Hey all. I am stumped. Are the grilles for 1967 through 1969 all the same? What goes on what? I have a 1969 F250 Camper special
Why are some thin pot metal (Mine) and some steel?
I am desperate at this point to find a grille. I have checked so darn amny websites and catalouges I can't keep track. Are they made by anyone?
I am in Maine and have visted all the junkyards within 200 miles of augusta I can find. No luck.
I also keep running into dead ends for the Gas tank doors for the bed.

I am hoping the lists wisdom will pull me through.....
This is all thats left to keep one of Fords Finest from the open road.

1999 F250 Superduty (Stroked and chipped of course! )
1968 F250 Camper special

 

I've been looking for a new 68 grill for 3 years. Haven't found anyone that sells them though. I did see one that was new and still in the original Ford box at a car meet 2 years ago, but the fellow wanted $450 for it which was too much for me.

jerry

 

I've been looking for a replacement for my 1969 as well. At this point I'm trying to research a place that will straighten it and replate it. Mine is not that bad off. There are a few places in Hemmings, but the quality is unknown.

Reggie

 

The 67-69 Grills are near identical. They are all interchangable but the 67 has only 4 horizontal bars between top and bottom and the 68 and 69 grills have 5 rows with the middle one being thicker than the rest. If you're not after the correct year then any of them will fit the same as the others. And as far as finding one to buy, I think your best bet is a junkyard or ebay or here. If you can find a grill that you can afford in good shape, GET IT. Trust me, you can get your money back for it for sure. There are lots of us looking for them. I luckily know a where a couple of good ones are. Once I get the money I'll buy me one or two and then hopefully make a few bucks selling the rest here. That is, when i get the money. Good luck.

-j.banks-

 

I have a 69 F100 Ranger, which has the unpainted grille with a red stripe across it. Mine is in decent shape, though there is a small dent in the lower left side that can probably be straightened, and the red stripe is faded. I had been planning on getting it straightened and polished, and the stripe repainted, but then I found a NOS 69 Ranger grille on ebay a couple of months ago. I got it for $440. It is still in the original Ford box, and boy is it ever purdy.

I also found a NOS left headlight door (black-painted inside the bowl) that I paid about $25 for on ebay, though I'm still looking for a right headlight door. One will turn up eventually. In the meantime, I have a matched pair of NOS non-Ranger (bare metal) 68-69 headlight doors that I'm going to use until I can find a mate for my correct left door.

 

Like the others said, the 69 has a red stripe and the 68 does not. Otherwise the grills are the same for those two years. The 67 is different. 70 and up the grill is split in half...

 

Mine seems to be aluminum (magnet test)
with a shiny aluminum or chrome finish.
Most junkyard and street replacements
that are available are, like mine, dented or worse; this
is especially true for the aluminum grilles.

I have heard, and confirmed directly,
a rumor that Dennis Carpenter Company
(Ford reproduction parts) is in the process
of planning to make reproduction 1967-1969
grilles available sometime next year
(e.g., ~6 months from now). At that point,
we may anticipate that the cost of these
year models' decent quality replacement
grilles to go down somewhat due to increased
supply. The demand for these I would imagine
is considerable. It is perhaps nonsense but one
supposes that the grille condition is commonly
viewed as an indicator of how well the
current (and previous) owners cared for
the truck, and hence affects the resale
value and prestige value of the truck.

Back to the issue of aluminum versus steel, I believe
that due to the inherent lack of material
strength in the former, the number of potential
steel replacements (when found) that are in good shape
is significantly greater than the number
of aluminum replacements, so a common response
to the problem is to use a steel grille
as an alternative substitute for an original
aluminum grille. In my case, my truck
used to be in snow country and I suspect
that the aluminum grille was pushed in at
one point inadvertently by accidentally
plowing into a snow bank. Regardless,
those who find themselves in similar circumstances
and still in possession of a relatively intact
aluminum grille, or contemplating the purchase
of a replacement aluminum grille, may want
to consider the option of arranging for some
kind of grille guard to protect the grille
due to its relative frailness.

Someone may want to get a more recent read
on the Dennis Carpenter situation since my info
is a couple of months old and the situation
may have changed for better or otherwise
in the meantime.

 

I'd agree with most of what you said. I would caution that Dennis Carpenter has been saying that 67-69 grilles would be available "in six months" for over a year now, so I'm not holding my breath.

Before I got lucky and found my NOS 69 Ranger grille, I considered either trying to have my existing one restored (straightened, polished, and red stripe repainted), or just buying one of the more common steel grilles in good shape and having it chrome plated. The latter choice was actually more expensive, as even a used steel grille in relatively good condition goes for $150+.

If you're doing a real restoration and are particular about authenticity, either have your existing aluminum grille restored (there are plenty of good shops advertising in Hemmings that specialize in aluminum and pot metal parts restoration), or start frequenting ebay and the swap meets looking for a NOS or excellent used one and at the same time start running classified want ads here and in Hemmings describing what you want. You'll get even better response to your ad if you say that you're willing to pay a finder's fee.

 

The 69 grill actually has a depression across the thick middle bar that is painted on the Ranger series. The 68 grill has a smooth middle bar and is otherwise identical to the 69.

 

why dont u all just order Lmc truck magazine. www.lmctruck.com It has every body part for most of all the ford years before 80 i think.

 

Hi K12,

Here are a couple of before and after pics of my F-100. My truck is a '68, but I found a flawless aluminum '67 grille for nothing, though the headlight bezels have a couple dents and would like to replace them. I still have my original grille and would someday like to have it chromed, but will be expensive I'm sure. I'll have to check it out. It could be for sale for the right price though, just not sure.



http://www.f-series.net/two.jpg

http://www.f-series.net/my68f.jpg:-)

 

No one mentioned the emblem on the grill? Mine has what looks like an additional piece in the center that holds a red RANGER badge... Are these some what rare?

 

>No one mentioned the emblem on the grill? Mine has what
>looks like an additional piece in the center that holds a
>red RANGER badge... Are these some what rare?

That's the Ranger grill emblem, they came on all '68 and '69 Rangers. I like them, it changes the whole look of the front IMO.

Barry