FYI Grille Shells No More
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 312
Likes: 1
FYI Grille Shells No More
I just found out the LMC Truck insnt selling Ford grille shells anymore for 73-79 F series. I also know they dont sell grille shells for my 72 Ford anymore also. You can still buy grilles and doors but no grille shells. If there is another company that sells reprodution grille shell for Ford trucks let us know. Thanks
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 60
tons on Ebay still.
The thing is, the shells from LMC or Ebay or even JC Whitney aren't that bad for a daily driver, farm truck, construction, mudder etc. It's something decent that is at least halfway presentable.
My aftermarket shell (I think it JC Whitney, but could have been LMC) was bought about 11 years ago, and yes it is thin and distorted a couple spots, but it worked fine until I found a cherry OEM shell on EBAY last year.
I think what really kills the deal on those shells is the shipping. Sometimes over $100 for a $100 shell. Yikes!
Which makes those full blown $499 OEM repos, really $599 repos. That's insane!
Josh
The thing is, the shells from LMC or Ebay or even JC Whitney aren't that bad for a daily driver, farm truck, construction, mudder etc. It's something decent that is at least halfway presentable.
My aftermarket shell (I think it JC Whitney, but could have been LMC) was bought about 11 years ago, and yes it is thin and distorted a couple spots, but it worked fine until I found a cherry OEM shell on EBAY last year.
I think what really kills the deal on those shells is the shipping. Sometimes over $100 for a $100 shell. Yikes!
Which makes those full blown $499 OEM repos, really $599 repos. That's insane!
Josh
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 9
From: Kasson, Minnesota
Yes, exactly......the shipping is quite high for a light item. Yes, they are kind of big, but nothing standard UPS can't handle and with the shell alone with no hardware or inserts in them, they are very light. Not a $100 worth shipping. I could see maybe $40 with oversize item, but not what they are. Funny, I had three separate huge boxes from a seat I bought out in California and only was charged $80 for shipping and that's when fuel was around $2.50 national average.
But, the repro shells are good enough for daily drivers, but when you add on shipping to a $250 or so aftermarket item, that's high. The OEM ones even higher.
I've got a used one with the typical scratches and very small dings. I've thought about having someone paint it the color of my truck so see how it turns out.
But, the repro shells are good enough for daily drivers, but when you add on shipping to a $250 or so aftermarket item, that's high. The OEM ones even higher.
I've got a used one with the typical scratches and very small dings. I've thought about having someone paint it the color of my truck so see how it turns out.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 312
Likes: 1
Since you claim to be the smartist guy in the room, please tell us where to get grille shells for projects. I know the China repo stuff is crap, but I'm not going to grab my ankles to buy a OEM grille shell.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 9
From: Kasson, Minnesota
I simply stated that I heard LMC shells are a low quality product. The last time I heard (and only a few months ago) the FTE sponsers still had aftermarket ones such as BOTP, AutoKrafters, NPD, BroncoGraveyard, Macs, etc.
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 60
Ouch dude! Take a chill pill... no need to attack anyone
the point was this:
1) Pay for the cheaper versions ala LMC, JC WHITNEY or even EBAY
2) Pay OEM prices from Dennis Carpenter, Bronco Graveyard, Blue Oval ETC...
3) scrounge the wrecking yards for a passable shell, needle in a haystack really.
I had a LMC quality shell for several years and it looked OK, but recently I got a great deal on a used original shell on Ebay.
So, what are YOU personally wanting to do? Clean up a daily driver that looks good from 6 feet away? A show quality truck that will have people inspecting it from 6 inches away? Do you want a nice original shell that may take some elbow grease to shine up and bang the dings out or a nice shell that you just have to bolt on?
That is what will determine the route you take.
Like I mentioned earlier, pay attention to the shipping fees, they all seem to really stick the buyer with those charges.
Josh
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 312
Likes: 1
First of all, I'm not a mean hearted person so please don't take what I say to heart. I have 5 Fords and they all need grille shells. I can only afford to do one truck at a time. Also, I have been in all the salvage yards in a 200 mile radius from my home to look for decent grille shells, just to find them a lot worst and/or not much better than what I have right now. I build daily drivers, so paying a huge amount of cash for OEM stuff like grille shells isn't wise. Eventhough places like LMC uses China made parts, they make parts that allows average people like me, to keep the older stuff one the road.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
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
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 9
From: Kasson, Minnesota
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
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
From: Williamson, NY
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
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
Yes, exactly......the shipping is quite high for a light item. Yes, they are kind of big, but nothing standard UPS can't handle and with the shell alone with no hardware or inserts in them, they are very light. Not a $100 worth shipping. I could see maybe $40 with oversize item, but not what they are. Funny, I had three separate huge boxes from a seat I bought out in California and only was charged $80 for shipping and that's when fuel was around $2.50 national average.
It's PURE BS, but what can you do?
Also - I love how none of the extra fuel sur-charges or price hikes have gone back down or away since gas is back down
Sorry for the
rant, but this shipping BS is hurting my parts selling!Back to grill shells...
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 15
From: Costa Mesa, CA
Heck you can bend the STOCK grill shell by hand EASILY - I'd hate to see how thin the reproductions are!
Elder User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: Spokane, Washington
My friends dad who has a 77 f-250 got an LMC shell it was kind of on the thinner side but it was Well driving down a bumpy road in 4wd and some what of mud the shell fell off, all the holes cracked and the bolts were still in the brackets, but the shell brackets themselves cracked and just fell off! it was 5 miles of road. So I don't even know if I would say that they're good for daily drivers if you plan on doing anything with bumpy roads! The roads weren't that bad just dirt roads with some waterboard
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 9
From: Kasson, Minnesota
But, I do understand the frustration of these being so expensive and so expensive to ship. Even the aftermarket ones are expensive and for daily drivers it's about the only feasible option because many decent complete trucks cost as much as an OEM grill shell. With my truck, I look at my used one and it looks OK, but sticks out like a sore thumb on the nice paintjob, so I went with a new OEM one which did cost me an arm and a leg, but on top of what I already spent on the truck......well you know.
