Front end work
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2025
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From: Bozeman
Front end work
Hey yall,
I’m currently looking to get a new grill shell and bumper for my 1979 body and am trying to figure out where to get it and what grill is the right fit. Currently there is a 75 grill on and I am hoping to replace it with one if the same gen grill. Please let me know any info on it that yall may know.
I’m currently looking to get a new grill shell and bumper for my 1979 body and am trying to figure out where to get it and what grill is the right fit. Currently there is a 75 grill on and I am hoping to replace it with one if the same gen grill. Please let me know any info on it that yall may know.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
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none of the new bumpers are show pieces, but AMD seems to be better.
The only OEM style grille shell that's decent is Dennis Carpenter and they're out of stock most of the time. all the vendors sell them too. he chrome steel ones I've seen are better than the cheap repops, but they don't look correct at all if that matters.
The only OEM style grille shell that's decent is Dennis Carpenter and they're out of stock most of the time. all the vendors sell them too. he chrome steel ones I've seen are better than the cheap repops, but they don't look correct at all if that matters.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: The Shenandoah Valley
Is yours bent or just looking a little weathered? I lightly polished my '77's original (no intent to go through anodizing) grill shell with cloth type wheel in drill using a paste polish, kept the character matching the original bumper as I polished it too.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2025
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From: Bozeman
sorry for the late reply, the grille shell is dented to heck. i have it off the truck currently and have decided it would be more worth my time to find and aftermarket grille shell.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
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The DC grills would probably do the job if you can find one. restoring an original is an option, but if you have it done it will cost as much as an NOS one.
If you have a lot of time and patience you could do one, but it has to be a nice one no damage. you have to strip the bright dip off with SB blue rollok pads and then sand out the scratches and buff it to perfection. it's A LOT of work and you'll have to keep it polished from then on.
If you have a lot of time and patience you could do one, but it has to be a nice one no damage. you have to strip the bright dip off with SB blue rollok pads and then sand out the scratches and buff it to perfection. it's A LOT of work and you'll have to keep it polished from then on.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2025
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From: Bozeman
thanks for the info 440, This is the link of the one i am looking at, I've heard that some of the aftermarkets are off with the bezel inserts just wanted to get someone to give me some confidence it will work with my 76 grille bezels. Thank you again!
Grille Shell - Chrome - 1976-77 Ford Trucks | Dennis Carpenter
Grille Shell - Chrome - 1976-77 Ford Trucks | Dennis Carpenter
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2025
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From: Bozeman
Thanks for the input I think I'm gonna go ahead and pull the trigger on the grille shell listed below! Huge help hope to talk to you some more on all the threads for future upgrades I end up doing!
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Lead Driver
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Those are steel. I would ask them if they're going to run the real ones again before I bought it.
I don't know why they say it only accepts 76-77 inserts. that doesn't make sense.
I don't know why they say it only accepts 76-77 inserts. that doesn't make sense.
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2025
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From: Bozeman
So are you saying I should wait and see if they have aluminum and I was wondering that same thing as they should fit prior inserts as well, I currently have 76-77 inserts so am not overly worried. Sorry a lot going on and I have no clue what I’m looking for with this
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5th Wheeling
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From: Bozeman
Lead Driver
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Dennis Carpenter bought a lot of original Ford tooling and most of their parts say so. the steel grille they have doesn't, which probably mean it's the same imported grille everyone else sells. and they do that often.
I found this, and I have never seen one. in the world of restoration parts AMD is better than most, it may be decent I really don't know. I couldn't find the DC aluminum shell which makes me think there aren't going to be anymore made. you might want to ask them.
1973-1977 Ford Pickup Truck Grille Shell, Anodized Aluminum
I found this, and I have never seen one. in the world of restoration parts AMD is better than most, it may be decent I really don't know. I couldn't find the DC aluminum shell which makes me think there aren't going to be anymore made. you might want to ask them.
1973-1977 Ford Pickup Truck Grille Shell, Anodized Aluminum
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Apr 2025
Posts: 30
Likes: 10
From: Bozeman
Dennis Carpenter bought a lot of original Ford tooling and most of their parts say so. the steel grille they have doesn't, which probably mean it's the same imported grille everyone else sells. and they do that often.
I found this, and I have never seen one. in the world of restoration parts AMD is better than most, it may be decent I really don't know. I couldn't find the DC aluminum shell which makes me think there aren't going to be anymore made. you might want to ask them.
1973-1977 Ford Pickup Truck Grille Shell, Anodized Aluminum
I found this, and I have never seen one. in the world of restoration parts AMD is better than most, it may be decent I really don't know. I couldn't find the DC aluminum shell which makes me think there aren't going to be anymore made. you might want to ask them.
1973-1977 Ford Pickup Truck Grille Shell, Anodized Aluminum
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