55.2-59 attaching lower grill bar to grill ... how ?

[Iceman_70]

Truck is '56 shortbed. Trying to mount the upper and lower grill bars to my front grill. Upper is fine, but for the lower I could use some advice.

I was able to fix the upper bar with the 4 screws that go into the grill, and the 2 bolts that go in the bracket :


On the bottom side of the grill, I see the screws (red) and the brackets (green) :


But the lower filler panel only has 4 tabs (red) that somehow correspond to the screws in the grill... there is no hole (green) where the bracket is.
I say 'somehow correspond', cause when I measure, the lip of the grill (yellow in the upper picture), is pushing against the yellow line, and scratches the paint ... I would think that this lip would land between the lip and the flat area.

[57tailgater]

It's interesting as when you look at the assembly manual, it shows 6 bolts across the bottom of the grille to attach it to the filler panel. 4 using the brackets and the 2 outer using holes where you marked with green. If you look at aftermarket panels, only ones for a '57 have these outer holes (but no brackets as there are additional holes punched into the panel). I do have an original '55/56 grille and it does have the outer brackets like your grille has. Maybe someone more familiar can chime in.

[Axememan]

Hey could it be you have the lower apron is from a 57. The grills are different maybe they have different or more mounting holes. Thank you Happy truckin

[Iceman_70]

figured it out in the meantime ... only had to use the 4 bottom and 4 top screws from the grill... I got confused by the brackets...

[dsraven]

just a hint to save paint, they sell little plastic washers at the hardware store to go under the screws, then the screw heads don't dig into the paint.
57 had a different grill idea and parts of it went around the grill surround hole and sort of covered it up. the grille surround has a divet in it where the bracket screwed on.

[dsraven]

like this pic

http://coloradoguy.com/1957-chevrolet-truck/photos.htm

[dsraven]

in case somebody else is wondering, the 56 looks like this and the grill fits inside the opening.

http://coloradoguy.com/1957-chevrolet-truck/photos.htm