1970 GM inner grille (the last one ?) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

CaptRMW · 02-20-2011, 11:12 AM

I saw a recent thread discussing when GM quit making 1970 inner grilles and started selling 1969 inner grilles for both '69 and '70 models. I bought a 1970 grille in "about 1990" (the memory is the second thing to go

) and expected to see a shipping date or something to give us a clue but I only see a label printing date of 7/87. According to the label there are no surpluses on this part so you GM parts experts jump in here and decipher this..Thanks, Roger

**oldgold70c10** · 02-20-2011, 11:22 AM

Its my understanding that the inner grill sold now is actually the 1970 piece, but it is painted like the 1969 inner grill.

71 super · 02-20-2011, 11:26 AM

Old gold is correct, the grill sold now is the 70 however the black verticles are not painted which allows the grill to be used for a 69 as well. The cut outs are in place however for the 70 black verticles and only require you to tape and paint in a semi flat black to be correct.

CaptRMW · 02-20-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71 super

Old gold is correct, the grill sold now is the 70 however the black verticles are not painted which allows the grill to be used for a 69 as well. The cut outs are in place however for the 70 black verticles and only require you to tape and paint in a semi flat black to be correct.

I just bought a repop inner grille from another member that came from Classic Muscle - Modern Chevrolet with NO cutouts., a real pain in the shorts to layout and paint ( at least a 6 pack job) but gottter done

**special-K** · 02-20-2011, 12:02 PM

From what I've seen,it's the true '69 grille you can't get and all the reproductions are '70 style. That grille is the proper GM piece with the raised ribs accented in silver. No surpluses refers to that one warehouse location. I have had many parts ordered with that printed on it. Pretty much all N.O.S. trim was depleted by the early '90s. By then the large outfits like Golden State Pickup Parts had bought up old stocks on trim and sheetmetal. Reproduction had taken off,with GM licensing, and GM decided to get into the reproduction market with the same parts they licensed to be made overseas. It was known as GM Restoration Parts and these parts are no more N.O.S. than anything sold by other vendors.

71 super · 02-20-2011, 12:44 PM

My reference was to the actual GM part, the repops I have no experience with. Typically Modern keeps good stuff, as I use them regularly simply due to being able to have it the next day.

**Dave** · 02-21-2011, 10:46 AM

The date 7/87 is when the label itself was printed wthout any info on it. The true date of the GM label packaging is: 78J8 and decodes this way:
78 is the code for the warehouse location closest to the dealer that has the part.
J is the month, which is Oct.
8 is the last number in the year, which is 1988.

The tag with the dealership address on it would have been placed on the box by a warehouse employee and has a date on it of 10/27. So, this item left the warehouse on 10/27/1988.

No surplus location at one time used to mean that when the warehouse exhausted the stock of that particular item, GM would then try to fill the order from another warehouse that would have the part. If GM was unable to fill the order, they would then look at how many back orders are in the system and make a decision with the vendor to either to remanufacture the item or discontinued it.

CaptRMW · 02-21-2011, 02:10 PM

Wow am I glad they didn't just put October 1988 on there because the enemy could have gotten that top secret info and probably sold it to China

**Dave** · 02-21-2011, 02:38 PM

I agree. One would have thought there was easier way, for sure.

BTW 78 is no longer listed as a warehousing/distribution location.

Inefficiency perhaps?

VA72C10 · 02-21-2011, 02:45 PM

CaptRMW...even though the repros are in fact 70's, I'm sure your inner is worth quite a bit as a true GM NOS...

02-20-2011, 11:12 AM	#1
CaptRMW Custom Sport W/T Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Tarpon Springs,Fl & Annapolis,Md. ....................Quaint drinking villages with a fishing problem Posts: 898	1970 GM inner grille (the last one ?) I saw a recent thread discussing when GM quit making 1970 inner grilles and started selling 1969 inner grilles for both '69 and '70 models. I bought a 1970 grille in "about 1990" (the memory is the second thing to go ) and expected to see a shipping date or something to give us a clue but I only see a label printing date of 7/87. According to the label there are no surpluses on this part so you GM parts experts jump in here and decipher this..Thanks, Roger Attached Images

02-20-2011, 11:22 AM	#2
oldgold70c10 Who's got steelies? Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Morrison, Oklahoma Posts: 1,026	Re: 1970 GM inner grille (the last one ?) Its my understanding that the inner grill sold now is actually the 1970 piece, but it is painted like the 1969 inner grill. __________________ 1969 C10 LWB W/ 250 I6 & 3spd 1970 C10 with '67 small window cab, 68 front end, blue; 305/TH350, 3.08 limited slip rear end, manual brakes, power steering; & 4-wheel drums-My daily driver. 1975 Chevelle Malibu Classic Coupe 350/th350 mint green 1970 C20 Suburban 350/700R4 4.10 gearing green & white 1978 Big 10 Silverado 350/th350, working ac, 2 tone blue-My summer daily driver 1983 GMC 1500 Sierra 305/SM465 2.73 rear end How to add a trip odometer to your 67-72 stock speedometer How to rebuild your Q-Jet My Truck Page My Youtube Channel

