Reproduction GMC grills

[jcfoote60]

I am doing another project and am torn between hammering out the dings and filling PO drill holes in a pretty decent 71 GMC OEM grill (then having it re-chromed), or to just invest in a reproduction grill from one of the board vendors, LMC, etc. Anyone have feedback on what their experiences have been with repo-grills? Do they fit as stock? how about the eyebrow moldings and top grill bar??? Thanks

JC

[special-K]

Good thread.I`d like to know as I`ve been in search mode for GMC grilles since they never did reproduce them.I know they do,now.But,I haven`t seen one yet.I bought my `72 Sierra knowing the grille had tiny staple holes from the p.o. adding sceen to behind the grille(Well,once I got out there and saw the truck in person).I figured since it`s steel,I`d weld the little hole shut and have the grille chromed.Other than the holes,the grille is perfect.But...chroming costs have gone through the roof and I believe it would cost more to chrome a grille than buy a repro.So,I`m all ears,are they good?

[Tom Vogel]

Originally Posted by jcfoote60

I am doing another project and am torn between hammering out the dings and filling PO drill holes in a pretty decent 71 GMC OEM grill (then having it re-chromed), or to just invest in a reproduction grill from one of the board vendors, LMC, etc. Anyone have feedback on what their experiences have been with repo-grills? Do they fit as stock? how about the eyebrow moldings and top grill bar??? Thanks

JC

They are (OK)... No ,they dont fit like stock, some adjusment will be neccessary. A rechromer ruined my original, so i bought a repop. The chrome is also... OK(just ok IMHO.) So Im sending my repop off to Sherms plating in Sac. (2500$) is the quote.
I depends on how good you want it (what will do for you personally). If I were you, Id get a good rechromer to fix your original, but nobody rides for free. That first rechromer charged me only 400$ which I can add to the 400 for the new repop which I can add the 2500 for the (proper) rechrome.

[68GMCCustom]

OMG! $2500 to re-chrome a GMC grill?

[Boog]

Outfreakinrageous!!!!! Ain't no way I'd pay that.

[special-K]

Tom,you`re having the repro rechromed or are they chroming your original that was messed up?

[Tom Vogel]

Originally Posted by special-K

Tom,you`re having the repro rechromed or are they chroming your original that was messed up?

Im having the repop rechromed. Yep, the repop just really doesnt ...
well...pop.
Ive already spent way too much time and money on this Jimmy already;
cant really stop now
There are a couple (kind of recent) pics I posted on the 69-72 Blazer section. See Street/Strip blazer thread, mines the orange and white one with the B/B.
I know its crazy, but I live in Calif, and Sherm's is propbably the best; and hes got to payoff the Enviro -freaks here.(read Cal. Government)
Tom

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

IMHO the repops stink and there over priced!!! I was told these grills are the best that is on the market by the dealer that I bought mine from. Once you massage these grills into place there is no way you'll ever get it out to return it with out your paint paying the price for removing it. The head light buckets did not fit and Classic Chevy & Gasoline Alley gave up trying to fit them and their grills were on a bench where they could work on the front and the back with out head lights being in the way and limited space to contend with. The eye brow bkts are a joke to make fit to receive the eye brows as well.

Ok, to cut a long story short the supplier "Gasoline Alley" gave me a $180.00 in store credit and I modified my own grill to make it fit. I told him that he does not work for free so why should I! I wrote them a modification report to photo copy and put with every grill that they sell.

I would shop around for a good chrome shop as $2,500 does sound steep. But this is all a matter of personal choice. Be prepared as the repop. grills are ok but not great and they do require work to install.

esll.

[special-K]

Good work costs what it costs.Building on a budget is a cool concept.But,I`ve never been any good at it.I either do it right,whatever the cost,or I just don`t do it.It`s rags or riches for me.

