Has anyone else noticed that the new GM grilles are not made right and haven't been for years ?
The center bar is way too thin and too deep. It has a simulated molding on the leading edge. This is not right. Original 69 grilles that I have, do not have the "extra" simulated molding on them. They are wider at the center bar, which helps when putting on the aluminum molding, as the barrel nuts fit much better.

Has anyone else noticed this ?

I bought a new GM grille from the dealer back in 1986, and it was made wrong too. Solid original grilles are getting very hard to find.

Nate


[This message has been edited by SS3964N8 (edited 04-19-2002).]

The newer grilles are not SS grilles. They are I believe Malibu and 300 grilles. Mounting the center trim is quite dificult and may require special hardware to fit in the channel....Albert

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69 Chevelle SS 396 350hp convt. 4spd w/ac Monaco Orange ALS 69 RAG (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/als69rear.jpg)
70 Chevelle LS-5 M-22 Cpe misty turqoiseMY 70 SS (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/als70ss.jpg)
1969 Chevelle SS-396-375hp Tuxedo black w/Parchment interior and vinyl top 4 spdMY NEW 69 SS (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/alsnew69.jpg)
ACES 1805

[This message has been edited by alss (edited 04-12-2002).]

My understanding is that only '69 300 Deluxe models did not have a bright center molding on the grille. Instead a raised painted area to take the place of a molding. For some reason the new GM grilles are only for this application, which is fairly rare. Doesn't make much sense.

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von '69 300 Dlx SS TC #15 ACES #1575
My '69 SS (http://mywebpage.netscape.com/jerryacheson/vons69.html)

We've got to get to the bottom of this.
Does anyone have an original car w/o the center molding.
I believe you may be right about the 300 Deluxe cars, Von. I never thought of it that way. Why wouldn't GM sell the much more popular Malibu/SS grille ? Who actually makes these grilles anyway ? Does nayone here know a GM "higher-up" that could find out more ?
There isn't really such a thing as an "SS" grille, because the Malibu and Super Sport grilles are the same. I believe all new grilles are "drill and paint as required".

All I know is these new grilles look really stupid with the aluminum molding on top of the plastic simulated molding on the center bar. What is everybody else doing ?

Nate

Most advertisements will tell you that these grills are not correct for the SS aplication and require painting and drilling.

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FastSS396Man
Brian

Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr3.jpg), Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manflqtr2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manrrqtr3.jpg),
Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manint1.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manint2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396mantrunk2.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manfrchassis.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manexh.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manengine1.jpg),Fastss396 (http://chevelles.com/showroom/fastss396manrchas1.jpg)
69' SS396 Chevelle
L78 396/375hp
M-21 Close Ratio
Cortez Silver
10 year Resto
It's brand new again!
02' Harley FatBoy, Diamond Ice Pearl and lots of chrome!
ACES# 3466

fastss396man,
But did you understand what I was saying about them being made wrong altogether ?
The center bar is not correct.

Nate

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SS3964N8:

There isn't really such a thing as an "SS" grille, because the Malibu and Super Sport grilles are the same.
Nate<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Actually there is a difference between the Malibu grill and the SS grill but not hardly enough to even be noticable

Although unlike the 300 grills that are currently available, the center bar on both the Malibu and the SS grills are both designed to accept the chrome molding but the "plastic" center bar on the SS grill doesn't protrude out as far as it does on the Malibu grill
The plastic center bar on the Malibu grill is about 1/4" or so thicker (front to back) than the one on the SS grill

Many of the SS cars that I have checked out actually have had the grill replaced with the Malibu grill but like I said, it is hardly noticable

On my SS, I just left the chrome molding off because with it on top of the simulated chrome on the 300 grill it's as if one piece of chrome is stacked on top of another and like you said looks pretty silly

I wound up buying 3 or 4 grills before I finally figured it all out
I have a brand new Malibu grill in the box that I am going to put on one of these days when I get a "round tuit"

I have talked to several people who have had 69 Chevelles since new, and from what they can figure, the SS grille was NEVER offered over the counter after about 1973 or so. So basically, unless your SS has the original grille, or you find a nice used original, the likelihood of ever finding an NOS SS grille is about zero. Look at the next big car show and you will see that 99% of 69 SS chevelles have the wrong grille.

Just for the record, Dean is correct. there were 3 different grilles in 69... the 300 grille, the Malibu grille, and the SS grille. The center bar protrudes out the LEAST on an SS grille. A Malibu grille is NOT the same as an SS grille.

