blazenbaja_67
1/2 ton status
I bought a tube grill from a yard sale and of course it has no mounting hardware for it and I am new to the round head light yrs so if any one can post pics of how they mounted them i would appreciate it
CK5
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Tube grill?
- Thread starter blazenbaja_67
- Start date
meanboyjr
1/2 ton status
Basically, aftermarket (tube or billet) grilles came with slotted, built-in tabs or separate, adjustable brackets that were screwed to the original mounting locations on the truck. Most of the square bodies ('73-'80) had 6 mounting points - 3 on the top, 3 on the bottom - accessed from the front of the truck (no need to open the hood or remove the trim).
IIRC, some of the 1st gens had 4 mounting points up top, and then 4 or 5 (?) on the bottom. I think you had to remove the surrounding trim on some on them to access the screws, but don't quote me on that.
EDIT: Does the tube grille you bought not have any brackets on it at all?
IIRC, some of the 1st gens had 4 mounting points up top, and then 4 or 5 (?) on the bottom. I think you had to remove the surrounding trim on some on them to access the screws, but don't quote me on that.
EDIT: Does the tube grille you bought not have any brackets on it at all?
blazenbaja_67
1/2 ton status
It has 2 brackets the tubes are welded to full length with 2 slots at top and bottom will post pic on lunch hr if i get one thanks
take your grill off and put the tube one on and see?
Its not that difficult?
Its not that difficult?
I can't take my view back so I'll just reply "I don't own a round light blazer".
meanboyjr
1/2 ton status
It might help if you told us the year of your K5. "Round headlight" covers 2 generations/bodystyles and over a decade of production. Grille mounting on a '70 is a lot different than it is on a '77.
blazenbaja_67
1/2 ton status
Sorry bout that I was half asleep when I posted that it is a 79 and I purchased it without any grill in it.I have the after market grill from a yard sale with no hardware,trying to get my pics uploaded so I can post pics of it but dam if the wife isn't at work with it in her truck.
blazenbaja_67
1/2 ton status
Here is the grill sorry it has taken so long to get them uploaded
meanboyjr
1/2 ton status
Just an educated guess, but it seems that the tube grille bolts to the outer two core support uprights. I can't really tell without measurements, but it sure looks that way from the pics. This is not the stock setup, as the original piece uses 6 screws and plastic screw clips - 2 in each support, top and bottom. If you've been driving around without the grille for any length of time, the clips themselves have probably fallen out. Not that it matters in this case...although you will need new clips if you ever find a stock grille and want to use it.
Anyway, you're probably going to have to remove the radiator panel so you can access the core supports from the top. Then it's just a matter of mocking up the grille in place, marking the location of the new holes, drilling the support and bolting the tube grille in place. You might be able to use some clamps to hold the grille in place while you're working.
If your truck has an interior release for the hood (I'm not sure if this was an option in '79), then you're all set. If it has an exterior handle, you're going to have to rig something up so you can get to it, since the top tube of the new grille may now be in the way. If the grille leaves you with a little room to move it up and down, you may want to set it low, which might leave enough space to get your hands on the hood release. Or you can grind/cut an access slot in the upper tube. Just be sure you have a way to get to the hood release before you close the hood.
Anyway, you're probably going to have to remove the radiator panel so you can access the core supports from the top. Then it's just a matter of mocking up the grille in place, marking the location of the new holes, drilling the support and bolting the tube grille in place. You might be able to use some clamps to hold the grille in place while you're working.
If your truck has an interior release for the hood (I'm not sure if this was an option in '79), then you're all set. If it has an exterior handle, you're going to have to rig something up so you can get to it, since the top tube of the new grille may now be in the way. If the grille leaves you with a little room to move it up and down, you may want to set it low, which might leave enough space to get your hands on the hood release. Or you can grind/cut an access slot in the upper tube. Just be sure you have a way to get to the hood release before you close the hood.
there is another bracket that looks like angle iron, it bolts to the radiator support on both sides with 2 bolts per side, then your new grill bolts to that and you can see the rust line from the previous bracket. My 79 support has a hood release cable, so no problems there. I would take a picture, but no computer at home and it will be a couple days before im able to post them.
meanboyjr
1/2 ton status
I wondered what those rust marks were from...it didn't look like they were from the core support. I'm curious to see how the whole thing gets bolted together.
I guess if the OP is missing the angle brackets he could just make another set.
blazenbaja_67
1/2 ton status
The rusty line had me wondering if it wasn't a full length bracket also but while I ave the engine out I am going to mock up something for it but for now have to finish milling the hump heads and get engine bay cleaned up for the new heart beat since the 400 was locked up.
here are pics...
holes in radiator support:
backside of grill, passenger side:
backside of grill, driver side:
entire grill with the mounts installed:
holes in radiator support:
backside of grill, passenger side:
backside of grill, driver side:
entire grill with the mounts installed:
blazenbaja_67
1/2 ton status
Thanks Dean,That is exactly what I needed and owe you one.Thanks again Shaun
