grille supports, year interchange question

[cooltoolguy]

I just recently parted a '76 c-10 and am going to use the front clip, but not the '76 grille (I think it is too flat).  so...
I purchased a very nice OEM '73 grille with emblems but,
i think there may be a problem.   the 73 grille is much deeper than the 76 and the screw holes will not line up.  I checked and all catalogs seem to only show 75-80 grill supports,  but they show 73-80 radiator supports.  are the 73 supports that much different and if so does any one know where i could find a set? any help is appreciated (even if it is to ridicule me)
thanks in advance - steve

[toplessblazer]

As far as I can remember the brace that the hood latch assembly bolts to is different on the 73-74, it sets closer to the radiator. The core support is the same 73-80 it's just the front brace that bolts on for the hood latch is different. I think there is a couple little braces on the side where the grill mounts too, that unbolt. I gave shaved80 a front clip from a 73 so you might want to see if he still has the pieces from that core support and see if he would want to part with them. I put the grill out of my 74 blazer in my buddies 78 blazer and I can't remember what all I swapped out but I know everything unbolted from my core support and bolted on the 78. I am not a fan of the 73-80 frontends so I tend to not remember specifics on these years so there may be something I am missing, but I don't think so.

[roundedline]

The radiator support is the same from 73-80.  The supports for a 73-74 are specific to ONLY those years.  On top of that, no one makes the pieces for those years.  You can't even buy a 73-74 replacement grill.

You need the latch, latch panel (piece that bolts to the core support) latch support and the 2 end supports for the grille to work.  Basically everything but the core support, fenders and hood, and lower valence

Chris Lucas
www.73-87chevytrucks.com
www.captkaoscustoms.com
Project Su
Jimmy 2WD Project

[cooltoolguy]

that is what i figured, (i got the grille from epay for 35) worst case scenario if i cant locate the pieces, i will be doing some custom fabricating.. isn't that what owning an old truck is about?  ps anyone have these parts lying around?  steve