67-68 Aftermarket Grill Surround Trim - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

nandress · 11-19-2006, 02:27 AM

A while back we bought a new pair of the grill surround trim pieces from LMC, and weren't expecting the tin foil crap they turned out to be. They fit around the grill openings just-ok, but they sure were flimsy and I am really surprised how much they returned to normal shape when bolted on. But the funny part is that the clip-studs telegraph through!! The photo shows just how wavy they are.

Anyway, I want to get a feel for other people's experiences with the aftermarket stuff that is available. Are the ones from LMC the same as everywhere else? Does anyone know of something better?

We are planning (later on) to take the time and spend the money to get originals straightened and plated to replace the garbage we put on. Does anyone have words of experience here, or know of a really good trim straightener who could help us out?

1BadSS · 11-19-2006, 02:35 AM

I personally cant stand LMC's parts, they're overpriced and low quality.

Sorry to hear about your luck, check out Chevy duty.

I can drive to LMC in 5mins to get my order or 30mins to Chevy Duty, and I never fail to go to Chevy duty each time.

nandress · 11-19-2006, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1BadSS

I personally cant stand LMC's parts, they're overpriced and low quality.

Sorry to hear about your luck, check out Chevy duty.

I can drive to LMC in 5mins to get my order or 30mins to Chevy Duty, and I never fail to go to Chevy duty each time.

I haven't had much bad luck with LMC's stuff... Does Chevy Duty sell something different? Sorry, but I wasn't much impressed with Chevy Duty when I stopped in there one time. Didn't find them to be any different than half a dozen other vendors out there.

1BadSS · 11-19-2006, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nandress

I haven't had much bad luck with LMC's stuff... Does Chevy Duty sell something different? Sorry, but I wasn't much impressed with Chevy Duty when I stopped in there one time. Didn't find them to be any different than half a dozen other vendors out there.

LMC is 35% more expensive than Chevy Duty along with that, they're providing poor parts, compared to any other dealer here.

krue · 11-19-2006, 03:14 AM

Check with any of the board vendors, they'll tell you what they sell. Tim Christian is a stand up guy. I've also dealt with GMCPaul. Wes at Classicheartbeat is good too.

nandress · 11-19-2006, 03:32 AM

I didn't ask this question to start a pissing match about who's the better vendor!

We all have our favorites, but the fact is that 95% of the parts are exactly the same no matter where you get them from.

What I want is experience with this specific part! (I've spent 15 years researching parts, and now I want to relax and not have to go through that motion just to get folks' opinions. In just a few minutes I find that Classic Parts--Chevy Duty--claims theirs are made from original tooling, but their photo looks a lot like the ones I got from LMC.)

krue · 11-19-2006, 03:43 AM

My point is that if you call Tim Christian (or any of the other board vendors), he will tell you whether the part he sells is junk or not. You can call him or not, it's up to you.

68C15 · 11-19-2006, 07:58 AM

but for your idea of finding original hoops and having them plated. that is the way to go IMO. most plating shops have the ability to fix small imperfections. of course quality comes with cost. call around and check with some. maybe even go check out thier work or ask around at car shows.

qksilver · 11-19-2006, 02:34 PM

I always wonder when I hear that they use original tooling. Was it the tooling that was worn out ..............that they were able to sell it for more than scrap or.

stllookn · 11-19-2006, 03:39 PM

nandress, I have a couple of sets of the old anodized aluminum grill surrounds. These are relatively thick but not indestructible. I have done some bodywork on them, removed the annodizing and polished them. It is a TON of work. I think there are people that do this work and are quite good at it. I would be curious to see what they charge for this service if you run across them. I am sure that finding a good set of steel pieces and having them blasted and chromed would be less expensive. I gave a set to former board member desert rat (even paid the shipping) and did not even receive a thanks...won't ever do that again!

shifty · 11-19-2006, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krue

Check with any of the board vendors, they'll tell you what they sell. Tim Christian is a stand up guy. I've also dealt with GMCPaul. Wes at Classicheartbeat is good too.

Dealt with the last two listed, and both were incredibly pleasant experiences, they get my business before LMC.

