1969 Grill doesn't fit, any ideas

[BrandX]

Guys, I am at my wits end... I have my 1969 LB almost completed and cannot get the front grill to fit. I had bought a supposed "NOS" grill, it doesn't seem wide enough. Since I had my doubts about this supposed NOS grill, I tried installing my original 69 grill and same problem, it seems too narrow. The truck has a stock GM hood and aftermarket fenders. I can't bring the fenders inboard any because it is way too tight against the hood as it is. Has anybody ran into this, if so what was the remedy. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Troy

[Sheepdip]

I'm no expert and I'm not there but it appears your vertical line on your fender is curved or concaved towards the grill.
My 70 has re-pop fenders and it suffers the same fate of a tad too wide to close up the lines.

[BrandX]

Yes I noticed that too. I have looked at several pictures and have seen several 69 & 70's at car shows that have the cheaper re pop grills that don't have the lettering and they fit way better, I am assuming everyone I was looking at doesn't have the OEM fenders on it

[FirstOwner69]

How does the width of the grille bottom compare with the width between the fender "cups"? The bottom of the grille should fit snugly between the cups.

I'm not sure this will help, but here are a couple pictures of mine with OEM fenders and repop grille with letters.

[BrandX]

That is the other baffling part, I am tight on both sides at the bottom

[randy500]

Every piece should have been pre fit before primer.....

Take the tape off and post pictures
1. Hood up, picture straight down showing fender to core support fit
2. Hood gap, both sides.
3. Front shot showing fender fit to core support.
4. Front shot showing lower grill fit at fender cup

The little triangle piece on he core support is adjustable, have you tried moving it inward?
Is it a repro hood? Cowl hood?

[randy500]

Post a sideview picture of grill, does the contour match the hood? Even gap and same shape?

[BrandX]

Randy it has a GM hood, inner fenders and core support. The fenders are aftermarket

[randy500]

Ok, post the pics.

Aftermarket fenders usually fit good but need a little metal work at the front upper edge where the grill fits in the recess.
I suspect you can spread the grill but need to see how well it fits the leading edge of the hood. And i need to see the upper recess of the fender and hood to fender gap.

[randy500]

This picture shows tape where the repro fender needs the recess hammered back to get the grill to fit along the side. Hammer it back approx 3/16 and the width of the tape. This is a repro grill on an oem fender.

[randy500]

Side grill fit repro fender and grill after hammering the fender recess back.
The grill the fender gap is a little wide but even, i will probably work the front edge back a little more before final bodywork on this one.

[randy500]

The black truck is on the lift with mucho junk under it or i would take a picture of the top of the fender, where I hammered it back is hidden under the fender and will take just a skim of putty.

[randy500]

Repro grill with oem fender side fit.

[BrandX]

Here is the passenger side hood gap and front shot

[BrandX]

Here is the driver side

[randy500]

You have over 1/4” on the passenger side to close up, probably have to loosen up the rear upper fender bolts to close it up, might require shims there too.

Loosen up the triange piece on the core support to get the fender in more, it has 2 bolts facing forward and one going down, will have to loosen up or remove the 2 bolts going through the core support into the fender too.

[randy500]

You can also move he triangle piece inward and use the fender bolts to draw the fender to the drivers side if needed.

[randy500]

I can also see in the picture that the rear of the wheel opening on passenger fender is pulled in at the front...that is corrected by cutting the spot weld and re-welding it while holding the fender skin outward...its another common correction on the repro fenders.

[BrandX]

I tried what you described early on. The gap on the passenger side is 1/4" up at the very front tip but the the gap almost goes to nothing in the middle of the hood and then back to about 1/8 to 3/16 where it meets the door and cowl. The picture doesn't do the hood gap justice on size its tighter in person and had to make the hood stick up just a bit so there was clearance.

Thanks,
Troy

[randy500]

Pic of adjustment slots in triangle reinforcement piece.
The core support upper bolt hole is slotted too.

[BrandX]

I have already done that but had to move the fender and that triangular bracket outward to get more gap to get the hood to close

[randy500]

Originally Posted by BrandX

I tried what you described early on. The gap on the passenger side is 1/4" up at the very front tip but the the gap almost goes to nothing in the middle of the hood and then back to about 1/8 to 3/16 where it meets the door and cowl. The picture doesn't do the hood gap justice on size its tighter in person and had to make the hood stick up just a bit so there was clearance.

Thanks,
Troy

You cant make the grill wider....
You can bring the fender in at the front and out at the rear...which might require you to re-fit the door and cowl. Both of which can be done.

[randy500]

I usually flatten out the inner part of the fender where the grill bolts to the fender too, to make the grill fit better, or at least go in easier.

[randy500]

Post some pics of the grill fit at the front edge of the hood, does the contour match and the grill isnt tweaked?
And post a pic that represents the actual gap at the passenger front fender to hood.