[Tim Christian]

I have installed 4 of them. All three styles 67, 68-70, and 71-72 I think they fit rather good. Never had any problems on the eyebrowls or top bars neither Some of the headlight bezels are ill fitting but you can make them work. I do not mean this bad but I deal with this stuff and people who install it everyday. Most people think restoring cars and trucks everything should fall right into place like building a model car but I have used NOS parts and aftermarket. It take skill to make them both fit. In the day a lot of the NOS parts was parts passed on to the dealers because it did not fit right on the assembly line and they could not be slowed down. Sometimes when fiting a part you need to walk off and try again later after you have given it some thought. If you are afraid to Cut,Bend or Modified a part you might just be in the wrong hobby.

[Orange]

Tim - are the grilles you list the complete set? I know several places break up the individual parts. Was wondering how you handled that.

DLB

[RustyParts]

I wish they would make a Polished aluminum grille assembly for the GMC's, chrome rusts too quick to suit me.

[hyarbour]

There is a new anodizing called "bright dip" looks like chrome but supposed to be alot cheaper, and no rust or polishing.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

I feel sometimes because we work on parts that are ill fitting to make them fit is why we have the problems that we do with the after market industry, IMHO. As you can see I managed to get mine to work but with a lot of extra hard work that I feel should not be part of what one should expect after paying $1300.00 for a grill assembly. I know the difference between fitting a part and poor quality. I know the difference between NOS and repop. parts and I prefer NOS. These trucks are not all that easy to come across where I live so the repop. was the choice that I made and as usual I was not disappointed with the inferior quality. I would like point out that my truck has all the original tin so it's a no hit truck. So I was not fighting with problems of poor body work etc.

I'm only sharing my experience. I'm not making a point to cause anyone to get out of shape or start a war here. If others think that these repop. grills are great I'm happy for you. Perhaps I just drew the short straw. Some how I doubt it.

esll.

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by EAST SIDE LOW LIFE

I feel sometimes because we work on parts that are ill fitting to make them fit is why we have the problems that we do with the after market industry, IMHO.

Yep. I know that we have to do some tweaking of aftermarket parts cause I've been doing it for years. But, if the industry wants to make money from us-the ones that buy their parts-then they should do their best to at least get the parts closer to original. The good thing is that there are some that do and they take pride on what they send out!

There are some vendors here that are extremely aware of our desire to have that perfect looking truck. They will work with you by refunding, replacing, giving credit, and giving pointers on what to do. These will be the ones that should and will get our business.

[Mt Man Chad]

I have a clean one off a 69 that could be polished up nice if interested.

[EAST SIDE LOW LIFE]

Originally Posted by 68gmsee

Yep. I know that we have to do some tweaking of aftermarket parts cause I've been doing it for years. But, if the industry wants to make money from us-the ones that buy their parts-then they should do their best to at least get the parts closer to original. The good thing is that there are some that do and they take pride on what they send out!

There are some vendors here that are extremely aware of our desire to have that perfect looking truck. They will work with you by refunding, replacing, giving credit, and giving pointers on what to do. These will be the ones that should and will get our business.

**********************************************************

I agree with you X2. The problem that I found living where I do (Canada) getting my money back was not an issue. The shipping is another matter though to be contended with. When you talk about the shipping cost of an item no vendor will refund you these costs. In Canada you start out with the shipping cost in US$ converted th CDA. then you add brokerage fees to clear the boarder priced out on the CDA. dollar .... so the charges are in fact compounding. Any other applicable fees are also added to the newest total. Most the time you are stuck with a poor Canadian dist. as it does not pay to deal direct with US vendors.

Having said that you would be surprised how many vendors there are selling repop. parts (the same parts) because of how few manufacturers really do exists for these vendors to draw products from. I know this as I ran a mail order parts and restoration business for years. Price of parts dictates the industry and the consumer wants the best price so we end up with problems that go far beyond tweaking. Why else would someone pay to rechrome a new repop. grill for $2,500.

esll.

[Bob B.]

