Grill protection - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

eedgell · 07-31-2007, 11:36 PM

Do you guys think it is worth changing the look of the truck with a grill guard to protect the front of our trucks or not? The ranch hand style is real beefy, but it sure changes the look. I like the clean factory look, but not crazy about $450 to replace just the front grill. Let alone the inserts and stuff extra. Hard core guys seem to do it any way, but what about the plain 4x4 guy?

1969k10stepside · 07-31-2007, 11:47 PM

The original dealer add on grill guards are a option..They fit and look ok since they were built for the trucks...You sometimes see them on the parts board..

CrashEd · 07-31-2007, 11:51 PM

One little slip in the mud $450 or more been there done that. I like the guards just for that reason. If you are going to play hard then your truck will always wear a few battle scares i think of them as my truck telling a story to whom ever sees it of his abusive owner.
Ed

eedgell · 08-01-2007, 12:00 AM

Dustin, do you have pics of the factory option?

1969k10stepside · 08-01-2007, 12:17 AM

They werent factory but a dealer add-on..Here is a pic of one for a 71-72
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jay_shy · 08-01-2007, 07:58 AM

Here is another pic.

**special-K** · 08-01-2007, 08:14 AM

I don`t run gaurds.The trucks look so good as they are.And,you can still get a damaged grille with a gaurd.

eedgell · 08-01-2007, 10:43 PM

Them guards, kind of look like cheese. As to the need for a guard, up here in Colorado the deer, and elk are thick at times on the road. A 400 to 800+ pound elk at even 45 mph will do alot of damage up front. I just want to protect my classic, and still look good. I really dont like the look of the guards, but I like the look of a wrinkled classic front alot less. Just thinking, thats all. Something real beefy like the ranch hand, or one like it.

**Yukon Jack** · 08-02-2007, 10:26 AM

Here are a couple of pics of the grill guard that was on my 69. I kinda liked the look before I painted the truck but it won't be going back on it now.

A little paint made it look alot better.

**Zoomad75** · 08-02-2007, 12:36 PM

I don't find any that really make a truck look better regardless of the year. They do make one look tougher, but for the most part they aren't there to make it look better. they are there for protection.

It's a tradeoff. do you want a stock look or not to have to replace the grille after going off road? granted, a lot can be prevented by sane driving off road, but nobody can predict when a deer's going to play chicken with you at 60 mph in the dark.

The old version's as shown above don't look like they offer all that much protection anyway. Look at Yukon's first pic, the gaurd itself must have been pushed back into the outer grille shell causing dents just behind the main support beams from the bumper.

If you want one for protection, you will need to search for a fab shop that will custom bumper/gaurd for your truck. I think a shop out of tennesee is one of the only ones I've seen that will do one for a 67-72. I can't remember the name though.

LawMan02 · 08-18-2007, 01:24 AM

I actually found an old Ford brush guard in our shop. I removed the middle main upright supports and cut out new supports to fit the bumper with the pto winch. I like the way it protects and looks.

vtblazer · 08-18-2007, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eedgell

A 400 to 800+ pound elk at even 45 mph will do alot of damage up front. I just want to protect my classic, and still look good. I really dont like the look of the guards, but I like the look of a wrinkled classic front alot less.

About any guard you install wouldn't withstand a hit like that anyway.

All shown with the exception of LawMan02's are merely brush guards, no real protection from a big hit.

Installing something that will protect to that degree would mean tying into the frame, the problem with that is if you have the misfortune to 'really use it', there goes the frame as well as the grill it's there to protect.

07-31-2007, 11:36 PM	#1
eedgell It's the air up here Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 710	Grill protection Do you guys think it is worth changing the look of the truck with a grill guard to protect the front of our trucks or not? The ranch hand style is real beefy, but it sure changes the look. I like the clean factory look, but not crazy about $450 to replace just the front grill. Let alone the inserts and stuff extra. Hard core guys seem to do it any way, but what about the plain 4x4 guy? __________________ 1971 cheyenne k10 4 speed np 205 454 BB factory a/c Never drink down stream of the herd! Eric

07-31-2007, 11:47 PM	#2
1969k10stepside Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 21,020	Re: Grill protection The original dealer add on grill guards are a option..They fit and look ok since they were built for the trucks...You sometimes see them on the parts board.. Last edited by 1969k10stepside; 07-31-2007 at 11:47 PM.

