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1976 grille swap help please #1861271
07/01/15 02:20 PM
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timeklr Offline OP
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OK I have a 1979 d100 with single 6" bulbs on each side and turn/markers in filler panel, Im wanting to put on a 76 grille as its all I can find NOS the headlights seem like the buckets need to be moved just a little bit has anyone done this? Any help would be appreciated

Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1861298
07/01/15 03:08 PM
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79powerwagon Offline
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They are not directly interchangeable, but not that hard to make work if you have no other choice. The 76 also uses separate light doors (3 piece grill assembly) where the 79 uses a one piece.

Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1861659
07/01/15 11:19 PM
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timeklr Offline OP
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Thank you 79powerwagon any tips on this swap? can I just move my 6" buckets or are the 76 bulbs another size? thanks again

Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1861664
07/01/15 11:22 PM
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timeklr Offline OP
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I have the grille and am waiting on the bezels to se just how far too move things was hoping someone has done this before and had advice?

Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1861831
07/02/15 07:20 AM
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Yes, you can move the buckets over a bit, perhaps drill new holes for the mount screws. The best thing to do is to measure measure measure! wink

For my trucks (and I've had a bunch of these over the years), at some point early on I decided to simply stay with matching parts, no easy task up here in the rot belt. Even when I went from the twin round headlights to the stacked quads on my 79, I replaced everything including the core support.

So, in a nut shell, yes, you can swap these parts. You just need to do a good job of layout. Have it it! laugh

Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1861839
07/02/15 08:25 AM
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If i remember correct the 79 round headlight core support has the headlight mounts welded in and the square headlight mounts bolt in? But also the headlights in a 76 sit further back, if you put the 76 grill in the 79 it will appear the headlights are bulging out of the grill.

Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1862570
07/03/15 01:48 AM
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timeklr Offline OP
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79 powerwagon I agree proper swap of all parts is best but as is I have cab painted and assembled this is last minute so to speak due to I cant find proper 79 grille, the buckets are welded I will drill and mount with bolts giving me some fudge room I hope, Danny I believe you are right and I plan to mock it up see how much they bulge and cut stand offs over lap them to eliminate bulge then spot weld and then bolt buckets in place... measure measure I'll post pics when I get on it hope next weekend after bezels come in thanks guys

Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1862658
07/03/15 07:24 AM
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Sweet! smile Just take your time is all!

I don't have immediate access to my pics in the archives, but this was my 79 (near its end) that started out as a round head light truck. I actually bought this truck ONLY for its grill to use on my 75 D200. I ended up restoring it TWICE over the years instead! wink

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Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1862755
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Im sure you can make it work, I have a 79 round headlight truck i put an nos grill in couple years ago, i had plans to convert to the 76 grill just because i like that grill better. If i remember right the back of the headlight mounts are really close to the core support already, but you could cut some big round holes behind the headlights so you have more room. I gave up on the idea because i found the nos grill for a good price. Honestly i always thought the 79 grill would look better if the headlights were sunk further back in it also! They just seem to really pop out there, I put a set of flat hella headlights in mine and it made a huge difference in the look. Would still like to sink them back another half inch or so but there isnt much room behind the headlights.

Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1862936
07/03/15 05:14 PM
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The hole behind the headlights is big enough to sink them into, you just have to modify the brackets. On most of the ones I've seen the lights sit flush with the grille or even in a little bit.
I always hate the way the round headlight grille looks on those two years. The stacked headlight or older round front looks a lot better.
And yeah the round headlight brackets are welded on while the stacked ones are bolted.

Last edited by 5thAve; 07/03/15 05:16 PM.
Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1866324
07/08/15 01:48 AM
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timeklr Offline OP
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thanks for the help guys I have started this project removed buckets hope to flatten stand offs drill holes and use spacers as needed we'll see

Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1866327
07/08/15 01:52 AM
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timeklr Offline OP
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Danny you are so lucky to have found that grille I looked for 3 years got 4 so so grilles out of it....I do like the 76 grille though also

Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1867029
07/09/15 01:29 AM
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timeklr Offline OP
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Life is good had some time to work on truck this morning I straightened the stand off tabs where they were factory bent to be welded and then re bent them in vise as close to bucket mount surface as I could . placed it on truck and needed to drill hole for adjuster on r side to sink past rad support. placed filler and grille on placed in headlight bucket with bulb and place on bezel it fit woo hoo looks like very little shim action needed I will drill mount holes this morning .so happy with this. cant figure out how to post pics on here yet but i'll search it and figure it out I hope thanks again guys.

Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1867041
07/09/15 02:01 AM
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timeklr Offline OP
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some pics .....I think .. I'll post up step by step with pics soon just wanted to figure out how first

IMG_20150708_093958_268.jpgIMG_20150708_093633_613.jpgIMG_20150708_093740_387.jpg
Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1867091
07/09/15 08:06 AM
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I’d been wondering if the NOS grill you picked up wasn’t military surplus. I restored a 76 True Spirit back in 2008 and at the time there was still a bunch of military surplus stuff around, but even then the 76 grills were not all that common (the 77 stuff was a lot easier to find and cheaper).

Rather than fight getting the green coating off, I took the easy way out and just sent the grill out to the chrome shop. I really liked the way it turned out.



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1968 Plymouth Valiant 2dr sedan (354 HEMI, 46RH w/4.30 gears)
Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1867506
07/10/15 12:26 AM
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Yep thank the lord for surplus parts I like the chrome idea but I just sent out mirrors and emblems for $750 ouch hope they look good when done. I'm going to take off the green and go from there its starting to flake already so going to see if a rag and thinner will do the trick. Leaving it green while mocking up to avoid any scratches really thinking of picking up spare grille while they are still out there.

Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1867514
07/10/15 12:34 AM
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OK step one remove grille, headlight bulbs and battery, there are spot welds one or two on each of the four tabs holding on the headlight bucket mounts. these will need to be drilled out from inside of engine compartment once drilled a hammer and putty knife or chisel will knock em free or just a little wiggle may do it,

IMG_20150707_145831_499.jpg
Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1867517
07/10/15 12:40 AM
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with the bucket and mount removed separate them removing adjusters and spring mark as needed to re assemble. next with a vice or body hammer straighten out the tabs where the bucket mount was welded,

IMG_20150708_093633_613.jpg
Last edited by timeklr; 07/10/15 12:41 AM.
Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1867523
07/10/15 12:48 AM
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next you will want to bend the tabs out 90* I found placing them in vise with jaws clamped as far up the tab as I could get them to bucket mount surface worked well they bend easy and even this way, repeat this for all 4 tabs on each bucket, at this time you can drill holes on out side end each of the four tabs, you will need these holes to mark the drilling points in the rad support to mount up buckets.

IMG_20150708_093740_387.jpg
Last edited by timeklr; 07/10/15 12:58 AM.
Re: 1976 grille swap help please [Re: timeklr] #1867528
07/10/15 12:51 AM
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before and after straightening and re bend with holes drilled in tabs

IMG_20150709_100120_745.jpgIMG_20150709_100210_208.jpg
Last edited by timeklr; 07/10/15 12:59 AM.
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