Grill question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

THE AMERICAN GARAGE · 01-31-2009, 05:24 PM

HEY PEEPS! I AM FAIRLY NEW TO THE BOARDS AND HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE GRILL ON THE '53 GMC PICK-UP I BOUGHT BACK IN NOV.

PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE TIME WHEN LOOKING AT '53 GMC GRILLS THEY ALL LOOK LIKE THIS:

ASIDE FROM THE FRAMED OUT AREA AROUND THE GRILL ITSELF HOLDING THE "GMC" TAG, ALL OF THE GRILLS I COMMONLY SEE HAVE VERT SIDE COLUMNS AND FOUR HORIZ BLADES.

NOW COMES MY QUESTION...BASED ON THE PICTURES OF MY OWN GRILL BELOW, WAS MY GRILL SOME KIND OF ODDBALL OPTION DONE IN CHROME?
YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IT IS ONLY 3 HORIZ BLADES ENCASED IN AND SET BACK FROM A PUSHED OUT FRAME WITHIN THE OUTER FRAME CARRYING THE NAMEPLATE. FOLLOW?

THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ANSWERS!

~DOC

54 jimmy · 01-31-2009, 08:31 PM

good question my 54 gmc was a 1 ton dually and has the 4 bar grill. i have seen the three bar before. i think it may have been a 53 year model thing. cause i only seem to see it on the 53 models ,but i could be wrong.

OrrieG · 02-01-2009, 01:42 AM

Maybe it is from a different series larger truck (1- ton, COE or ???). Just a thought.

BIG CHEVY 3600 · 02-01-2009, 10:42 AM

I can't tell the measurements but it looks like the bars are spaced wider apart on yours. Could be that a PO took one out and spread them out for some reason. The model year would be the best guess however. It should be easy to check that on forums like this. Just look for pictures of each year, that should explain all this.

THE AMERICAN GARAGE · 02-01-2009, 11:24 AM

I DID NOTICE A 1948 GMC CHROME GRILL ON A 1950 3/4 TON TRUCK PICTURED ON PAGE 32 OF A S/C BOOK CALLED CLASSIC PICKUPS OF THE 1950s By Mike Mueller. I'M THINKING THAT THE CHROME GRILL, OBVIOUSLY AN OPTION STEP UP OVER A PAINTED GRILL WAS OFFERED IN A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT VERSION THROUGHOUT THE 48-53 YEARS OR AT LEAST PART OF THAT TIME.

THANKS FOR YOUR ANSWERS AND OPINIONS!

TheEstablishment · 02-05-2009, 12:24 AM

The grill you have is from the larger trucks, such as the 1 1/2 tons and the COE's. It looks like someone modified it to fit into your truck, which is why it sticks out so much. The 1/2 through 1 tons had grills like your first picture for the entire run of the body style. Some were chrome and some were painted.

1956cameo · 02-05-2009, 01:55 PM

I bought a chrome three bar grille like you have in your truck at a swap meet, so I know it is factory. Like was said above me it is most likely from a larger truck and sometime over the years found it's way into your truck.

THE AMERICAN GARAGE · 02-05-2009, 02:21 PM

WHILE THESE SEEM LIKE REASONABLE ANSWERS, I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE LARGER THE TRUCK, THE LARGER THE GRILL. I AM LEARNING THAT'S NOT THE CASE. I AM LEARNING ALOT FROM THIS SITE!

THANKS!

~DOC

sgtusmc · 02-05-2009, 03:34 PM

Yep, just as stated above. My 53 has the 4 bars. the 3 bar grill is from the bigger trucks.

01-31-2009, 05:24 PM	#1
THE AMERICAN GARAGE Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: LAUREL, NY Posts: 43	Grill question HEY PEEPS! I AM FAIRLY NEW TO THE BOARDS AND HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE GRILL ON THE '53 GMC PICK-UP I BOUGHT BACK IN NOV. PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE TIME WHEN LOOKING AT '53 GMC GRILLS THEY ALL LOOK LIKE THIS: ASIDE FROM THE FRAMED OUT AREA AROUND THE GRILL ITSELF HOLDING THE "GMC" TAG, ALL OF THE GRILLS I COMMONLY SEE HAVE VERT SIDE COLUMNS AND FOUR HORIZ BLADES. NOW COMES MY QUESTION...BASED ON THE PICTURES OF MY OWN GRILL BELOW, WAS MY GRILL SOME KIND OF ODDBALL OPTION DONE IN CHROME? YOU'LL NOTICE THAT IT IS ONLY 3 HORIZ BLADES ENCASED IN AND SET BACK FROM A PUSHED OUT FRAME WITHIN THE OUTER FRAME CARRYING THE NAMEPLATE. FOLLOW? THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ANSWERS! ~DOC