Dean,
I'm not sure I fully understand what you are saying. Is there a noticeable difference between the SS grille and the Malibu Grille ? Is it the depth of the center bar ?
I never really looked at them that closely.
I don't think the Malibu grille should have the molded-in simulated molding on the center bar.
Take a look at eBay Item # 1818837620

Nate

[This message has been edited by SS3964N8 (edited 04-15-2002).]

the SS center bar is "shallower" then the Malibu. If you look at the area of painted silver grille, between the face of the grill and the bright molding, it is very narrow on an SS carwitht he original SS grill, in other words, the center bar sits back between the headlights farther on an SS.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SS3964N8:
Dean,
I'm not sure I fully understand what you are saying. Is there a noticeable difference between the SS grille and the Malibu Grille ?

It's not hardly noticeable at all unless you are looking fo it


Is it the depth of the center bar ?


Yes, the plastic horizontal bar on the Malibu grill is a little deeper than the one on the SS grill



I don't think the Malibu grille should have the molded-in simulated molding on the center bar.


You're right, the one with the extra deep bar with the simulated chrome painted silver on it is the 300 grill


Take a look at eBay Item # 1818837620


It's pretty hard to tell in the picture
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/temp_DC69gril.jpg

but that one looks like it has holes in the center bar for attaching the chrome so I would guess it is a Malibu or SS grill because there would be no holes in the 300 grill
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Does anyone have side by side photos of a real SS grill and one of the 300 grills? I would love to see the difference up close.

David Selko

the picture of the grill in the above link looks to be a true SS grill. note the thickness (distance the center bar protrudes from the mesh part of the grill) it is thinner than the malibu or 300 grills.

Yea, I just bought a grille for my '69 Malibu. Unbelievably annoying. The center bar is wrong, but I still wanted the center chrome strip.

The nuts for the chrome trim will NOT fit inside the deeper/narrower center bar. I used JBWeld in place of the nuts. It'll hold just fine, just impossible to take apart.

Other than that, the grille seems pretty decent. I need to get a flat black paint pen and fix their overspray mess though.

Has anyone grafted a "SS" center section onto one of these new grills?

What type glue would ya use? Would ya get enough material contact to make a good bond?
I know SEM makes glue for plastics but Im not shure if it would be good for this?
Or would ya just be trashing the new grill?
T.C.

TC.....
I doubt that would work.
But now you have me wondering about where the extra space went to. If the center bar is thinner, and it is, then how did they make up the difference in the number of slats or rows? Is there the same number of slats and are they further apart? Or are there more slats?
Well....this requires more investigation.
I think someplace out in the shop I have a few grilles. I'll have to look them over now.

Nate

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Current collection:
1. 1969 Chevelle S/W SS396 TH400 12 bolt 3:31 Posi PS PDB AC Dual action PW gate Blue/Blk int
2. 1969 Chevelle Malibu 2 dr hdtp All #'s match L48 350/300 TH350 12 bolt 2:56 PS PDB AC Tilt Parchment/butternut (193,000 mi. never apart !) 98% orig car
3. 1969 Chevelle Malibu Convert Light green/Blk int 350 TH350 10 bolt PS PDB AC Buckets/console Pwr top 87,000 orig mi.
4. 1969 El Camino SS396 Cortez/Blk buckets PS PDB PW No-AC TH400 12 bolt 3:31
5. 1969 Nova SS 350/300 M20 3:31 Posi Red/Red Buckets No console PS PDB No-AC 88,000 orig mi.
6. 1970 Camaro RS Z/22 #'s match 350/TH350 PS PDB AC Shadow gray/blk int Orig AM/FM
7. 1969 Chevelle Malibu 2 door hardtop, project car, was L48, 4 speed, has 12 bolt 3:31, Lemans blue ext/Black bucket/console interior, No AC No vinyl top, has PDB, PS, and is one of 722 cars ordered with the RPO F41 option.

I have a beat up ss grill ill have to measure a few places.
Im thinking mabe they just molded a fake molding in place of the real trim?
If this is the case it would just be deeper and could have the "fake molding" cut off and replaced with sheet abs plastic. (reinforce from the inside if needed)
This would widen the cross section where the trim nuts go and would also get the trim on the same plane as the other two trim pieces?
What ya think??????
T.C.