07-31-2007, 11:51 PM	#3
CrashEd 72 chevy Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central Il Posts: 725	Re: Grill protection One little slip in the mud $450 or more been there done that. I like the guards just for that reason. If you are going to play hard then your truck will always wear a few battle scares i think of them as my truck telling a story to whom ever sees it of his abusive owner. Ed

08-01-2007, 12:00 AM	#4
eedgell It's the air up here Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 710	Re: Grill protection Dustin, do you have pics of the factory option? __________________ 1971 cheyenne k10 4 speed np 205 454 BB factory a/c Never drink down stream of the herd! Eric

08-01-2007, 12:17 AM	#5
1969k10stepside Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 21,020	Re: Grill protection They werent factory but a dealer add-on..Here is a pic of one for a 71-72

08-01-2007, 07:58 AM	#6
jay_shy SWB 4X4 CLUB Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: PA Posts: 1,088	Re: Grill protection Here is another pic. Attached Images

08-01-2007, 08:14 AM	#7
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,862	Re: Grill protection I don`t run gaurds.The trucks look so good as they are.And,you can still get a damaged grille with a gaurd. __________________ "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 ~

08-01-2007, 10:43 PM	#8
eedgell It's the air up here Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 710	Re: Grill protection Them guards, kind of look like cheese. As to the need for a guard, up here in Colorado the deer, and elk are thick at times on the road. A 400 to 800+ pound elk at even 45 mph will do alot of damage up front. I just want to protect my classic, and still look good. I really dont like the look of the guards, but I like the look of a wrinkled classic front alot less. Just thinking, thats all. Something real beefy like the ranch hand, or one like it. __________________ 1971 cheyenne k10 4 speed np 205 454 BB factory a/c Never drink down stream of the herd! Eric

08-02-2007, 10:26 AM	#9
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,683	Re: Grill protection Here are a couple of pics of the grill guard that was on my 69. I kinda liked the look before I painted the truck but it won't be going back on it now. A little paint made it look alot better. __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

08-02-2007, 12:36 PM	#10
Zoomad75 K5Camper Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pueblo, CO Posts: 1,513	Re: Grill protection I don't find any that really make a truck look better regardless of the year. They do make one look tougher, but for the most part they aren't there to make it look better. they are there for protection. It's a tradeoff. do you want a stock look or not to have to replace the grille after going off road? granted, a lot can be prevented by sane driving off road, but nobody can predict when a deer's going to play chicken with you at 60 mph in the dark. The old version's as shown above don't look like they offer all that much protection anyway. Look at Yukon's first pic, the gaurd itself must have been pushed back into the outer grille shell causing dents just behind the main support beams from the bumper. If you want one for protection, you will need to search for a fab shop that will custom bumper/gaurd for your truck. I think a shop out of tennesee is one of the only ones I've seen that will do one for a 67-72. I can't remember the name though. __________________ Rob Z. 1975 K5 350/465/205/D44/12b 4" lift on 35's- RIP 1991 K5 8.1L/NV4500/241/D44/14b FWC Camper

08-18-2007, 01:24 AM	#11
LawMan02 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Saint Francisville, Louisiana Posts: 157	Re: Grill protection I actually found an old Ford brush guard in our shop. I removed the middle main upright supports and cut out new supports to fit the bumper with the pto winch. I like the way it protects and looks. Attached Images __________________ 1972 GMC K2500, stepside, stock 350, 4 speed. Former F/D truck with 32,000 miles, no rust. 1973 Jeep CJ 5, 304, 33's with side pipes 2008 GMC 2500HD, CC, SWB, D/A, SLT



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