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I noticed that some of the chrome on the Right Front Grill (part number: 5964684) on my 1970 was looking a little rough, so figured now that I have some time it might be a good time to replace it. That is until I noticed how much an original grill and even reproductions are selling for! Crazy expensive! So, I just cleaned it up and decided it looks great.
It did start me to wondering if the Left and Right Front Grills on my car are original. Short of pulling them off and looking for the part number and production info on the back, is there any way of telling with them mounted on the car?
Last edited by bigdaddy33; Apr 14, 2020 at 11:28 AM.
Reason: Added pic
The GM part number should be inside the parking light bucket if you remove it........it should also have a hole for your fiber optic display.
Yes...these grills are ridiculous....and because they are ridiculous new....the used ones are ridiculous too.......
Hold out for a reasonable one.....a member here sold me one for $250....which I think is reasonable.
1970 front grilles are 1 year only. They mounted with 3 pins and speed nuts. 71 and 72 mounted with screws which is what I think I see on yours. I have heard that is was possible to have the 71-72 grilles or maybe a combo of 70 and 71-72 originally on a late build 70.
Original studded 70 grilles are even more expensive than the later ones.
1970 front grilles are 1 year only. They mounted with 3 pins and speed nuts. 71 and 72 mounted with screws which is what I think I see on yours. I have heard that is was possible to have the 71-72 grilles or maybe a combo of 70 and 71-72 originally on a late build 70.
Original studded 70 grilles are even more expensive than the later ones.
Thanks for the reply. I read somewhere that later production 1970's switched to screws, so both styles were used in the 1970 cars. The report listed the VIN ranges, but I neglected to save it. It even went on to say that there were exceptions to that rule.
The GM part number should be inside the parking light bucket if you remove it........it should also have a hole for your fiber optic display.
Yes...these grills are ridiculous....and because they are ridiculous new....the used ones are ridiculous too.......
Hold out for a reasonable one.....a member here sold me one for $250....which I think is reasonable.
Jebby
Congrats! And I agree. Based on what I found, you got a steal.
Thanks for the reply. I read somewhere that later production 1970's switched to screws, so both styles were used in the 1970 cars. The report listed the VIN ranges, but I neglected to save it. It even went on to say that there were exceptions to that rule.
70 models have been documented with 71/72 grills after S/N 13656 or so.
70 models have been documented with 71/72 grills after S/N 13656 or so.
Thanks. Pretty sure that's what I read as well. Since my 1970 was built after S/N 13656, the grills with screws instead of studs on my car is likely correct.
There are numerous examples of low mileage, documented mid to late July builds with screws, studs, and one of each. My 56k mile July 20 build has no screws. However, many studs were broken on the pieces from earlier cars when they were removed, and they were replaced with the much more common version with the screws. This is what the bumper alignment of a no-hit car should like with no gaps or misaligned pieces.
Last edited by JohnnyQuik; Apr 14, 2020 at 10:04 PM.
I'm having a hard time believing that different type grilles (stud or screw) on the same vehicle. That would require different hardware on each side of the assembly line, and stockers knowing which hardware went to which side of the line. It is much more likely that the car came with stud-type grilles and that one of them was replaced (wreck/damage/whatever) with the screw-type grille due to availability.
There are numerous examples of low mileage, documented mid to late July builds with screws, studs, and one of each. My 56k mile July 20 build has no screws. However, many studs were broken on the pieces from earlier cars when they were removed, and they were replaced with the much more common version with the screws. This is what the bumper alignment of a no-hit car should like with no gaps or misaligned pieces.
The alignment of the bumper and grills on your car is outstanding!
I’ve posted a few pics of the front of my car. What, if anything, can be done to improve the alignment of the right front grill?
Last edited by bigdaddy33; Apr 15, 2020 at 09:52 PM.
I'm having a hard time believing that different type grilles (stud or screw) on the same vehicle. That would require different hardware on each side of the assembly line, and stockers knowing which hardware went to which side of the line. It is much more likely that the car came with stud-type grilles and that one of them was replaced (wreck/damage/whatever) with the screw-type grille due to availability.
Do a little research and you'll discover it was not uncommon on later 70's. All three that I'm personally aware of with mismatched grills have studs on the RH and screws on the LH. YMMV
I noticed that some of the chrome on the Right Front Grill (part number: 5964684) on my 1970 was looking a little rough, so figured now that I have some time it might be a good time to replace it. That is until I noticed how much an original grill and even reproductions are selling for! Crazy expensive! So, I just cleaned it up and decided it looks great.
It did start me to wondering if the Left and Right Front Grills on my car are original. Short of pulling them off and looking for the part number and production info on the back, is there any way of telling with them mounted on the car?
Original 1970 Front Grills had no exposed screws 1970 1970 Notice the pins on the back 1970
Now your 1970 depending if it was made closer to the end of production may be why you have screws as these were introduced in 1971, GM always made changes I a whim I understand. Yours look nice.
for those of you without grilles or very bad ones. and numbers matching not an issue. the 69 plastic grilles are way more affordable. even needing to buy the hockey sticks and bumper guards.
I noticed that some of the chrome on the Right Front Grill (part number: 5964684) on my 1970 was looking a little rough, so figured now that I have some time it might be a good time to replace it. That is until I noticed how much an original grill and even reproductions are selling for! Crazy expensive! So, I just cleaned it up and decided it looks great.
It did start me to wondering if the Left and Right Front Grills on my car are original. Short of pulling them off and looking for the part number and production info on the back, is there any way of telling with them mounted on the car?
How did you clean yours up? I have great grills on the front but the chrome is not so great.
I restored my front grills a couple of years ago. The amount of time it took to sand the paint off every little square I should have bought a small blast cabinet. I used a Silver Leafing Pen (thanks Richard 454) to recreate the chome edges. My 70 is a March 8 build with the pins.
I restored my front grills a couple of years ago. The amount of time it took to sand the paint off every little square I should have bought a small blast cabinet. I used a Silver Leafing Pen (thanks Richard 454) to recreate the chome edges. My 70 is a March 8 build with the pins.
Those came out great ! Thanks for the clean up tip
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1970 Front Grill