02-20-2011, 11:26 AM	#3
71 super Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canton North carolina Posts: 3,080	Re: 1970 GM inner grille (the last one ?) Old gold is correct, the grill sold now is the 70 however the black verticles are not painted which allows the grill to be used for a 69 as well. The cut outs are in place however for the 70 black verticles and only require you to tape and paint in a semi flat black to be correct. __________________ 67 blue step side- bb 68 gold and white swb cst anniversary 68 custom swb hot rod Ls swap 69 swb cst 6 cylinder/ overdrive 69 black/black cst bb swb 70 orange and white cst Canada built truck swb bb 71 black and white super swb bb 71 red and white super swb 72 green and white super swb 4x4 62 nova wagon 400 series Ls swapped 68 Camaro 327/4 speed- 1 owner, original paint 66 Volkswagen bettle 69 auto stick Volkswagen Beetle

02-20-2011, 12:02 PM	#5
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,852	Re: 1970 GM inner grille (the last one ?) From what I've seen,it's the true '69 grille you can't get and all the reproductions are '70 style. That grille is the proper GM piece with the raised ribs accented in silver. No surpluses refers to that one warehouse location. I have had many parts ordered with that printed on it. Pretty much all N.O.S. trim was depleted by the early '90s. By then the large outfits like Golden State Pickup Parts had bought up old stocks on trim and sheetmetal. Reproduction had taken off,with GM licensing, and GM decided to get into the reproduction market with the same parts they licensed to be made overseas. It was known as GM Restoration Parts and these parts are no more N.O.S. than anything sold by other vendors. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ Last edited by special-K; 02-20-2011 at 12:04 PM.

02-20-2011, 12:44 PM	#6
71 super Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Canton North carolina Posts: 3,080	Re: 1970 GM inner grille (the last one ?) My reference was to the actual GM part, the repops I have no experience with. Typically Modern keeps good stuff, as I use them regularly simply due to being able to have it the next day. __________________ 67 blue step side- bb 68 gold and white swb cst anniversary 68 custom swb hot rod Ls swap 69 swb cst 6 cylinder/ overdrive 69 black/black cst bb swb 70 orange and white cst Canada built truck swb bb 71 black and white super swb bb 71 red and white super swb 72 green and white super swb 4x4 62 nova wagon 400 series Ls swapped 68 Camaro 327/4 speed- 1 owner, original paint 66 Volkswagen bettle 69 auto stick Volkswagen Beetle

02-21-2011, 10:46 AM	#7
Dave DND Trucks Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 2,397	Re: 1970 GM inner grille (the last one ?) The date 7/87 is when the label itself was printed wthout any info on it. The true date of the GM label packaging is: 78J8 and decodes this way: 78 is the code for the warehouse location closest to the dealer that has the part. J is the month, which is Oct. 8 is the last number in the year, which is 1988. The tag with the dealership address on it would have been placed on the box by a warehouse employee and has a date on it of 10/27. So, this item left the warehouse on 10/27/1988. No surplus location at one time used to mean that when the warehouse exhausted the stock of that particular item, GM would then try to fill the order from another warehouse that would have the part. If GM was unable to fill the order, they would then look at how many back orders are in the system and make a decision with the vendor to either to remanufacture the item or discontinued it. Last edited by Dave; 02-21-2011 at 10:46 AM.

02-21-2011, 02:10 PM	#8
CaptRMW Custom Sport W/T Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Tarpon Springs,Fl & Annapolis,Md. ....................Quaint drinking villages with a fishing problem Posts: 898	Re: 1970 GM inner grille (the last one ?) Wow am I glad they didn't just put October 1988 on there because the enemy could have gotten that top secret info and probably sold it to China

02-21-2011, 02:38 PM	#9
Dave DND Trucks Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 2,397	Re: 1970 GM inner grille (the last one ?) I agree. One would have thought there was easier way, for sure. BTW 78 is no longer listed as a warehousing/distribution location. Inefficiency perhaps?

02-21-2011, 02:45 PM	#10
VA72C10 VA72C10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 25,269	Re: 1970 GM inner grille (the last one ?) CaptRMW...even though the repros are in fact 70's, I'm sure your inner is worth quite a bit as a true GM NOS... __________________ Looking for a 67-72 swb or blazer project in or around VA.

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