Original grill shell
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: Stephenville, TX
Original grill shell
I am in need of an original grill shell for a 78-79 truck. I bought an aftermarket one from one of the site sponsors and it didnt fit. All of the bolt holes were off by half an inch or more. Does anyone know of a company that make an original (NOS or reproduced from ford tooling) grill shell besides Dennis Carpender. They are planning to make them but i dont know when and i would like to have the grill sometime in the next month or so. I dont want another cheap aftermarket grill. If anyone knows where to find one please tell me or send me a PM. Edit: just found this , has anyone had experience with these guys. They have original grill, but they are kinda high. Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: Stephenville, TX
Well i thought of that, but i have a 77 grill shell that fits perfectly. That and i have all the other panels lined up with each other. As for the grill, i'll probably sell it on ebay, because i ordered it about 6 months ago and dont have a reciept. I should have checked it when if first got it.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
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Considering the '77-earlier and '78/79 grill surrounds are different, it doesn't surprise me they don't line up. From yourwebsite, I'm assuming you used the good '77 parts in place of the dented '79 parts? You may have to do some fudging to get the '79 grill surround to fit on the '77 mounts. I still have my original '78/79 surround if you want to verify mounting point measurements.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: Stephenville, TX
Yes, my front end is from the 77, but i dont think that is the cause. The grills are different, but the fenders, hoods, inner fenders, and core supports were the same from 73-79. You may be correct, but ive heard alot of issues about aftermarket grills not fitting, so i think thats the cause. I'm about to call a friend of mine with a 78 bronco and tell him to bring his truck so we can measure them side by side.
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,238
Likes: 21
From: Northern Illinois
I have had a truck with the aftermarket grille shell as well and it fit like crap. I found thru a FORD dealer 2 brand new NOS shells, he had 4 of them but I only bought 2. I used 1 on my Bronco and sold the other on ebay for 400 bucks. Called back the dealer to buy the other 2 pieces and he had already sold them. Darn I wish I would of kept that pece.
Good luck 79driver.
Good luck 79driver.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: Stephenville, TX
Yes, my friend with the bronco came by, and we took measurements. It is my grill that is off, not the fenders and other body panels. Also if you look at the grill real close, none of the curves match up. I was compareing the undamaged left side of my original grill with the aftermarket one, and they are not even close. On the aftermarket one, the turn signal lens wouldnt even fit in the opening. 
Ranger 429, i will try a Ford dealer, the previous owner of my truck said that he got a grill from a small town dealership-it was actually in stock! (collecting dust in the back)
Ranger 429, i will try a Ford dealer, the previous owner of my truck said that he got a grill from a small town dealership-it was actually in stock! (collecting dust in the back)
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 13
From: Kincardine, ON
As one who changed my '77 grill shell, you can't beat the Ford stamping. I got one a year ago from the dealer (at that time the part # was still good), for $220Cdn. The parts dept. said (no guarantee on accuracy) that Ford makes stampings at different times and ship them out to the dealers. Don't know if that's still the case but if you want a nice fitting grill try your local dealer and if the parts guy is worth his salt he can track through others. Good luck.
John.
John.
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 346
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From: Eastern Virginia
I bought an aftermarket grill from Mill Supply because I had to get some other things and had it all truck shipped together. I was surprised at how well it fit considering it is an aftermarket part. I must admit though, none of the aftermarket grilles have that luster the originals have. Looks better than the smashed one.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 2
From: SW Missouri
I have yet to get an aftermarket body panel that lines up well. (yet junkyard pieces work just fine)
I have had great luck so far with the ford authorized repros, and would go there instead.
I have had great luck so far with the ford authorized repros, and would go there instead.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 787
Likes: 1
From: Stephenville, TX
whd507, i sent you a private message. 
I'm going to call the local ford house tommorow, and go search some wrecking yards. I know what yall are talking about when you say aftermarket parts dont fit well, and how they dont have the shine of the originals. That is one thing i really like about these old trucks, the big chrome grills. It is what sets them apart from every thing else.
I'm going to call the local ford house tommorow, and go search some wrecking yards. I know what yall are talking about when you say aftermarket parts dont fit well, and how they dont have the shine of the originals. That is one thing i really like about these old trucks, the big chrome grills. It is what sets them apart from every thing else.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 787
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From: Stephenville, TX
I found a grill shell today at the salvage yard. They had just gotten the truck is why i had never saw it before. I ended up walking out with a front bumper, grill shell, corner lenses, and a huge brushgaurd all for 100 bucks. The grill is straight but it needs alot of polishing to get it to shine. The brushguard must be somekind of homemade job because ive never seen anything like it before.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 512
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Great find! I remember an aftermarket surround for my '78 cost me over $100 15 years ago... I don't remember any issues with it fitting, now that I think about it... I kept the dented original because of how much it cost... figuring it may be worth pounding back into shape if needed... wasn't dented too badly...