thanks for the welcome, I was able to upload pics to my album, haven't located the grill build yet, but if these come through you can see the finished product.

 

CharlieLed, Man that looks great! Any estimate on when you'll put it on the truck an post a picture? I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going with.

 

Thanks for taking the time to post the pics. I've got a much better idea what I want to do.

That's one beautiful grille!!!!!

 

Nice truck!!! Hope you've got some more pics coming.

 

One thing I forgot to mention was that the mounting holes are different between the 53 and the 56 grilles. Not only are the holes rotated by about 30 degrees but the height of the grilles are different. The 56 grille bar is relatively flat between the headlight buckets and does not extend above the top of the buckets. The 53 grille bar has a definite bulge in the cross bar and at the mid-point it does sit higher than the tops of the headlight buckets. What this all means is that there must be some care taken when mounting the 53 grille into a 56. Here is what I started with...as you can see I had no reference points on the wind deflectors because I fabricated these from scratch. I still haven't figured out exactly how I am going to install the parking lights yet but I know for sure that neither the 53/54, the 55, or the 56 stock parking lights will work without modification.

 

I'd be interested to know what you come up with regarding the parking lights. I'm inclined to try to build something custom, but a nice mod to the stock light might be an easier way to go.

Again, thanks for taking the time to post photos and info on the headlight mods. Love the custom stuff!!!

 

very nice charlie....I like it!

 

You could always get some of those new headlights with the turn signals built in to them.

 

Wow, this is an old thread. I guess to answer the question about parking light housings, if I were to leave the space between the headlight bucket and valence blank, then I would have to smooth both the underside of the headlight bucket and the valence. I kinda like the idea of having a parking light that "resembles" the OEM part but with just enough customization that would make a purist scratch his head when he looks at it and wonders what is different.
This project has been on the back burner for the past few years while I work on other projects. I have a 40 Ford Deluxe coupe that is ready to hit the streets sometime after the holidays and a few other projects to wrap up...I am thinking that by this time next year the 56 will be back in the shop. Looking at that last photo reminds me that the bumper pictured has since been smoothed and chrome plated...I'd almost forgotten how crappy it looked back then.

 

Don't know if I ever posted a photo of my conversion to 56 headlight rings.

 

NICE!!! Thanks for the update...
Parking lights look good too.

 

Charlie,
I was curious what that front bumper was from.

Thanks

 

55 - 57 Chevy truck...here's a buddy's truck with the same bumper:

 

Thanks Charlie. I like how it closes the gap between valance and the fenders.