TC,
I think you have a pretty good idea there, but.....I have noticed that the center bar on these recent repros is not nearly as wide as the orig SS/Malibu grilles.
When I bought a new grille from GM in 1986, I could not get the nuts down between the center bar. If memory serves me, I ground the outer part of the nut off to make it a smaller diameter, and then they would just squeeze in there.
Even doing what you are saying won't be enough. The nuts would have to be smaller also.

Somebody should make a new grille that is correct. There is definitely a market for it.

Nate

Could the "nuts" on the repo molding be the second problem?
Im not shure on this because my car was far from O.E. when I bought it, but I did notice that some O.E. fastners were different from the repo. fastners?
What im thinking is mabe the general used a nut without the big flange?
As for solving the problem one could use hex type stand off's (about1" long)with washers ground to fit down into the channel, then use a socket to tighten in place.

I think that Goodmark may be coming out with a new grill that has the holes for the molding? They show it on there web site.
But thats another 150.00 to us that allready have a "new in box" GM grill thats not correct.
I think when its time I may try the fix!
what ya think?
T.C.

I've never bought a center "repro" molding before. I didn't know that they come with the studs and nuts. I don't know what they look like.
The original GM center molding nuts are pretty big. They fit nicely into the original grilles, but there is no way you'll get them on one of these "NOS GM" grilles sold today.
I'm going to get off on another subject right now, but it must be said. The term "NOS" is used rather loosely these days. These new grilles available today are not NOS. In my opinion, a GM "NOS" part is one that is no longer avilable from GM.
I see so many of these guys on ebay selling "NOS" stuff that is not NOS.
Bottom line.....unless you want to give your money away, educate yourself about what is still available from GM and what is not.

Man I feel better now.
Nate

I agree they call it "Original GM" and that leads one to believe it is NOS when it's really NOC "new out of China".
Very missleading and the sad part is it's the same stuff you can buy for 1/2 the price.
I dont see why they cant be honest with the customer and advertize the product as it truly is?
T.C.

Here is an post from last year (http://www.chevelles.com/forum/Forum3/HTML/003759.html) that has a couple of pics on the topic.

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Ron Cook TC Gold #1276 ___ ACES #5136
1969 300 Deluxe HTSS396 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/bow_tied4.jpg) The L35-325HP 396cid (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/bow_tied3.jpg) 69 Memory Lane (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/bow_tied.jpg) 1971 Malibu 2DR HT (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/bow_tied_71Malibu.jpg)
CanAm Chevelle Club (http://www.canamchevelles.com) _____________"Take my advice, I'm not using it."

NOS means NEW OLD STOCK... meaning, it was produced many years ago and is still in the original box... parts you buy from a GM dealer in the new "Genuine GM' boxes are NOT NOS... they are new, and almost ALWAYS different than the NOS paices... you can still get a 375 hp "163" casting big block intake from GM, but these are NOT NOS, they are way different in appearance to a "true" NOS piece that was made in 68 or 69... I agree that just cause its ina GM box does NOT mean it can be called NOS. As for the grills, the center molding is "tapered", thats why the nuts dont fit... they go "halfway in" then the grill tapers in, and they wont go all the way into it. The real SS grill is way shallower, so there isnt any taper, therefore the nuts work. Does this make sense??

Joey,
I already knew all that 15 years ago when I bought a new grille from GM.
What I would like to see is these aftermarket manufacturers make the repro parts exactly as the originals. Of course as long as they continue to make these aftermarket parts wrong, then the original parts will hold their value.
For example, These new 70-72 SS dashes are terrible. The lettering is way off. I don't get it. Why would someone go to all the trouble to make such a complicated part, and not make it right.??????????????????
It's beyond me.

Nate


[This message has been edited by SS3964N8 (edited 04-23-2002).]

You asked where all the extra space went to, i told you. And yes, i agree that new and repop stuff all sucks, some worse than others, but its all junk.

Hey guys, take a look at this.
eBay Motors Item # 1823841556
Now this has me wondering if the bracket is for different grilles ????

Nate

If I remember corretly that looks like the same type hardware my O.E. SS 396 has?
T.C.

TC
yeah, I imagine that the retainer is the same as the SS emblem.
But what I was thinking is that this Malibu Bowtie comes with 2 different retainers.....maybe for grilles with different center bars ???
The only reason GM would include 2 different retainers is because the bowtie emblem could be used on different models.
Does anyone have a non-SS 1969 Chevelle 300 deluxe car ? What is on the center of the grille . Any kind of emblem ?

Nate



[This message has been edited by SS3964N8 (edited 04-25-2002).]