Custom grille

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TheSquareGuy

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Ok so I need ideas for a grille, I'm thinking an angle outer boarder and a square tube main that follows the bezel lines (same as factory). I was thinking cut the square tube in half and then mount two single row light bars behind an expanded cover kinda thing. And making a little 305 badge how they did on the 70s trucks... I'd appreciate any other ideas or suggestions on making the grille any other function or visual ideas are gonna help me a lot please and thank you
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(Uploaded a few pictures of new ideas, and other builds)
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theblindchicken

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Sounds like a cool idea.

Biggest thing seems to be determining how you're gonna mount it to the radiator support?

Also, are you going for an inset grille like the 73-74 or the flat face similar to the rest of the grilles?
 

74 Shortbed

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Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.
 

TheSquareGuy

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Sounds like a cool idea.

Biggest thing seems to be determining how you're gonna mount it to the radiator support?

Also, are you going for an inset grille like the 73-74 or the flat face similar to the rest of the grilles?
I already have a rad support I made, rad is fully attached to the core support I've got a ton of room to play with here

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TheSquareGuy

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Sounds like a cool idea.

Biggest thing seems to be determining how you're gonna mount it to the radiator support?

Also, are you going for an inset grille like the 73-74 or the flat face similar to the rest of the grilles?
And I'm gonna try to keep the main frame and center section as similar to an 80s grille as possible, with a handful of modern touches that come to mind along this process

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theblindchicken

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Thinkin 1" angle and 1" square tube? How long of light bars? 8"? 12"?
 

TheSquareGuy

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Thinkin 1" angle and 1" square tube? How long of light bars? 8"? 12"?
Lights are gonna probably be about 6", square tube will probably be about 1.5" to 2" and 1" angle

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theblindchicken

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drew up a quick sketch of your idea based off my 74 grille dimensions (50" x 11"). 2" outer radius with 1" inner radius in the bottom corners.

1" x 1/8" angle iron
1-1/2" sq tube
1/16" expanded mesh
6" gap for light bars pushed in 6" from angle iron edge.

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theblindchicken

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Found a 6" dual row led light bar that was uploaded on GrabCAD... threw that in there just to help give you an idea of what it would look like. Not exactly the single row you're thinking of, but it helps.

Obviously, the transparency of the mesh depends on what kind of mesh you intend to use as well. Just went with a 60% transparency to be able to easily see the difference in the materials.
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TheSquareGuy

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Found a 6" dual row led light bar that was uploaded on GrabCAD... threw that in there just to help give you an idea of what it would look like. Not exactly the single row you're thinking of, but it helps.

Obviously, the transparency of the mesh depends on what kind of mesh you intend to use as well. Just went with a 60% transparency to be able to easily see the difference in the materials.
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I actually planned to have the lights be a piece of the main bar, inside of it actually, cut out the back and a section of the front to show the light obviously, I'll draw a more detailed picture later. Currently in school and I can't

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theblindchicken

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I actually planned to have the lights be a piece of the main bar, inside of it actually, cut out the back and a section of the front to show the light obviously, I'll draw a more detailed picture later. Currently in school and I can't

A flush mounted light would look pretty cool. May have to increase the square tubing up to 2" or so depending on how thick the mounting is on the lights.

The drawings were just my take on your original sketch.
 

TheSquareGuy

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A flush mounted light would look pretty cool. May have to increase the square tubing up to 2" or so depending on how thick the mounting is on the lights.

The drawings were just my take on your original sketch.
I'll be going with a single row led light I found an 8" bar by rough country not my favorite brand but its a light, how bad could they have done, aside from that I can't decide to cut the main into my bezels or not, I'll post pictures of a truck I found showing this

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TheSquareGuy

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Making progress, got the outer boarder done, still haven't decided if I'm going to cut into the bezels with my main middle tube, I definitely want the expanded to sit about midway back on that square tubing though
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Green79Scottsdale

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I'm another one watching this!

To fit those lights you have pictured you are going to need 2" tube with a very light wall thickness, like .060". Those lights spec out at 1.8" tall. It can be done, and I think it could look really cool. I say if you like the look of a 2" center bar with your outer frame, for sure put the light inside of it.

Do you have access to a Bridgeport? That would be an amazing bonus to help you out.
 

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