Aluminum grills are rare?

[k1rodeoboater]

I was doing some reading on here the other day and a I saw a thread, which I can't find anymore, about aluminum grills being rarer than steel grills. I do recall it being mentioned in that thread that aluminum light bezels are unobtanium.

Just wondering, what is it about the aluminum grills that makes them rare? I may have accidentally discovered that my grill on my truck is aluminum, and if it is indeed rare I'd like to find out some more about it. I have no desire to sell it, I just like finding out the history behind these trucks.

[lakeroadster]

If a truck was ordered with the "Custom Cab" package it got the aluminum grille. A lot more trucks were sold as "standard" with a white painted steel grille.

So the aluminum grills are rarer than steel, but not really rare.

Additionally, if you buy a repro shiney grill it is chrome, not aluminum.

The problems I have experienced with the stock aluminum grilles are:

• they were anodized, which means you can't just polish them like you would raw aluminum to make them shiney again. You have to chemically remove the anodize first like was done here Aluminum Grille Refurbish,
  
• they used the standard steel headlight buckets and where the aluminum grille is fastened to the steel headlight bucket they corrode (galvanic reaction). So originals a lot of time aren't in primo condition.

When I bought my truck the PO gave me an aluminum grille. I was excited at the time but upon further investigation it is rotted at the attachment points. Makes nice shop wall art though!

[k1rodeoboater]

Yeah I was wondering about the corrosion factor between the steel and aluminum. I've been contemplating taking my grill off in favor of a chrome GMC grill without the letters. Might even go as far as to get a billet bowtie and mount it up on there or make a skeleton CHEVROLET for the front just to be different. That'd be a finishing touch on my truck. My truck was a standard cab, so if it really is aluminum then it's a replacement...which makes sense since it's missing a bolt on the backside to hold the grill in place.

I actually sold an aluminum shell with mounting tabs in perfect shape, but the grill had a few dents, for $25 the other week. I'm sure I probably could have gotten it for more, but the guy's local and I didn't have to deal with shipping it.

[Touchdown67]

I have a 65 C10 Fleet that has the aluminum grill but it isn't a Custom Cab. Did they also put the alum. grill on non custom cabs also?

[Dble Hump]

I am going the GMC route as well. My 64 chevy came with a white painted grille. I had an aluminum grille but someone took sandpaper to it... trying to get the anodize off. I had it hanging in my boys room for years, then decided to trade it for a white GMC grille. I have since painted the GMC grille gun metal...looks really good. I also got the CHEVROLET letters from a C60 (or what ever the bigger trucks were) It is a little to long, but I plan to cut it down to fit.

I will post up some pics this weekend.

Its cool to hear someone else is might do the GMC girlle swap.

[k1rodeoboater]

Please do post pics. I do want to find something to put there but I'm not quite sure what I'd want yet.

I've always liked the 4 bucket grill that came on the GMC's, I also prefer their hood too but I'm not gonna try to source one. My other favorite grill is I believe on the 62's where it's 4 buckets with eyebrows and CHEVROLET written across it.

[rbar]

My favorite is also the 4 light with chevrolet letters that look suspended, which is a 1961. I have a nice 64-66 aluminum that I am looking to sell. It's not corroded at the mounting points and I didn't realize they did that. I got a NOS one I am going to use. I would think rubber washers at the mounting point might be a good idea. One thing I like about the aluminum grilles is they have a satin look and just stand out as stock to me.

[chevyrestoguy]

rbar-
sent you a PM

Alex

[4x4fab]

my 64' has an aluminum grill and custom trim on the cab. What exactly is the custom option? mine of course it truly custom now since it's chopped, hehe

[rbar]

They also have a custom steering wheel and Custom trim in the windowshield rubber.

[Revoh]

I believe, at least on a '63, that it was possible to get the aluminum grill and chrome bumpers and not have a custom cab. I know a nice aluminum grill on the '63 is hard to find in good condition, and usually bring more than I want to spend.

[rbar]

I was fortunate to buy two NOS aluminum grilles.

[Captainfab]

You found a NOS aluminum '63 grill?

I'm jealous

I hope you bought a lottery ticket too........

[rbar]

Yes, and to top it off, I bought "chrome" NOS bezels off of ebay for the steel 63 grille I had. When I got them they were not chrome, they were aluminum. The grille didn't come with bezels, so I had a stroke of luck there.

[tazattitude]

I also have a alum grill (my 66 is a Custom), and one thing I noticed is that the headlight bezels on the alum versus the steel were not that same.
I had purchased a steel headlight bezel and noticed that it did not have the little adjustment screw notches like my alum bezels did.

I chromated, primed and painted my grill and bezels in a satin black

[tazattitude]

Actually, just found a recent thread with the notches I was talking about.

[1Bad62Pro/Street]

Yep....
Like the fellas stated below Chrome grills were not available on Chevrolet trucks between 1960-66.
The deluxe trucks used a high shine anodized aluminum.
Due to the rarity of this grill, restorers today usually chrome the standard white grill.
GMC offered chromed grills - not anodized aluminum.
I purchaced mine from LILRED66.....
'62 Chevy factory anodized aluminum grille assembly
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=3276401

[Captainfab]

I did get really lucky one day at our local u-pull it yard. I got a complete aluminum '63 grill for $35.00. It isn't perfect, but it's pretty dang nice.

Originally Posted by rbar

Yes, and to top it off, I bought "chrome" NOS bezels off of ebay for the steel 63 grille I had. When I got them they were not chrome, they were aluminum. The grille didn't come with bezels, so I had a stroke of luck there.

[rbar]

That was a good deal. With only being one year, it's harder to find. My favorite is the 61. Someone on here had some NOS ones, but I missed out.

[old chevy truck]

Hey i have a 63 alunima gril if you want i will e-mail you a pic .Ihave no bezals .

[Dble Hump]

K1 here are some photos. My plan is to have the doulble hump hood inserts painted the same color...they already are, and paint the bumpers the as well. I know it is crazy, but I want to paint all of my side trim in this as well.

The second pic is with the C60 Chevrolet letters, notice it is to long. I am going to cut about 1/2inch out between each letter. I think this will fill that hole quite nicely.

PS. got my C notch installed yesterday!

[yelmer]

the notches are for late production some do not have them but the later models do some may have been made after 66 for easy of adjusting the headlights

[oem4me]

apparently I am learning something here. These notches showed up when? strickly in later replacement parts? on late production trucks, or what? in aluminum and steel too? maybe I've just looked past this little detail all these years, but I swear I've never seen them before ....weird.
I bet Factorystock would know.

[rbar]

I have aluminum bezels for 64-66 without the notches.

[mater63]

anyone have an aluminum 63 grill for sale for my restore