Grille Stamping Numbers

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Jul 19, 2007 | 08:29 AM

#16

73FOMO

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 1,462

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From: Hartford, AL

Here are the pics in larger size.....showing gap.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...6/100_0603.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...100_0601-1.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...6/100_0604.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p...6/100_0602.jpg

So this is normal fit and finish on the 78-79 grilles?

Jul 19, 2007 | 01:42 PM

#17

NOCO77

Elder User

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 514

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From: Northern Colorado

The gaps look a little more excessive than on my 78-79 grille shell, but not too much. I have both the 73-77 and 78-79 shells right now, and the earlier shell does seem a little beefier for some reason. Could be that one is aftermarket, but they both have small 3 or 4-digit stamps in the far driver-side recess under the hood overlap. I can't really make either of them out, but I was thinking that maybe they were just some kind of inspector's stamp or something - they do not resemble any kind of Ford p/n.

Jul 19, 2007 | 02:23 PM

#18

mando jake

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 484

Likes: 0

From: Leitchfield, ky

Uh yeah that looks like turd cream pie

. Mine were not that bad at all, not even close. Something is way off. Maybe it was made on a monday.

Jul 19, 2007 | 02:30 PM

#19

hntndawg

New User

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 5

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnT

The grille shell on my '73 has a number stamped on it. It is located on the part of the grille that wraps underneath the hood when the hood is closed. I think it's a few letters and the number "77". My grille shell originally came off of a '77 truck, so I think that's why it has the number '77. I just assumed that all of the grille shells had a stamping on them. I guess I was wrong.

Your not totally wrong, my 79 has a grille off of a 75 and I have the same stamped numbers... several numbers and a 75

Jul 19, 2007 | 06:41 PM

#20

NumberDummy

Ford Parts Specialist

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 88,826

Likes: 785

From: Simi Valley, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by 73FOMO

Here are the pics in larger size.....showing gap.

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p295/bryd06/100_0603.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p295/bryd06/100_0601-1.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p295/bryd06/100_0604.jpg
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p295/bryd06/100_0602.jpg

So this is normal fit and finish on the 78-79 grilles?

Holy Cow, no way. The grille you have looks like it's tweaked a bit on the right and left sides, and has jagged edges. Not normal at all. Could be some body or chrome shop tried straightening it out, and not too successfully, either. From the looks of the faded anodizing, I'd say that grille has been in there quite a while. I've never looked closely at the Taiwanese grilles, so I can't say how they fit. The sheet metal (fenders, hoods, etc) that comes from there and is installed by body shops is a nightmare to align, and the gauge of the metal is thin, thinner and thinnest compared to Ford sheet metal, so the quality of the grilles is prolly not much better.

btw: Certain insurance companies today will not pay the price for genuine Ford parts if the gypo Chinese arts are cheaper. That's something for y'all to consider when buying a policy.

Last edited by NumberDummy; Jul 19, 2007 at 06:45 PM.

Jul 20, 2007 | 07:48 AM

#21

73FOMO

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 1,462

Likes: 74

From: Hartford, AL

That's what gets me. The grille seems straight, it doesn't look tweaked, and the gap is identical on both sides of the grille at th signals.....dunno. I am still waiting for Mando Jake to look at the pics and see if this is what he is seeing also. Kinda stumped.

Jul 20, 2007 | 04:06 PM

#22

73FOMO

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 1,462

Likes: 74

From: Hartford, AL

Sorry...Mando...didn't notice you had already looked at the pics....anyway, I plan to use to mock up while lookin' for a better piece.

Jul 20, 2007 | 06:59 PM

#23

mando jake

Senior User

Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 484

Likes: 0

From: Leitchfield, ky

I would be afraid to use that even for mock up. Have you ever seen that particular grille shell in a truck? Id be afraid that once I got a good one it wouldnt fit if I use the distorted looking one for mock up.

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Jul 22, 2007 | 06:37 PM

#24

73FOMO

Thread Starter

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 1,462

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From: Hartford, AL

Agreed...tossed in the junk pile...definitely a Tawainese piece of Crapola....Metal soft, signal fit crappy, no shine, and it measures and entire inch narrower than my '73 grille.

Jul 22, 2007 | 08:09 PM

#25

bucks77ford

Post Fiend

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 5,037

Likes: 9

From: Kasson, Minnesota

And yet aftermarket shells still sell for around $200-250 not including shipping. I've got a 73-77 grill shell I bought for about $20 and has the rock pits and scratches from being 30 years old, but It is very straight and despite the wear/tear I would use it long before I use a brand new aftermarket. Can't believe aftermarket companies can't make things better than what they are doing now.