Pre '54 grille in a 1st series 55? Anyone?

[NEWFISHER]

I searched, but came up empty handed. My question is on a 55 1st series truck that should have the 54 style grille, can you bolt in the earlier 47-53 style grill directly or modify holes? Are the fender lips different etc. Anyone have pics of a 54 front end without the grille mounted? Thanks

[PurdueSD]

Front fenders are different. They have embossed areas for the turn signals. The 54 grill looks better anyways!

(On a side note... That shipping label you sent me says ship to: your address not sids, is that what you want?)

[NEWFISHER]

PM'ed you

[NEWFISHER]

I , like most of us guys, keep looking for other trucks and found a 55 1st series, but no grille. Comes with a early style. I suppose I could sell the grille and try to find a decent used one?

[Kabwe]

Here is a pic of a 54 without the grille installed that you asked for.



Here is a pic of the earlier model without the grille installed

[NEWFISHER]

Oh DANG! Thanks KaBwe for the pic, too much to fill. Looks like Im biting the bullet if I get the truck and getting the 54 assembly ( holy cats they are expensive!)

[wood1]

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

I , like most of us guys, keep looking for other trucks and found a 55 1st series, but no grille. Comes with a early style. I suppose I could sell the grille and try to find a decent used one?

Cool !! Yes they are different. I just gave one to a buddy at work that has a '54 and it was in really good condition. Had it from a '49 parts truck I had and that truck came with some misc. parts from a '55.1, grille, front splash apron, emblems, interior parts, etc.
Also, the front splash apron(bumper to grille) is different in case you don't have one and side emblems are 1 year only - but they('47-'55.1) all had the same stud pattern I believe. Any swap meets in your area left this year?? Someone may have one.

[solidaxel]

YES I like the early grille on the 54 55 also.
We replaced the whole dog house because it was less time to repair a damaged right front fender and 54 grille.
I did not pay attention to what was different

[_Ogre]

the 54 grill is a pretty good looking grill
sort of gmc-ish

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

the 54 grill is a pretty good looking grill
sort of gmc-ish

I agree that it is a nice looking grille but I have to admit it grew on me.

[Hot Rod Todd]

Mine is done the other way: a 54 grill on a 47-53 cab. Most simply assume its a 54 cab, and even the "experts" (other truck owners) really have to look to notice its not from the factory that way.

I like the early grill and my wife likes the late model one, so you can figure who got her way in that discussion.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

I agree that it is a nice looking grille but I have to admit it grew on me.

shazam! kabwe, the yellow truck sealed the deal
i'm not sure i've ever seen a 54-55 grill or thought it was a gmc on a chevy truck

[98layinframe]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

YES I like the early grille on the 54 55 also.
We replaced the whole dog house because it was less time to repair a damaged right front fender and 54 grille.
I did not pay attention to what was different

Thats the exact look I want for mine. Love the older grills... but I really want the 54 one piece windshield.
Posted via Mobile Device

[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by 98layinframe

Thats the exact look I want for mine. Love the older grills... but I really want the 54 one piece windshield.
Posted via Mobile Device

I may have a grille to trade you

[98layinframe]

Sorry, I ment I'm looking for a 54 cab to use, mine is a 51 cab. I want to graft the one piece curved windshield onto my cab.
Posted via Mobile Device

[NEWFISHER]

Originally Posted by 98layinframe

Sorry, I ment I'm looking for a 54 cab to use, mine is a 51 cab. I want to graft the one piece curved windshield onto my cab.
Posted via Mobile Device

I think there is a glass supplier that does a 53 and earlier one piece. I have seen them and they look pretty good. The center section has kind of a "kink" in the middle where the traditional 2 piece style would meet. Mabey someone with a little more knowledge will chime in.

[mr48chev]

That's not going to be an easy swap by any stretch of the imagination. You would probably end up changing the whole top of the cowl and the roof to do it right without a lot of fitment problems that would be created by cutting out the windshield areas and doing the swap. That could be done but your profanity vocabulary may increase tenfold. If it were me I'd swap cabs and if I wanted to maintain the 47/53 dash I'd figure where I could cut and blend the dashes to fit the earlier dash in.

I've got a left front fender in the shed that I thought was a 54 fender until I finally figured out that it must be a GMC fender with the indent to clear the park light.

[98layinframe]

Id love to just get a 54 cab and then maybe cut out and switch dashes... but yeah yet another joy of living in the rust belt, these trucks are getting extremely hard to find that arent completely rotted out. The truck I bought spent the first 20 years of its life in calli, then the rest sitting in a garage so its incredibly clean and rust free. So even though its a dream to swap out the 54 windshield, I'll probably just end up buying a one piece glass for my 51 cab.
Posted via Mobile Device

[xpickup]

98layinframe, it is a shame or not really that your cab is in good shape or we could swap. I have a 54 cab but it needs all the usaul panels.

Shannon

[98layinframe]

Ya wanna sell the cab?
Posted via Mobile Device

[xpickup]

98layinframe, no , not really. I have all the parts for a whole other project. 350/700r, going to be bagged S10 frame and as always will have a lot of custom metal work. So I need a cab. Just does not matter what year. As I like them all.

Shannon

[NEWFISHER]

98layinframe and Xpickup: You guys are pretty close to each other. You should do a "CAB SWAP" thread!

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by 98layinframe

Ya wanna sell the cab?
Posted via Mobile Device

How about this rust free cab................ and everything attached to it, it could be yours, and it is all finished !!!

[98layinframe]

Love to! But I'm sure I couldnt afford it.
Posted via Mobile Device

[xpickup]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

How about this rust free cab................ and everything attached to it, it could be yours, and it is all finished !!!

That is funny! Good one solidaxel.

Shannon