11-19-2006, 02:27 AM	#1
nandress Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nevada Posts: 211	67-68 Aftermarket Grill Surround Trim A while back we bought a new pair of the grill surround trim pieces from LMC, and weren't expecting the tin foil crap they turned out to be. They fit around the grill openings just-ok, but they sure were flimsy and I am really surprised how much they returned to normal shape when bolted on. But the funny part is that the clip-studs telegraph through!! The photo shows just how wavy they are. Anyway, I want to get a feel for other people's experiences with the aftermarket stuff that is available. Are the ones from LMC the same as everywhere else? Does anyone know of something better? We are planning (later on) to take the time and spend the money to get originals straightened and plated to replace the garbage we put on. Does anyone have words of experience here, or know of a really good trim straightener who could help us out? Last edited by nandress; 01-02-2007 at 12:15 AM.

11-19-2006, 02:35 AM	#2
1BadSS NOT REALLY BANNED! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 1,072	Re: 67-68 Aftermarket Grill Surround Trim I personally cant stand LMC's parts, they're overpriced and low quality. Sorry to hear about your luck, check out Chevy duty. I can drive to LMC in 5mins to get my order or 30mins to Chevy Duty, and I never fail to go to Chevy duty each time. __________________ 1987 Mustang Coupe - 2.7 Stroker, 78mm turbo, Stainless header, 3" Exh, FMIC, 160lb/hr Injectors, MS3, twin walbro 255's, 34psi. Eating V8's daily. 04 Pontiac GTO 04 Ford Mustang GT 68 C20 LWB stripper truck 73 K5 Cheyenne 76 C20 Sierra Crew SRW 88 K20 Suburban I'm not hammering on metal just to hammer, i'm creating a piece of art.

11-19-2006, 03:14 AM	#5
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Re: 67-68 Aftermarket Grill Surround Trim Check with any of the board vendors, they'll tell you what they sell. Tim Christian is a stand up guy. I've also dealt with GMCPaul. Wes at Classicheartbeat is good too. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

11-19-2006, 03:32 AM	#6
nandress Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nevada Posts: 211	Re: 67-68 Aftermarket Grill Surround Trim I didn't ask this question to start a pissing match about who's the better vendor! We all have our favorites, but the fact is that 95% of the parts are exactly the same no matter where you get them from. What I want is experience with this specific part! (I've spent 15 years researching parts, and now I want to relax and not have to go through that motion just to get folks' opinions. In just a few minutes I find that Classic Parts--Chevy Duty--claims theirs are made from original tooling, but their photo looks a lot like the ones I got from LMC.)

11-19-2006, 03:43 AM	#7
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Re: 67-68 Aftermarket Grill Surround Trim My point is that if you call Tim Christian (or any of the other board vendors), he will tell you whether the part he sells is junk or not. You can call him or not, it's up to you. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

11-19-2006, 07:58 AM	#8
68C15 blood type; Retumbo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: next to my reloading bench Posts: 10,269	Re: 67-68 Aftermarket Grill Surround Trim but for your idea of finding original hoops and having them plated. that is the way to go IMO. most plating shops have the ability to fix small imperfections. of course quality comes with cost. call around and check with some. maybe even go check out thier work or ask around at car shows.

11-19-2006, 02:34 PM	#9
qksilver Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern Pines NC Posts: 3,853	Re: 67-68 Aftermarket Grill Surround Trim I always wonder when I hear that they use original tooling. Was it the tooling that was worn out ..............that they were able to sell it for more than scrap or.

11-19-2006, 03:39 PM	#10
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	Re: 67-68 Aftermarket Grill Surround Trim nandress, I have a couple of sets of the old anodized aluminum grill surrounds. These are relatively thick but not indestructible. I have done some bodywork on them, removed the annodizing and polished them. It is a TON of work. I think there are people that do this work and are quite good at it. I would be curious to see what they charge for this service if you run across them. I am sure that finding a good set of steel pieces and having them blasted and chromed would be less expensive. I gave a set to former board member desert rat (even paid the shipping) and did not even receive a thanks...won't ever do that again! __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary)



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.