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Lots of chrome! It's certainly one of the reasons we love the look of our 1955-57's. All of that chrome is both a blessing and a curse. The blessing is: when it looks good, there is nothing better than the front of a classic. The curse is: when it gets rusty and looks bad... the car looks downright ugly! In this article, we will replace a rusty tubular grille that was installed in our 1956 with a stock grille. The new grilles are available in chrome or durable stainless steel. You will be amazed at what some new chrome up front will do for the look of your early Chevy.
3 Hours
Image 1 Description: The '56 grille fits between the front splash and upper grille tie bar...
Image 2 Description: The tubular grille is bolted to the grille tie bar using two of the original rivet holes...
Image 3 Description: The hood bar extensions are held to the front of the fenders with four 1/4"-20 studs and nuts...
Image 4 Description: The hood stops screw into the top of the tie bar...
Image 5 Description: The hood latch striker bolts to the top of the tie bar and hood latch striker support bracket with three 5/16" bolts...
Image 6 Description: The ends of the tie bar are bolted to the inner fender with a bolt that passes through from the outside of the inner fenders...
Image 7 Description: The lower grille molding is held to the splash with five self-tapping sheet metal screws...
Image 8 Description: With the tie bar, grille, and lower grille molding removed, now is a good time to get in all the corners and do some cleaning...
Image 9 Description: The top of the grille upper tie bar is riveted to the top of the grille with 7 black oxide tube rivets...
Image 10 Description: The rivet through the tie bar into the grille and is crimped on the grille side (underside) of the rivet...
Image 11 Description: A better and easier way to secure the grille is a threaded rivet that takes the place of the tube rivet...
Image 12 Description: With the tie bar riveted or bolted to the grille, install the assembly between the two fenders...
Image 13 Description: The grille bolts to the inner fenders and splash with self-tapping sheet metal bolts available in the front end sheet metal fastener kit...
Image 14 Description: The lower grille molding bolts to the splash in front of the grille with hardware included in kit...
Image 15 Description: We replaced the bolts in the hood bar extensions with the correct 1/4" x 20" studs...
Image 16 Description: Install the left and right hood stops. Lower the hood carefully and adjust the stops so that the hood bar lines up with the hood bar extensions...
Image 17 Description: Install the hood latch striker support bracket and striker and make any further adjustments so that the hood closes...
Image 18 Description: With the new grille and lower grille molding installed, the front end looks super sharp!