Aftermarket 72 gmc grille

[MikeCofield]

Anyone used a aftermarket 72 gmc grille ? How they fit ? Who makes the best repo?

[hemi43]

Originally Posted by MikeCofield

Anyone used a aftermarket 72 gmc grille ? How they fit ? Who makes the best repo?

They are all the same, and they are all crap. Your best bet is to find a good original and send it out for re-anodizing.

[parb]

Mine was going to be rough to get back to original condition.
i ordered keyparts part no FR-0849-042G from GMC Pauls

This page: http://www.gmcpauls.com/body_2.htm
GMC part number 1435480).

Picture: http://www.gmcpauls.com/pictures/71-72gmcgrill.jpg

I haven't gotten to the stage where it has been installed but at first glance it looks like a quality part.

[leddzepp]

I asked the same question recently:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=766917

I found a clean original and glad I did. It installed and fit perfectly

[1972 Jimmy]

I ordered one from brothers. It fit pretty good. The issue I had was with the aftermarket eye brows. They did not fit the fender at all. So I had my originals rechromed. If you want a better close pics let me know.
Eric

[hemi43]

The problem with the aftermarket grilles is that they are much thinner than original, and they used a dead soft annealed aluminum and don't harden them afterwards. A mosquito with a hard on will dent these grilles. I don't drive on unpaved roads, and my grille is toast after 10000 miles. The only option IMO is the new chromed steel ones, but as my current thread on it shows, I've been having issues with the one I bought. Hopefully it's just an isolated problem.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=766972

[MikeCofield]

Thanks guys I’ll keep looking for a good used one to rechrome

[Tom Vogel]

Ok... so, all GMC grills are mild steel , they are chromed, not anodized. Anodizing is for aluminum... that’s a Chevy grill. Do the magnet test if you don’t believe me.
Anyway, you are better off with an original... that said, I used an aftermarket grill on my Jimmy. I had to do a lot of work to get it to fit correctly and I rechromed it. Lol, but it looks great now.
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[Tom Vogel]

Pic of said aftermarket grill.
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[MikeCofield]

It does look great , what brand was yours and what was the cost of the rechrome? Also would like to see more pics of the jimmy

[hemi43]

Originally Posted by Tom Vogel

Ok... so, all GMC grills are mild steel , they are chromed, not anodized. Anodizing is for aluminum... that’s a Chevy grill. Do the magnet test if you don’t believe me.
Anyway, you are better off with an original... that said, I used an aftermarket grill on my Jimmy. I had to do a lot of work to get it to fit correctly and I rechromed it. Lol, but it looks great now.
Posted via Mobile Device

I don't have a GMC grille to test, but the Chev grilles are definitely anodized aluminum.

[tristan]

GMC grilles are definitely steel and can be replated. I don't like the 70-71 "raccoon look" and didn't put the black back on.

[Tom Vogel]

Originally Posted by MikeCofield

It does look great , what brand was yours and what was the cost of the rechrome? Also would like to see more pics of the jimmy

I don’t remember the brand name, but I purchased it from Classic Heartbeat in Washington state.
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[Gary 70 Jimmy]

I bought a complete grill for my 70 jimmy non of it fit right sent it all back get one chrome if you want nice looking grill for a nice truck