Spent the day putting the front back together again. Had all the bolts in from fender foward and loose. Then came the placement of the lower gravel panel which went in with no room to spare around the passenger frame horn. The horn looks slightly off but the bumper lines up perfectly with the four holes in both sies of the frame. Go figure. Then came my replacement grille as mine had a few more dents that I didn't want to deal with. This one also had the better finish. Those lower bolts are a bit$# and they are in place but loose right now. Not critical as the top bolts and the two for the hood latch support are in snug. After that the top piece just dropped right in nicely without hitting anything. Time to now snug up all the bolts which took awhile. I'm anal so all new bolts went in and they were backed with a grade 8 washer and grade 8 black phosphate locking 5/16" nut. Anti seize on every bolt as I am not ever going to snap staked u-clips again. The biggest pain in the neck was the headlamp adjusting fittings. That is why one lamp isn't in yet as the whole fitting is missing and I need to find a replacement for the top one.
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Mike
1968 Cougar 302-4V
1968 Mustang 289-2V
1967 Parklane 410-4V
1965 F-100 360-2V
1943 USS Hornet/1945 TBM3E Avenger
The grille looks in great shape, is it a replacement or did u recondition the original? Reconditioned the grille on the 65, 'do it myselfer' about 5 yrs ago and looks like it's time to do it again. Anyhow, looks like you put lot of time in to painting and reassembling and came out looking good.
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'problem with engaging in useless activity is never knowing when your done'
Grille was a replacement I got off eBay. There are two small dings on it but not the three minor dents mine had. The finish, however, is heads and tails above the one I had. You know how they can get milky looking and this one didn't have that look. Not to far off from the finish on the spears which were NOS.
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Mike
1968 Cougar 302-4V
1968 Mustang 289-2V
1967 Parklane 410-4V
1965 F-100 360-2V
1943 USS Hornet/1945 TBM3E Avenger
Grille looks good, dents must be awfully small. Stripped the anodize off mine after taking out numerous dents, then polished and used can of clear paint to keep alum. from turning color. Disadvantage, now time to do again, think I will have to see if prices have come down for reanodize, was not cheap last time I checked. Anyhow, your truck is looking great, pays to take time and effort in to reassembling.
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'problem with engaging in useless activity is never knowing when your done'
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