Custom Grille/ Front end

[chopped65]

I am wanting to design a new front end/grille and wanting to get some ideas.

I have thought of cutting off the headlight portions of the grille, attaching them to the body then building something different for the middle.

I have also thought of integrating modern headlights into the truck, not sure from what.

My taillights are a 12" teardrop (not installed yet, been sitting on the shelf for 6 years) so should go with the truck somewhat.

Any done anything other than the gmc grille modifications. send me what you got and I'll do my best to build it.

[chopped65]

black truck
does anyone know who's truck this is and what all he did. what are those bumpers off of and is that a hood modified from a 67 or what is it

blue truck
what about something like this, I know its a different model but could something like this be done

[66clow]

I think the black one is a Impala front bumper if I recall, not positive tho.

[Grumpys kid]

the black trucks front bumper is off a 60 chevy.

[chopped65]

I originally just thought of shaving the factory front bumper, and tucking it in a few inches. I don't know how much away from the factory look I want to go, I already am chopped, shaved suicided, back halfed. I fell in love with these trucks as factory and for some reason like most on here just kept modifying and modifying and trying to figure out when I should stop or keep going. I have two grilles in the garage right now taped off to cut apart and weld together. I plan on welding the outer right headlight shell with the outer left headlight shell so that it gives me a nice surround on both sides of the headlight and I can modify from there because the factory grille on the inside of the headlight shell just goes in enough for the grille cross pieces

[mr48chev]

I think your plan will work and look pretty decent. Although I like the grill mod in the blue truck shown in post 2 along with the black truck I don't like seeing the radiator and other sheet show up so obvious behind the great looking grill treatment. You loose focus on the grill mods themselves.

My 1.98 grill in my 71 GMC got started originally because my aunt wrecked the truck and I couldn't find a GMC nose in good shape to fix it for her. The tube grill started out chromed that got pretty rusty over the years. The emblem was in a broken grill I found next to my mailbox one day. I was going to put in a billet grill but the more I think about it I might just get this one powder coated and keep it.
And I need to do something about the white plastic jug showing through it.

[egaray281]

does that blue truck have a modified roof from a 90's chevy?

[66clow]

Originally Posted by egaray281

does that blue truck have a modified roof from a 90's chevy?

sure does look like a s10 with modified c10 panels. The windshield definitely appears to be a s10. The body kinda looks shorten width wise?

[egaray281]

Originally Posted by 66clow

sure does look like a s10 with modified c10 panels. The windshield definitely appears to be a s10. The body kinda looks shorten width wise?

from like the windows and up right?

[chopped65]

all I know about the blue truck is it was at SEMA in 2010 i think it was, but I agree with you that it looks like a modified 90's cab, i'm not sure about the s10

[chopped65]

I agree with you mr48chev, I do not like to see the radiator much, it takes away from the grille. It would look great with the front end fully smooth behind the grille, too bad we need air going through there. I've seen where the radiator is painted so it blends with the grille support, then do a contrast color on the grille so it pops and thats what grabs you. The plan when the grille and bumper are done, is they'll be powder coated some shade of grey which will match the frame when it's done and the wheels.

[chopped65]

well, i started cutting s*** up. as you see I marked the grilles and cut, attaching both ends of each grille together. I'm in the middle of welding them up right now, make them smooth and then they'll need to me modified a little. I'm going to trim up the rear portion to push the grille more into the grille support. the headlight mounts will need to be modified a lot in order to fit in the new pieces.

soon as these are done with the headlight brackets, i'll mount them on the truck and start thinking of ideas to fill in the big emptiness in between

[chopped65]

and now I can't just throw away the remainder shells so I might stack up the two grille shells and back a bench along with the old front bed panel that I replaced. then maybe some headers to make arm rests...we'll see but can't let parts go to waste

[Bazooka]

That is a cool idea. Keep us updated...

[McCoyAZ]

I have seen a couple of 60-66's with the rectangle modern headligts out of an S10...looks pretty good actually.

[chopped65]

so the grille pieces are done and smooth. now the next step...after spending a while trying to modify the headlight bracket (it doesn't fit very well now that it is so enclosed).

so the pictures are of my next idea of mounting. mount the grille pieces I just made directly to the grille support. normally these are riveted to the headlight bracket and the bracket is bolted to the support. as you see in the pictures, I pushed them all the way out to the corner and flush. It makes the grille about 5-6 inches wider, and pushes it in over an inch and I can always trim them to make them more recessed.

so after bolting these to the support, the headlight would be put in then the headlight rings (which still need some work straightening). I would also need to cut a hole in the grille support as the headlight connector will now be in the wheel well.

sorry for horrible pictures, they're all with my phone in my dark garage and too much s*** in the way to move the truck to get better pictures. I am moving next month and will have a more lit garage

[chopped65]

Originally Posted by McCoyAZ

I have seen a couple of 60-66's with the rectangle modern headligts out of an S10...looks pretty good actually.

heres a few examples i've saved over the years but none are anything i'm interested in copying. do you have pictures of the one you're talking about

[Narxoleptic Customs]

I've always wanted to take a c60 grill and front portion of the fenders and cut into the factory front. It wd really square the front up and look tougher to me...
I do like ur idea as is now tho...
Posted via Mobile Device

[chopped65]

Originally Posted by Narxoleptic Customs

I've always wanted to take a c60 grill and front portion of the fenders and cut into the factory front. It wd really square the front up and look tougher to me...
I do like ur idea as is now tho...
Posted via Mobile Device

somebody on here did that, I remember reading it. it looked real cool

I've got a few ideas of how to get everything mounted but I'm trying to keep everything removable, I'm probably going to weld the headlight bracket to the grille. I work the next two days so I'll get back to this on friday

[joedoh]

this is the totally polished 65 gmc and is the truck that made me want to build one. you will see a lot of similarity in mine, like the big deep billets. it was originally a longbed small back window.


this is the same truck as the black one in another post, it was built by grant fab. he is an outstanding fabricator.

[markeb01]

Here are a few shots of trucks with custom grilles and separate headlights:

Two with 54 Chevy grilles:





One with a Corvette grille:



A 55 Ford grille:



And this last one is a dream truck sketch from the October 1961 issue of Rod & Custom. It has a 1961 Pontiac station wagon rear bumper, 1960 Chevy grille, and 1959 Olds headlights:



There was also a rather cool 53-55 Ford F100 a while back that had separate round headlights with a 55 Plymouth grille between the lights. It looked so good I thought about doing the same exact treatment to my truck, but I never found a suitable 55 Plymouth grille. I also can't find a picture of the truck at the moment.

[ol_skool_chevy]

How about a stock grill but make it dual headlight?..just cut and add one more stock headlight bucket and ring...........its a thought.

[chevy_mike]

My buddy had this one. I think he said the headlight parts were from a Buick or Olds and a hand made tube grill. Not a big fan of the grill but loved the light setup.

[chopped65]

keep the ideas coming, the dual headlight setup is nice. I would also like to integrate some kind of led day lights

[chopped65]

alright so I've been playing a little with paint and think I've got an idea of what I'm going to attempt to create. I like number 3 the most and it can be done that way or flipped upside down. Thinking of doing some kind of led brow under the headlight and in the center of the grey put a turn signal and billet strips going across.

if anybody else wants to play around with paint and throw out ideas, more the merrier