I recently did extensive rust and dent repair on a '52 front clip:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post15273362

The below the grill valance was in really bad shape and instead of trying to fix it I had the truck owner find a better piece. The one he got, while more solid, was pretty banged up. I got it as straight as possible and filled in the low spots. When I bolted the clip together the valance doesn't meet up with the three Damars of the grill like the original. My question is there a difference in the '51 and '52 valance? I didn't think so. Also, this is an F-1 clip, the valance could have come off of a larger F-2 to F-6 but again, I don't think that would make a difference.

 

Are the dagmars welded to the grille crossbar? Most '51's are, on '52 they were bolted on, and each is unique (left, center, right). Could they be switched on your grille?

AFAIK no difference in the lower valance on the two.

 

Ross, I didn't notice that the Dagmars were different, just by casually looking at them I thought they looked the same. I had them laying next to each other on a flat surface and I didn't notice. That might be the reason they're not sitting down in the valance correctly. They'll have to come back out when Jim paints the grill so he can try to realign them then.

The Dagmars were spot welded on the center bar but they had holes in tabs that corresponded with holes in the bar. I just lightly chiseled the welds and then later put them back on using 1/4" bolts.

BTW, if anyone is curious about the name "Dagmar" here is the reason. It's a term for forward protruding auto trim work, named after a '50s Actress for obvious reasons.

 

Monkey face grill guys can never know the secrets of the manure spreader grill guys. We Dagmar guys are sworn to secrecy.
Either that or we don't have any idea, as in my case.

 

Learning about these old heaps is like life . It is a learning experience .Imagine that .Bob working on a buck toothed manure spreader .'51's were spot welded on as opposed to the '52's that were bolted on .

 

I'm sure Panelman (Ilya) has the best answer, but as a proud manure spreader owner, I don't think there is any difference between the 51,52. The dagmars are bolted to the lower valance. There is a difference between dagmars as well. And I'm not talking about the truck ! Really there is a difference because of the slight bow of the vertical part. The vertical "bar" is spot welded to the headlight buckets.

 

The dagmars are different I rember that when I put mine together

 

That sounds a lot better to me. Like the girl in total recall, 3 Dagmars.
I read on here that the 51s were tack welded and the 52s were bolted on, and there is a left, middle , and right.

 

That is a correct statement. Since the crossbar is curved, the dagmars are shaped to follow the curve and are LT, RT and CTR specific.

 

I read it in one of your posts, see I listen.

 

I have a very early 51 (August 50 production) and my Dagmars are bolted on. I removed them easily when I was refurbing the grille. No welds.

 

Thanks guys, I'll take the Dagmars off and try to rearrange them.

The Monkey Faces are easier to work on.

 

I guess there is just a little more work for the beauty of the Dagmars!

 

Lets hear it for DAGMARS!

 

The Dagmars on a 54 are part f the grille and not removable..... much better..... and there is only a pair, not a tri.