I used one on my '67. The grille fit on the truck just fine. No trouble lining it up, and the bolt holes were in the right places. The headlight bezels were tricky, though. It would have been easier if the repop grille didn't have the bezel screw holes in it at all. Spent an hour or two screwing around with it, and got acceptable results. Might try to ajust them a bit more.

[steveshow]

I paid $600 to have the stock front bumper, grille, top bar, headlight trim rings and eyebrows straightened and rechromed on my 71 GMC (Centex Plating, Austin Texas) ...and I thought this was high! They were not in too bad of shape to start with. FYI: Stock bumpers I have come across do not have as thick of steel as as stock and chrome quality in general is not as good as Centex Plating. I am now in need of the clips that hold the eyebrow moldings on. I cannot find these being repro'ed anywhere. All but one of mine were either rusted to pieces or broken. Any leads? Anyone have some used ones they would part with?

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by steveshow

I paid $600 to have the stock front bumper, grille, top bar, headlight trim rings and eyebrows straightened and rechromed on my 71 GMC (Centex Plating, Austin Texas) ...and I thought this was high!

Sorry for hijack. But I have a quick ?

If I'm coming in on 290, about where in Austin is Centex Plating?

I have been thinking of taking my front bumper, grill and headlight trim there for an estimate. Mine are painted and not chromed but they're in almost perfect shape (one small ding on the bumper).

Thanks.

[longhorn70gmc]

Originally Posted by Bob B.

I used one on my '67. The grille fit on the truck just fine. No trouble lining it up, and the bolt holes were in the right places. The headlight bezels were tricky, though. It would have been easier if the repop grille didn't have the bezel screw holes in it at all. Spent an hour or two screwing around with it, and got acceptable results. Might try to ajust them a bit more.

BOY,
THAT GRILL IS SWEET LOOKING!!!!!! Ilike the 67 GMC grills.

[PICKMUP]

Where it says "GMC grill", comparing oem to repop.........you can just insert any part/name and you will always get the same discussion.
Some hate them, some love them and some don't care!
If you are thinking about using repop parts and you check everything with calipers & micrometers...you may as well pass!
If you want a nice clean truck, at a reasonable price, and want good parts availability...buy the repop parts you need, make em fit and enjoy the build & ride.
Perfectionists need not apply!

[special-K]

Here we are 35-41 years later trying to make Cadillacs out of pickup trucks...ya think?
Just a piece for perspective,that`s all.

[ChaseDale3and8]

One thing that I just don't understand at all about the repop parts is that it doesn't make any sense to me that GM doesn't just get their molds, dies, out and start reproducing these parts themselves, even if they have to send the molds, dies to China to do it for it to be cost effective for them.

There is such a high demand for quality parts, and GM stands to make tons of money off of these old trucks. They lose lots of money daily by not reproducing parts for their own trucks.

The Furd boys have parts made by a company called Dennis Carpenter Reproductions with the original Furd tooling. These parts are made in the U.S.A. and are kinda pricey but they will fit and look just as original on the Furd trucks. Why can't GM do the same thing!!!???

I wonder who the big cheese is at GM that might listen to everyones gripes about the aftermarket parts and how much we would all like to see them reproduce their own parts? If there was a way to find out who to contact about this and we all started calling and emailing them maybe they would see how much demand they have and would get off their butts and start reproducing these parts with the original GM tooling!

The Furd boys got one up on us GM boys and that's just plain wrong! We need to start griping to GM to make them realize they have an untapped market out there. It would be for their own benefit, so why not do it? ...Joe

[bad6772]

Originally Posted by special-K

Here we are 35-41 years later trying to make Cadillacs out of pickup trucks...ya think?
Just a piece for perspective,that`s all.

lol couldnt have said it better. i deal with aftermarket an OE all day and everyday.......nothing fits perfect out of the box,and sometimes aftermarket fits better than OE IMO........if this stuff was easy everybody would be doing it and not paying to have it done just my )0.2