Grille install

[TJ1978]

I think this grille is bent or I am..
The inner lights on the core support have 4 screws each which are supposed to line up with the grille however, the one I bought used, does not.

yes I have the inner grille portion I was just mocking this up see how it fits together
Hopefully the pictures can tell my story?

it’s hard to get a decent angle to snap a pic of.
this is 1969 c10

 

[fourwheelerjeff]

when I first saw the title I thought, he got new glasses, he probably got a new grille to go with them.

 

[TJ1978]

Hajajajaja... @fourwheelerjeff
Fair enough... hahahah

 

[TJ1978]

Maybe these are better?
If I get the passenger side sort of lined up, the drivers side is off by almost an inch or more. The top of the grille that bolts to the light housing is nowhere near close enough for a screw.

 

[TJ1978]

This is not a repop grille. But I’ve been browsing online and repop or OEM they are PITA to get one right.

 

[6872xtc]

The lights aren't supposed to be bolted to the radiator support, as far as I remember. It has been a few days since i looked at Dad's '69 though.
I have no idea why someone would do that at the moment. That bolt arrangement or all-thread is not factory.
It should only be attached to the back side of the grille.
His is an OEM one which was easy to install. My LMC one in my '72 took some work, but that was mostly because I left the billet insert installed at first.

 

[TJ1978]

You’re saying those bolts holding the lights in the rad support are incorrect and that they instead go to the grille? Makes sense.

I looked at 67-72 manual and it’s not really clear... I’ll look again tomorrow.

It could be previous owner bolted them there to not lose them.
This truck was in pieces when I bought it.

 

[TJ1978]

@6872xtc
I think you be correct. Why drill holes in the core support for the lights?
Who knows... hahahaha!!????

this is how I got the rad support.

 

[Wes Harden]

That doesn't look factory to me. Maybe the old grill was to damaged to bolt or support the lights and that was their remedy.

 

[TJ1978]

I know they bought one of the billet grills to replace the factory one... maybe that was it. Makes sense now...

 

[6872xtc]

I know they bought one of the billet grills to replace the factory one... maybe that was it. Makes sense now...

That would make sense if it was one of the phantom grille versions. I hadn't thought of that.
That would also explain why they drilled a hole for the end of the bulb socket and wires to go into. Not factory, but not a big deal. If I remember to, I will try to get a picture of Dad's truck, just for the heck of it.

 

[TJ1978]

For someone with no wiring experience, how difficult would you venture it will be if I wire the 69’ c10 myself?

i bought the most idiot proof harness in The American Wire 69-72 harness.
I’m getting quotes ranging from $1500-2000 just to wire it... which is not cheap but....

 

[onetonbb74]

If your patient it should be pretty easy...It took me about a month taking my sweet time on a 69 GMC.

 

[frankin5]

If they are all labeled, so be easy to route each wire to the desired location.

 

[TJ1978]

$1500-2000 is a lot of money and I understand why. I just don’t want it to be a rag-tag newbie wiring job either.

what to loom? What to wrap etc. I don’t want it to blow up when I go to start it.. hahahahahahaha

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[mrk5]

I like doing electrical work but I haven't rewired an entire truck. If it can sit for awhile, I'd do it. Just take your time. I'm sure when you're done there will be things you wish you had done different, but you can't learn that stuff without ever doing it.

 

[TJ1978]

I don’t mind giving it a try. But my main concern(s) are;
A. Troubling shooting mistakes. I suck at troubling Shooting wiring issues.

B. Wiring the truck, making a mistake and having to take it to a shop. Where it will cost me more for them to fix my screw up than it would have cost for them just to wire it.

 

[6872xtc]

And if the shop screws something up, will they be honest about it when the have to find the problem? Or just blame the harness and charge you.
These trucks are very simple in factory form. And going to an internally regulated alternator simplifies it more by removing the regulator on the radiator support.
The gauges can take a little time to wire cleanly, and I like to keep a plug to them so that the cluster can be wired up on the bench rather than laying on your back or some other awkward position. The cluster can be removed easier in the future as well.

 

[TJ1978]

@6872xtc
Good point.

I may just dig in and do it myself. I could use that $$ elsewhere for sure.
im going to get Dakota digital as well.
prepare for a monster thread “how to wire a 1969 c10” haha.