Let’s talk front grills - 69-70 in this case

[Luke87gt]

Hi guys, couple things

My 1969 c10 currently has a front grill with a corner ding/dent. I’ve included a pic so you guys can see what I’m working with.

Looking online, these grills are not cheap, so I’d like to explore what options I have to repair (or at least improve) on the condition of my factory grill.

Also, I need to buy a replacement grill insert. I’m back and forth whether to go with silver with silver headlight bezel or black with black headlight bezel.

What do you guys think? Thank you!

[Steeveedee]

How about a silver grill and black headlight bezels?

[1970cstblazer]

Personal opinion here, but I despise the bright aluminum 1971-72 headlight doors on a 1969-70. It is a huge pet peeve. It's almost as bad as the blank reproduction 1969-70 grille shells. It screams cheap.

With damage that extreme, you will not be able to massage that back out for all of the effort to remove it from the truck. All of the aluminum repro grilles are soft and easily distort with subpar fit.

The best on the market is a chromed steel AMD brand grille shell, but people have had some issues with them.

Decent used grille shells do pop up from time to time.

On my 1970 Blazer, I went with my original plastic insert, and utilized a NOS grille shell, headlight doors, and park lamp lenses.

[Palf70Step]

I used jewelry hammer and some homemade dollys toi straighten my stuff out, then polished the clear coat them. Before you polish it's best to remove the anodized coating on the grill aluminum. Far as I know the inner grills are all gray in color, if you want black, you spray them.
https://www.amazon.com/Jewelry-Hamme...418432&sr=8-52

[HO455]

If he doesn't chime in I'd drop a line to member MP&C. He has the 55 wagon thread in the alternative tinkering section. The man is a metalworking wizard and should be able to guide you on repairs.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=564201

[MikeB]

There are very few things I actually despise. The shop that did the paint and body work for my son installed these bezels with the black inner grille. I would have gone with the OE look, but I actually think they look just fine. It's kinda like choosing paint colors and wheels. It's a personal choice, so my opinion doesn't matter unless it's my truck!

On another note, I probably would have installed 69 side mirrors.

Wasn't that long ago that I found some 35 year old parts receipts from a Chevy dealer. I paid around $140 jobber price for an inner grill in 1989! Back then I could get just about any part for the truck at the dealership.

[1970cstblazer]

Originally Posted by MikeB

On another note, I probably would have installed 69 side mirrors..

While I like the appearance of the 1967-70 OSRV mirrors, they vibrate at speed and are hard to get a clear view of what is behind you.