thats great to hear as i need to get a new one for my crew..
1975 New Grill Shell
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
1975 New Grill Shell
I looked every where for a new grill shell and gave up. I heard that the ones out there were junk. I checked Dennis Carpenters web site again and there it was OE polished grill shell for sale. They are not cheap $ 550 but I had to have one. When it arrived I was very nervous how it would look and if it was worth the money. Well it is. I just installed it and it fits and looks great. I will post pictures when I figure out how to post them on this site.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
That is great news as I have a new one from DC in the box sitting in my bedroom waiting to be installed!! I bought it about a week ago. I have the same style 73-77. I also got the inserts, rubber heat shields, and bumper guards. Got the new bumper from NPD. That is great news, the shell does look alot better even sitting in the box. Montana the fella that I spoke with when I ordered mine told me they just got a memo that day stating DC had 50 in stock.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 2
From: London, Ontario Canada
i know what ya mean berry1234, our grilles must be made out of super rare aluminum! 
lol lol
maybe Dennis Carpenter should start excepting cores? then they can melt down old beat and bent up grille shells! then they can make new grilles with original Ford aluminum!
i went sanded and polished my grille up, its not 100% perfect, but then if i got a new grille i would end up marking it up anyways, but some day i might end up ordering a new grille for a spare, just in case!
-Brent
lol lolmaybe Dennis Carpenter should start excepting cores? then they can melt down old beat and bent up grille shells!
then they can make new grilles with original Ford aluminum!i went sanded and polished my grille up, its not 100% perfect, but then if i got a new grille i would end up marking it up anyways, but some day i might end up ordering a new grille for a spare, just in case!
-Brent
Trending Topics
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,157
Likes: 3
Any pics of this?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
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
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 2
From: London, Ontario Canada
don't got any pictures, sorry,
but i will post some pictures of the grille and the truck this Spring, right now its got ice and snow on the truck! its hibernating like a bear for the winter!
also its not 100% done, the truck is about 94% finished its frame up resto that began in September of 2007, but are they ever 100% done!
all i can say, is the wet sanding worked really well, and it took lots of work, but well worth it, i think i started with 1000 wet sand paper, then i went up to 1500, then to 2000, and then polished it up, i think they make 2500 and 3000 grit, if i can get 3000, i will go over it again this spring, and polish it up again,
but it did come out like new chrome after i polished it up! and i even got out some major scratches out, as the passenger side of these grille shells tend to get scratched and dinged up, as previous drivers miss judged the size of there truck, and i assume they grinded into something! but now my passenger side looks just as good as the drivers side,
-Barry
but i will post some pictures of the grille and the truck this Spring, right now its got ice and snow on the truck!
its hibernating like a bear for the winter!also its not 100% done, the truck is about 94% finished its frame up resto that began in September of 2007, but are they ever 100% done!
all i can say, is the wet sanding worked really well, and it took lots of work, but well worth it, i think i started with 1000 wet sand paper, then i went up to 1500, then to 2000, and then polished it up, i think they make 2500 and 3000 grit, if i can get 3000, i will go over it again this spring, and polish it up again,
but it did come out like new chrome after i polished it up! and i even got out some major scratches out, as the passenger side of these grille shells tend to get scratched and dinged up, as previous drivers miss judged the size of there truck, and i assume they grinded into something! but now my passenger side looks just as good as the drivers side,
-Barry
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
Here is mine sanded and polished...
Easy-ff over cleaner to remove anodizing...
Fine Rol-lok pads to remove and smooth finish and then progressive 220-400-600-800-1200-1500 wet sanding.
I used a buffing compound after the 1200 to see what needed further sanding and repeated the 1200. Buffed the grille. Wet sanded with 1500. Buffed again and then used another finer buff. Then topped it off with some chrome wax polish.
As for the buffing I have some red rouge and white tripol.
Easy-ff over cleaner to remove anodizing...
