54 grill on pre 54 ADs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

RivRat · 11-23-2011, 10:05 PM

what is needed to change the front end on my 1950 to have the 1954 grill.
would it just be the fenders and grill or does the hood have to be changed too.
i have always loved those grills but never liked the one piece window. Would there be a way to change the grill by just cutting the 1950 fenders. i have a great patina going and would hate to lose it.

RivRat · 11-23-2011, 10:32 PM

solidaxel · 11-23-2011, 11:03 PM

WOW, that was faster than T V time !

Thanks

RivRat · 11-23-2011, 11:19 PM

what do you think

solidaxel · 11-23-2011, 11:34 PM

Chrome the 53 grille

**jocko** · 11-24-2011, 01:57 AM

im a 54-55 grille fan personally - but your current grille matches your truck so well, I don't think I'd change a thing. I'm FAR from an expert on these, but I THINK the only mod you need to do is 54-55-specific front fenders to swap to the newer grille. I am not sure if earlier fenders could be modified to work - at a minimum, you'd need to make holes for the wiring/parking light lenses, etc - which is certainly doable, but not sure if you would have a proper fit in that area of the grille. I just don't know.

meter swinger · 11-24-2011, 02:34 AM

Goddang man that is sweeeeet. But ive always loved the 54/55.1 mouth. Do it that looks awesome.
Posted via Mobile Device

sweet70beast · 11-24-2011, 10:21 AM

You will need to switch the fenders too. If you look at the picture with the 54 grill on it you can see the 53 grill in the upper corners above the 54 grill. On 47 to 53 fenders this area is square and on 54-55.1 fenders this area is rounded. Another option is that you could weld a piece of metal in that spot to round it, since it is such a small area. Another problem with the fenders is that on the 54-55.1 grills have the park lights below the headlights and behind where these go the fender is recessed to accept these lights. It could be made to work if you wanted to cut a hole in your fenders. The hoods are the same. I wanted to do the opposite on my 54 Suburban, I wanted to use the older grill so I did a lot of checking with the parts that I have and discovered this about the fenders. It can be done but it will take some work.

Rudoo · 11-25-2011, 11:59 AM

I am new here and your post caught my eye because I just bought a 54. I looooooove your truck!!! It is exactly the look I want. I am new to trucks, so I may ask dumb questions.

Did you do the paint job?

RivRat · 11-26-2011, 05:41 PM

no that's natural patina. i was told it sat in a field for 20 years before it was built.

Dan Bowles · 11-27-2011, 10:00 AM

There are some differences on the inner fender wells on the '54s as well. Hood isn't a problem. It is only an emblem mounting scheme change that I can see. I do have someone trying to convince me otherwise but I don't believe it.

I would love to have a chrome '54-55S1 grille for my truck but haven't found a good one yet that isn't an arm and a leg. I think they look better with the one piece glass, though. My personal preference. I was raised on the '54s.

54foster · 11-27-2011, 02:37 PM

I wouldn't touch that truck! I am currently starting a build project on a 54 and there are a few differences, the hood is fine however both the fenders and the inner fenders are different. So to make it work you would have to change the front fenders or cut and piece together fenders. And I think it would take away from the look of the patina on the truck.

11-23-2011, 10:05 PM	#1
RivRat Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plano Texas Posts: 68	54 grill on pre 54 ADs what is needed to change the front end on my 1950 to have the 1954 grill. would it just be the fenders and grill or does the hood have to be changed too. i have always loved those grills but never liked the one piece window. Would there be a way to change the grill by just cutting the 1950 fenders. i have a great patina going and would hate to lose it.

11-23-2011, 10:32 PM	#2
RivRat Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plano Texas Posts: 68	Re: 54 grill on pre 54 ADs

11-23-2011, 11:03 PM	#3
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: 54 grill on pre 54 ADs WOW, that was faster than T V time ! Thanks __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

11-23-2011, 11:19 PM	#4
RivRat Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plano Texas Posts: 68	Re: 54 grill on pre 54 ADs what do you think

11-23-2011, 11:34 PM	#5
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	Re: 54 grill on pre 54 ADs Chrome the 53 grille __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

11-24-2011, 01:57 AM	#6
jocko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Godley, TX Posts: 17,975	Re: 54 grill on pre 54 ADs im a 54-55 grille fan personally - but your current grille matches your truck so well, I don't think I'd change a thing. I'm FAR from an expert on these, but I THINK the only mod you need to do is 54-55-specific front fenders to swap to the newer grille. I am not sure if earlier fenders could be modified to work - at a minimum, you'd need to make holes for the wiring/parking light lenses, etc - which is certainly doable, but not sure if you would have a proper fit in that area of the grille. I just don't know.

11-24-2011, 02:34 AM	#7
meter swinger Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Kennewick WA. Posts: 1,437	Re: 54 grill on pre 54 ADs Goddang man that is sweeeeet. But ive always loved the 54/55.1 mouth. Do it that looks awesome. Posted via Mobile Device

11-24-2011, 10:21 AM	#8
sweet70beast Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Shelley Idaho Posts: 876	Re: 54 grill on pre 54 ADs You will need to switch the fenders too. If you look at the picture with the 54 grill on it you can see the 53 grill in the upper corners above the 54 grill. On 47 to 53 fenders this area is square and on 54-55.1 fenders this area is rounded. Another option is that you could weld a piece of metal in that spot to round it, since it is such a small area. Another problem with the fenders is that on the 54-55.1 grills have the park lights below the headlights and behind where these go the fender is recessed to accept these lights. It could be made to work if you wanted to cut a hole in your fenders. The hoods are the same. I wanted to do the opposite on my 54 Suburban, I wanted to use the older grill so I did a lot of checking with the parts that I have and discovered this about the fenders. It can be done but it will take some work. __________________ 1970 Nova 327/T5 (my 1st car) 1971 K-20 350/350/205 (winter DD) 1953 GMC Suburban 1968 Chevy Bel Air 1976 Chev C-10 1972 Skylark (suncoupe) 1 of 3943 made

11-25-2011, 11:59 AM	#9
Rudoo Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Pace, FL Posts: 90	Re: 54 grill on pre 54 ADs I am new here and your post caught my eye because I just bought a 54. I looooooove your truck!!! It is exactly the look I want. I am new to trucks, so I may ask dumb questions. Did you do the paint job?

11-26-2011, 05:41 PM	#10
RivRat Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plano Texas Posts: 68	Re: 54 grill on pre 54 ADs no that's natural patina. i was told it sat in a field for 20 years before it was built.

11-27-2011, 10:00 AM	#11
Dan Bowles AD Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Blissfield, MI Posts: 822	Re: 54 grill on pre 54 ADs There are some differences on the inner fender wells on the '54s as well. Hood isn't a problem. It is only an emblem mounting scheme change that I can see. I do have someone trying to convince me otherwise but I don't believe it. I would love to have a chrome '54-55S1 grille for my truck but haven't found a good one yet that isn't an arm and a leg. I think they look better with the one piece glass, though. My personal preference. I was raised on the '54s.

11-27-2011, 02:37 PM	#12
54foster Registered User Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Trenton, Ohio Posts: 52	Re: 54 grill on pre 54 ADs I wouldn't touch that truck! I am currently starting a build project on a 54 and there are a few differences, the hood is fine however both the fenders and the inner fenders are different. So to make it work you would have to change the front fenders or cut and piece together fenders. And I think it would take away from the look of the patina on the truck.



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