01-31-2009, 08:31 PM	#2
54 jimmy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: pittston,PA Posts: 1,184	Re: Grill question good question my 54 gmc was a 1 ton dually and has the 4 bar grill. i have seen the three bar before. i think it may have been a 53 year model thing. cause i only seem to see it on the 53 models ,but i could be wrong. __________________ There is nothing you can't fix with a BFH or a FIRE WRENCH. 1997 chevy k1500 ext cab z71 (daily driver) sold 1996 chevy k1500 reg cab 4x4(daily driver)totaled 2008jeep patriot (wife's daily driver 2008 chevy 1500 ext cab 4x4 sold 2011 chevy 1500 crew cab ltz (daily driver) 1996 chevy 1500 reg cab 4x4 project sold 2006 pontiac grand prix gxp (daily work commuter)

02-01-2009, 01:42 AM	#3
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: Grill question Maybe it is from a different series larger truck (1- ton, COE or ???). Just a thought. __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

02-01-2009, 10:42 AM	#4
BIG CHEVY 3600 BIG CHEVY 3600 LONGBOX Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 382	Re: Grill question I can't tell the measurements but it looks like the bars are spaced wider apart on yours. Could be that a PO took one out and spread them out for some reason. The model year would be the best guess however. It should be easy to check that on forums like this. Just look for pictures of each year, that should explain all this. __________________ If I were given 8 hours to chop down a large tree, I would spend the first 6 hours sharpening my ax. Abraham Lincoln http://s729.photobucket.com/albums/w...cpZZ3QQtppZZ20

02-01-2009, 11:24 AM	#5
THE AMERICAN GARAGE Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: LAUREL, NY Posts: 43	Re: Grill question I DID NOTICE A 1948 GMC CHROME GRILL ON A 1950 3/4 TON TRUCK PICTURED ON PAGE 32 OF A S/C BOOK CALLED CLASSIC PICKUPS OF THE 1950s By Mike Mueller. I'M THINKING THAT THE CHROME GRILL, OBVIOUSLY AN OPTION STEP UP OVER A PAINTED GRILL WAS OFFERED IN A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT VERSION THROUGHOUT THE 48-53 YEARS OR AT LEAST PART OF THAT TIME. THANKS FOR YOUR ANSWERS AND OPINIONS! Last edited by THE AMERICAN GARAGE; 02-01-2009 at 11:25 AM. Reason: WRONG PAGE NUMBER

02-05-2009, 12:24 AM	#6
TheEstablishment Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Grand Junction, CO Posts: 8	Re: Grill question The grill you have is from the larger trucks, such as the 1 1/2 tons and the COE's. It looks like someone modified it to fit into your truck, which is why it sticks out so much. The 1/2 through 1 tons had grills like your first picture for the entire run of the body style. Some were chrome and some were painted.

02-05-2009, 01:55 PM	#7
1956cameo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Angleton, TX Posts: 2,219	Re: Grill question I bought a chrome three bar grille like you have in your truck at a swap meet, so I know it is factory. Like was said above me it is most likely from a larger truck and sometime over the years found it's way into your truck.

02-05-2009, 02:21 PM	#8
THE AMERICAN GARAGE Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: LAUREL, NY Posts: 43	Re: Grill question WHILE THESE SEEM LIKE REASONABLE ANSWERS, I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE LARGER THE TRUCK, THE LARGER THE GRILL. I AM LEARNING THAT'S NOT THE CASE. I AM LEARNING ALOT FROM THIS SITE! THANKS! ~DOC

02-05-2009, 03:34 PM	#9
sgtusmc Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 958	Re: Grill question Yep, just as stated above. My 53 has the 4 bars. the 3 bar grill is from the bigger trucks. __________________ My build, 53 GMC / S10 swap http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=305723 My build, 59 Chevy / 88 fullsize swap http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...hlight=sgtusmc U.S. Marines - Certified Counselors to the 72 Virgins Dating Club.



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