I'm looking for a 51 or 52 grill, it's my understanding the two are identical. More precisely, I'm probably looking for two. My intent (get ready to cry all of you 51/52 fans as well as 67-72 fans) is to fabricate this grill into a 69 F100. I like the look of it, and to me would add a rather aggressive and unique look no other truck would have, but I'd like to up that a little by piecing two grills together and spacing the 'teeth' closer together.

So what I'm asking is... Where's a good place to find these? LMC or NPD? Or would I be fairly safe in finding a pair in a boneyard?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

Nice to see a guy who knows class when he sees it!

Seriously, they are on eBay all the time, usually pretty pitted, but I sold one about a year ago for $100 or so in pretty cherry condition. I don't think they are repro'd. Be aware, some assembly plants apparently welded the "teeth" on, while others bolted them on. You sometimes see the center ones sold separately, so maybe you can buy one grille and two teeth.

PS -- yes, they're identical

 

How many do you need?



I have another complete 51/52 grille in storage. All are straight with no rust.

Ilya

 

Ilya, is your experience the same as mine as far as the teeth being welded or bolted? All the teeth seem to have bolt hole in them, but my '52's outer two are both spot-welded. The '51 grille I sold was all bolted.

Also, the headlight buckets are unique to 51-52, and aren't being repro'd AFAIK.

 

As far as I remember, they were bolted in. I'll check the grille from the 52 F6 that I parted out to see if any of the teeth were spot-welded.

Ilya

 

Oh wow.. on two counts really. I didn't expect such a quick response, nor to see a photo of someone sitting on several grills. I honestly thought the grills were one piece with the light buckets separate... so this makes one mod easier and possibly the removal and finding of different buckets. Really, I probably would still need two, they're definitely narrower than the fat face of the 69. Someone care to share the dimensions of the grill?

One last problem.. I'm just a broke guy who probably won't be doing too much for quite some time. I need to go back to college first. Heh.

Oh well. Thanks for the input, guys.

 

The buckets are spot welded and would be easy to remove once you drill out the welds.

 

Ahhhh, now that's a picture worthy of a gas memorabilia calendar

 

Haha, I would say so myself.

Again, thanks for info. Now what would remain would be capping the ends in a nice taper if that's what I choose to do. Out of curiousity, what's the thickness of the metal on those? I was going to guess around 18 gauge maybe or would they be around what a typical body panel is?

 

I have a lot more, but no room to display.

 

It is more like 20 gauge. At the ends near the headlights, there is just a small flange for spot-welding to the buckets. There is a definite curvature of the whole center piece out to the middle, it may not be obvious from pictures.

 

Just so long as it isn't the flimsy aluminum of the original grill, I'm pretty happy I suppose. Honestly can't wait to get my hands really into the truck, but again, being broke doesn't help. I need the career first.. cursed young years.

 

If you just want to make a 69 F100 ugly, why not put a 54 grille in it?
I'm kidding of course...

 

Enjoy the cursed young years while they are there. Sure, you get a bit more money as you get older but the time goes alot faster. When you are young summers last about a year and a half, Now that I'm in my 40's summers scream by in about a month and a half.

I know its tough to play with trucks while you are doing the college thing. Istarted college at 28 years of age with 2 kids and a mortgage. I worked 3 jobs and ate a lot of beans and rice but I still occasionally messed wth my truck. Trust me, you''ll need the diversion.

Good luck with adapting the early grill to the 69. I'd love to see how it comes out

Bobby

 

Oh, I don't mind being young, sometimes the time still passes too quickly. It's the fact of being without the money to do the work.

This I can at least see as one of the cheaper mods.