FYI Grille Shells No More
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
damn - that is NICE and shiny!!!!
Even if my truck gets all painted and prettied up I could not justify the cost of one of these grills. A junk yard unit will always be good enough for me as my truck sees the dirt and a "new" grill could look just as bad as an old one in 1 weekend mishap
Even if my truck gets all painted and prettied up I could not justify the cost of one of these grills. A junk yard unit will always be good enough for me as my truck sees the dirt and a "new" grill could look just as bad as an old one in 1 weekend mishap
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
This is about the cheapest place I could find a replacement aftermarket grill.
1975-1977 Ford F-250 - Replacement Grille Shell
Grille Shell Replacement - 1978 Ford F-250 - AutoPartsWarehouse.com
1975-1977 Ford F-250 - Replacement Grille Shell
Grille Shell Replacement - 1978 Ford F-250 - AutoPartsWarehouse.com
1978/79's use the same grille shell: D8TZ8200A.
1971/72's used the same grille shell (D2TZ8200A) but its's not the same as 1970.
The following is from the the Truck Shop's April 2008 catalog (carandtruckshop.com). This place is a fairly new repro parts seller located in Orange, CA.
#78-10026, imported 1978/79 grille shell: $145.00.
#73-10024, imported 1973/77 grille shell: $145.00.
Check out the grilles they have available on page one in their catalog.
Prior to the Western Nationals Truck Show held last June, myself and three other FTE members visited the place. It's no "fly by night" operation.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 8
From: Gadsden Purchase
Originally Posted by UTfball68
Sheila said they were still having some stamping issues with dentside shells...
I want one made from steel. :)
The bump-sides had 'em and I want one for my dent-side.
Why pay $600 for just an ordinary aluminum one?
That expensive sucker needs to be better somehow IMO.
Steel or stainless steel or thicker+stronger than stock aluminum
...whatever, just better for $600.
Anybody else? :)
Alvin in AZ
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 8
From: Gadsden Purchase
Originally Posted by ChaseTruck754
Heck you can bend the STOCK grill shell by hand EASILY -
I'd hate to see how thin the reproductions are!
I'd hate to see how thin the reproductions are!
The stock one bends but springs back for the most part.
The aftermarket ones just bend and stay bent.
That's the test to compare the originals with the DC copies.
"how springy are they?"
Alvin in AZ
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
From what I've seen the stock ones are pretty brittle after all these years. Most of the trucks I've had apart had at least 2 bolt tabs broken off the grill. Most have more than that. The "tabs" for the bolts on these things are annoyingly thin/small.
And yes I'g go for steel or stainless - although the latter would be far more than $600 to re-produce... At least the normal steel one a regular guy can weld/fix. These aluminum ones are a little thin for my aluminum wleding skills
And yes I'g go for steel or stainless - although the latter would be far more than $600 to re-produce... At least the normal steel one a regular guy can weld/fix. These aluminum ones are a little thin for my aluminum wleding skills
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
I'm a weird sucker, but...
I want one made from steel.
The bump-sides had 'em and I want one for my dent-side.
Why pay $600 for just an ordinary aluminum one?
That expensive sucker needs to be better somehow IMO.
Steel or stainless steel or thicker+stronger than stock aluminum
...whatever, just better for $600.
Anybody else?
Alvin in AZ
I want one made from steel.
The bump-sides had 'em and I want one for my dent-side.
Why pay $600 for just an ordinary aluminum one?
That expensive sucker needs to be better somehow IMO.
Steel or stainless steel or thicker+stronger than stock aluminum
...whatever, just better for $600.
Anybody else?
Alvin in AZ
What F100/350's used steel grilles?
The 1961/69 painted grilles are steel, as are the chrome grilles used in 1961/62, but nothing after 1969 is steel.
1973/79 grille shells are all anodized aluminum as original, the various grille inserts are plastic.
The 1970/72 grille shells aren't steel either.