Fine Rol-lok pads to remove and smooth finish and then progressive 220-400-600-800-1200-1500 wet sanding.
I used a buffing compound after the 1200 to see what needed further sanding and repeated the 1200. Buffed the grille. Wet sanded with 1500. Buffed again and then used another finer buff. Then topped it off with some chrome wax polish.
As for the buffing I have some red rouge and white tripol.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 2
From: London, Ontario Canada
looks great, and mine came out the same, i was kinda worried when i first started, but then it got better and better looking, and i was actually glad i did it,
also on a side note Bullitt390, i see your see your center trim has a screw in it, at the very front of the truck? i don't think my trucks trim has that hole? i know the front trim can hang out, and i was lucky to have one of the original clip fasteners left in mine, i had to create another clip and install it on the one side, otherwise the front of the center trim isn't flush with the body, also when we had to re-drill the holes for the center trim, it was kinda scary! as the doors and front fenders where new, and we had to weld the old holes in the bed, because the previous owner put the clips in bad spots, plus we added more clips to the bed center trim, but drilling into a freshly painted truck makes one nervous!
-Brent
also on a side note Bullitt390, i see your see your center trim has a screw in it, at the very front of the truck? i don't think my trucks trim has that hole? i know the front trim can hang out, and i was lucky to have one of the original clip fasteners left in mine, i had to create another clip and install it on the one side, otherwise the front of the center trim isn't flush with the body, also when we had to re-drill the holes for the center trim, it was kinda scary! as the doors and front fenders where new, and we had to weld the old holes in the bed, because the previous owner put the clips in bad spots, plus we added more clips to the bed center trim, but drilling into a freshly painted truck makes one nervous!
-Brent
Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 54
Likes: 5
From: Bay Area, CA
Here is mine sanded and polished...
Easy-ff over cleaner to remove anodizing...
Fine Rol-lok pads to remove and smooth finish and then progressive 220-400-600-800-1200-1500 wet sanding.
I used a buffing compound after the 1200 to see what needed further sanding and repeated the 1200. Buffed the grille. Wet sanded with 1500. Buffed again and then used another finer buff. Then topped it off with some chrome wax polish.
As for the buffing I have some red rouge and white tripol.
Easy-ff over cleaner to remove anodizing...
Fine Rol-lok pads to remove and smooth finish and then progressive 220-400-600-800-1200-1500 wet sanding.
I used a buffing compound after the 1200 to see what needed further sanding and repeated the 1200. Buffed the grille. Wet sanded with 1500. Buffed again and then used another finer buff. Then topped it off with some chrome wax polish.
As for the buffing I have some red rouge and white tripol.
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
looks great, and mine came out the same, i was kinda worried when i first started, but then it got better and better looking, and i was actually glad i did it,
also on a side note Bullitt390, i see your see your center trim has a screw in it, at the very front of the truck? i don't think my trucks trim has that hole?
also on a side note Bullitt390, i see your see your center trim has a screw in it, at the very front of the truck? i don't think my trucks trim has that hole?
I think if i were to do it again (and I do not plan on it anytime soon) I may skip the easy off and probably the rol-lok disks and go straight to wet sanding starting with a 150 or something.
As for the trim, the clips were corroded on the backside, so I just drilled a hole in the trim and then installed some stainless steel screws. Actually the one side was like when I got the truck, so really I just made then other side match.
Josh
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
I used one can of Easy-Off, the yellow top.
I have read on other forums guys who make a little tray or tub and mix some sort of solution to soak it in.
But like I said, I really don't think that is needed. Just start sanding.
Josh
I have read on other forums guys who make a little tray or tub and mix some sort of solution to soak it in.
But like I said, I really don't think that is needed. Just start sanding.
Josh
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
wadar1969
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
May 18, 2011 04:20 PM
BigRed1967
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
11
Jul 30, 2009 07:42 PM
Dr. Dirt
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
10
Mar 30, 2009 01:42 AM
