71 coupe front grills??

[david smith]

I have a 71 coupe and have just started the resurection process and discoved (I wasn't savvy enough to notice before!!) that the left front grill is secured from the face with screws and the right side is secured with backing studs! Could anyone please tell me which one it should be or are these correct?? Thanks for any help on this embarassing question!!

[Patrick H.]

What's your serial number?

Hi,

Sounds like a 70-style grille with the studs, and a 71-2 style with the screws.

My memory on the exact details is a little fuzzy, but I believe (?) that early in 71 production, both styles were used for a short time until the 71-2 style was all that was left (70 used up). I believe that Terry could shed some light on this one. Thats why I asked your number, to see if you have an earlier car, or if you have a grille replaced at a later date with a used 70 grille.

I've got a late 71, and much better with the details for those cars. Believe it or not, there are differences...

Hope I got this one near right.

Patrick

http://www.yankeelady.com/dobbins/index.htm

[Chuck B.]

Re: 71 coupe front grills??

David, The grill with the studs is the style used in 1970, your 1971 grill should be secured with screws.

[Rick Dykstra]

Re: What's your serial number?

In keeping with Patrick's thread, my '71 which I just sold, had screws holding both left and right grilles.It was a Dec '70 car,#5371.Hope this helps.

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 coupe front grills??

Chuck has it right. The change in front grille styles took place in model year 1970, so all 1971's should have the screws through the lower rail of the front grills. Those with late 1970 can see the Judging Manual for a more exact change point.

That 1970 grill is rather valuable if it is in good shape with studs intact and no cracks and not much pitting. Tall order, right! The last time I saw a grille from Chevrolet, the style they serviced was the 1971 style, so from that standpoint you are in luck (maybe). They are a little pricy, if still available (I am sure Joe will advise); but you should be able to more than pay for a new one with the sale of your 1970 - again depending on condition.

BTW: I have never (Gosh I hate to use that word) seen an original installation that mixed these styles from side to side. The horizontal fiberglass panel behind the lower rail of the grilles is different for the two style grilles. The hole spacing for the screws is different than the studs. Now ask yourself why a release engineer would do that!!

You might want to check for body damage on the front in the area of the 1970 grille. These rarely get replaced for no reason. Trust me - been there and done that. That is how I learned about the different grille styles.

Terry

[Wayne W.]

Re: 71 coupe front grills??

Now I get down here and I find the thread. Serial # 169, I believe thats right I can check if necessary, definately has 70 style grilles. I have known this one since new and am absolutely sure of its authenticity. Here we go again. All you with early 70s check your grilles and hand brake handles.

[Juliet P.]

Re: 71 coupe front grills??

David, don't be embarassed. I'm in the same exact situation. One flush front, one with the screws. Mine's an early 1970 and should have both flush faced. I've got a driver side front grille with screw holes which is incorrect for my car. Is that the one you need? I'll offer to take that flush faced grille off your hands or trade but to be honest, that probably isn't the best deal for you considering the 1970 flush face grille's are somewhat hard to find and the 1971/72 with the screw holes in better shape than mine are easier to come by. I'm not looking for pristine show quality, just something functional & a little rough & tumble to match the rest of my car much better! ~Juliet


Juliet's 1970 Corvette

[Terry M.]

Re: Correction

See above thread for more info.

David,

I have to beg forgiveness here - I looked too quickly at the Judging Manual. Don't know why I should remember what I wrote years ago??

Correction:

We have seen 1970 style grilles up to 1971 s/n 1450 We have seen 1971 style grilles as early as 1970 a/n 13656 (this was the only part I read - shame on me) Also says by 1971 s/n 3900 we see no more 1970 style.

So what that means is your very early 1971 could have either style. If I understand your last post correctly the fiberglass clues (location of holes) match the 1970 style grille. That being the case (correct me if I misunderstood your above post), and the fiberglass looking like it is original to the car (check bonding at the sides) - it sounds like your car had 1970 style grilles.

That makes sense because (no surprise here) they are the hard ones to get. If one was broken the easy replacement was the 1971 style.

Now you will have to decide what your goal is for the car. Likely 90+ people out of 100 (unless that 100 are NCRS judges) will never notice the difference - but now that you know it will bug you ALWAYS. The curse of knowledge.

Sorry for the hasty, incomplete and inaccurate post earlier.

Terry

[Joe L.]

Re: 71 coupe front grills??

Terry, et al------

I believe that the 1971-72 style left(GM # 5964683) and right(GM #5964684) grilles are still available, although it is possible that the left side grille has been VERY RECENTLY discontinued. These grilles GM list for $269.00 each. The center grille, GM #3966772, has been discontinued for quite some time.

[Terry M.]

Re: 71 coupe front grills?? (more)

Joe,

There is a minor difference between 1971 and 1972 grilles in that the 1972 style had no hole above the parking lamp for fiber optic fitting. Minor point but judges can reach up and feel top of parking lamp housing for hole. NOTE: Judging by brail - likely confirms everyone's worst suspicions about judges. :-)

GM service replacement is one-size-fits-all (at least from their perspective) and has hole for fiber optics. At least, last one I saw did.

However, this is a minor point in that a crafty person could fill that hole in such a way that one could not feel the opening. It is in a location where the sun don't shine, so visual appearance is not a factor.

Terry