The 1963/69 Custom Cabs grilles are also anodized aluminum.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
I think you read his post wrong as well. He said "...the bumpsides had um..." so he must have been referring to the 67-69 bumpsides.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
I wasn't asking myself the question, I was asking Alvin.
I can tell you the composition of every Ford / Lincoln (1921/) / Mercury (1939/) / Edsel (1958/60) grille from 1904 thru today. 1903's didn't have a grille.
And I don't need a parts catalog to do it either, strictly from memory.
Bumpsides are 1967/72's, the 1970/72 grilles are not steel.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 8
From: Gadsden Purchase
Originally Posted by ChaseTruck754
you just answered your own question.
...he must have been referring to the 67-69 bumpsides.
...he must have been referring to the 67-69 bumpsides.
I saw a picture on Craig's List of a rusty grill on an old bump-side.
-->That's<-- what I know... plus what I just read in Bill's post. LOL :)
{dream state on}
How does "powder coated steel grill shell" sound to ya? ;)
Or even... "chrome plated steel grill shell"?
With a sales pitch like...
"much stronger than the original flimsy aluminum grill shell"
...added in for good measure. :)
{dream state off}
Alvin in AZ
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
Ok - so I mis-read your post I guess. It was trivia for Alvin...
You just gave the smiley - so it looked as if you didn't believe they were steel. Then you went on to say they (they = bumpsides - or at least half the years) were steal...
ok enough of that
nonsense
Alvin - I'm in for a powdercoated. No sissy chrome stuff here thanks. And YES I know I can powdercoat my aluminum one. I'm just saying IF we could get steel - I'd powdercoat mine.
You just gave the
smiley - so it looked as if you didn't believe they were steel. Then you went on to say they (they = bumpsides - or at least half the years) were steal...ok enough of that
nonsenseAlvin - I'm in for a powdercoated. No sissy chrome stuff here thanks. And YES I know I can powdercoat my aluminum one. I'm just saying IF we could get steel - I'd powdercoat mine.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 8
From: Gadsden Purchase
Originally Posted by mark a.
I've never had a problem finding a nice one at local junk yards around here.
We haven't got good ones around here because we don't have "rust buckets"
"biting the mud;)" in droves here ...as compared to there? :/
They are still in high demand here.
Chase wrote:
"I'm in for a powdercoated. No sissy chrome stuff here thanks."
Off hand I'd normally agree with that. :)
But...
What color?
Black? :)
Wimbledon White to match my pickup?
What?
Alvin in AZ
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 8
From: Gadsden Purchase
Originally Posted by ChaseTruck754
From what I've seen the stock ones are pretty brittle after all these years.
Most of the trucks I've had apart had at least 2 bolt tabs broken off the grill.
Most have more than that. The "tabs" for the bolts on these things are
annoyingly thin/small.
Most of the trucks I've had apart had at least 2 bolt tabs broken off the grill.
Most have more than that. The "tabs" for the bolts on these things are
annoyingly thin/small.
Pro A/C guys swear up and down the vibration from the equipment will
change the originally soft copper tubing into something that can break
on its own but especially if it is taken off of one unit and re-used on
another, that extra working of the metal is more than it'll take "often
enough" to make re-using tubing a big no-no.
My original grill was missing tabs etc but "a gal with no brakes" did it in. :)
Alvin in AZ
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 843
Likes: 1
From: USA
I ran an aftermarket shell on my truck for 20+ years and it never looked tooooo bad, just not really good. The first time I leaned on it to reach in and check my oil the darn thing bent. I freaked. The Chinese didn't do a real bad job of producing them they just did a terrible job in the finishing department. The reason they bend so easy is nobody told them they had to anneal the aluminum after it was shaped. Keep the material soft to shape it then anneal it to the hardness you need. How do you think the airplane industry makes it work? And then there is the finish coating. Even DC is having issues getting that right. I finally caught a NOS one on ebay and popped the $400.00 by it now" price and sucked it up. Sure does look good.
