accessible and the ones connected to the hood latch mechanism look straight forward.

I have the motor/trans out, so I wanted to paint the frame, radiator support, crossmember, firewall . It was filthy and was in need of too much cleaning to do it in place, plus the truck had been sitting and it needs a lot of new gaskets, seals, and some other stuff.
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[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by draggin49

How many bolts holding the stock 1969 c10 grille in place? I spotted the 1/2" bolts near the top/fenderwells. There is no access though to turn a wrench or get a socket on them . How.do you get those out? The matching bottom ones look more accessible and the ones connected to the hood latch mechanism look straight forward.

I have the motor/trans out, so I wanted to paint the frame, radiator support, crossmember, firewall . It was filthy and was in need of too much cleaning to do it in place, plus the truck had been sitting and it needs a lot of new gaskets, seals, and some other stuff.
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I swapped my '69 grille out a few months ago. Seems like there are two bolts on the left side and two on the right. Remove the headlight trim bucket to gain easier access. You'll need to use a long socket extension, connected to an elbow joint.
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[draggin49]

Thanks ill remove the headlight bucket and get after it in the morning
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[camrycurt]

I was able to reach the top grill bolts on my '70 going down from the top with a 1/2" socket with an extension.

[msgdsrf]

I had to remove the bumper as well

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by msgdsrf

I had to remove the bumper as well

That shouldn't be necessary. I removed the new one from a truck at the junk yard. Removed my old grille, and installed the new grille... All without needing to remove the bumper
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[msgdsrf]

Wow, I can't imagine how though wish I could. It would sure be easier. There's that lip on the bottom of the grill that wouldn't clear w/o r&r bumper.

[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by msgdsrf

Wow, I can't imagine how though wish I could. It would sure be easier. There's that lip on the bottom of the grill that wouldn't clear w/o r&r bumper.

Yeah, you just sort of rotate the top of the grill forward and then pull up. Jimmy it a little and it'll come loose

[draggin49]

Thanks so much guys. Managed it without removing bumper.
Gotta pull the top of grille forward /downward .it takes a little manuevering but it makes it so the lip doesnt get hung up.

Sprayed the firewall, gonna go back out and do the crossmembers and some other items.
The motor is filthy too. I dont have a pressure washer so itll be a bit tougher but im sure its doable if I could get the inches of oil off the crossmember
LOL
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[WadmalawJoe]

Glad to see this post. One of my next projects is to pull my grille out and polish it up. I'm just not looking forward to the hours of polishing, but I am looking forward to a shiny grille!

[draggin49]

Before :
Tons of surface rust and TONS of oil

After:
Nothing special but definitely an improvement. I am cleaning up the original engine/trans.couldnt stick them in looking nice into that engine compartment.

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[Mister-B]

Originally Posted by draggin49

Before :
Tons of surface rust and TONS of oil

After:
Nothing special but definitely an improvement. I am cleaning up the original engine/trans.couldnt stick them in looking nice into that engine compartment.

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That's a good improvement. Now, just a suggestion: I'd go back now and paint your heater core and blower black, and any of the black wires you over sprayed. It'll make it look less like a high school kid getting happy with the spray paint
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[draggin49]

Hahaha I will do that.was just trying to get it covered in some paint.I dont mind going back and doing the detail stuff. My heater core/blower was grey so I didnt realize it was black originally.
I will do the touch up tomorrow and get it all dialed in.
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