1968 GMC Grill Removal - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

68gmcdude · 03-21-2023, 10:51 PM

Question for the group. I am trying to remove the grill from my '68 GMC. All of the bolts have been removed and the bottom is free. However, the top does not want to come out. It looks like the top may be held in by some type of pins? I have attached a picture showing one of them. Are these holding the top of the grill in place and if so, how do you remove them? Thanks...

**'68OrangeSunshine** · 03-21-2023, 10:58 PM

If it's a rivet, you'll want to drill a hole square in the center thru about the depth of the head, then tap a punch the same diameter of the drill into the hole to set it. Then tap the punch sideways to pop off the head.
Or you could try to grind off the head with an angle grinder, but if you lose control, you'll cut up the surrounding metal.

However, I've never had to remove a GMC grille, so it may be possible to pull the grille off w/out going that far...

68gmcdude · 03-21-2023, 11:16 PM

The truck is original so whatever they are, they are factory. They don't really look like rivets. The heads are flat. There are about 8 of them across the top of the grill from the underside.

**special-K** · 03-22-2023, 06:27 AM

The whole grille and top bar come out as one. Are you wanting to separate those two parts? Is the top bar unbolted from the fenders?

**ghackett1** · 03-22-2023, 06:48 AM

Those are factory rivets, my 68 c10 had the same fasteners. Unless you have some body work to do on the grille or the inserts they don’t need to come apart. Otherwise The inserts could be taped for painting or the grill could be taped for painting.

**special-K** · 03-22-2023, 07:38 AM

They are rivets. You haven't had a chance to answer if you are separating the two parts of the grille or removing the grille from the truck, which is what I assumed by "grille removal". I just grabbed a picture of my '67 grille assembly that is standing free from fenders as removed, still bolted to the core support. Maybe you meant top bar removal

68gmcdude · 03-22-2023, 08:37 AM

The bolts that attach the top bar to the fenders have been removed on both sides. Pic attached of the top bar meeting the fender. Maybe I just need to tap with a rubber mallet to break loose?

jaros44sr · 03-22-2023, 08:46 AM

You will want to drill the part of the rivet that is peened over, trying to drill the head will only cause the drill bit to walk unless you can center punch it, I drilled mine out and put bolts in.

1679488929012442271451290108648 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/97391199@N06

My grille is repop and there was no EDM coating behind it, so I'm glad I took it apart

Take your hood bumper off, their are bolts that hold the grill to the fenders

jaros44sr · 03-22-2023, 09:00 AM

This is the location of the rivets some holes are for mounting clips for the grille surround

20200302_070417 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/97391199@N06

To gain access to the grille bolts, you should remove headlight surround, behind the bumper are a couple more

In Special Ks pic, you can see what the top of the grille mount looks like, also the. Bottom mount is similar with 2 bolts I believe

**too much stuff** · 03-22-2023, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68gmcdude

The bolts that attach the top bar to the fenders have been removed on both sides. Pic attached of the top bar meeting the fender. Maybe I just need to tap with a rubber mallet to break loose?

Did you remove 2 bolts from the top bar on each side? One bolt is kind of hidden up there. I don't recall seeing a top bar riveted to a grill in 67 or 68 gmc. You may have to loosen the fender just a little also.

68gmcdude · 03-22-2023, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by too much stuff

Did you remove 2 bolts from the top bar on each side? One bolt is kind of hidden up there. I don't recall seeing a top bar riveted to a grill in 67 or 68 gmc. You may have to loosen the fender just a little also.

Yes. There were four bolts on each side that I removed. Two on top and two on the bottom.

68gmcdude · 03-22-2023, 12:35 PM

Update: Grill is out. Loosening the fender bolts did the trick. Thanks for everyone's help!

**special-K** · 03-22-2023, 11:48 PM

Good to hear, fellow GMC dude

03-21-2023, 10:51 PM	#1
68gmcdude Registered User Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Mentor, OH Posts: 126	1968 GMC Grill Removal Question for the group. I am trying to remove the grill from my '68 GMC. All of the bolts have been removed and the bottom is free. However, the top does not want to come out. It looks like the top may be held in by some type of pins? I have attached a picture showing one of them. Are these holding the top of the grill in place and if so, how do you remove them? Thanks... Attached Images

03-21-2023, 10:58 PM	#2
'68OrangeSunshine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tucson, AZ USA Posts: 7,060	Re: 1968 GMC Grill Removal If it's a rivet, you'll want to drill a hole square in the center thru about the depth of the head, then tap a punch the same diameter of the drill into the hole to set it. Then tap the punch sideways to pop off the head. Or you could try to grind off the head with an angle grinder, but if you lose control, you'll cut up the surrounding metal. However, I've never had to remove a GMC grille, so it may be possible to pull the grille off w/out going that far... __________________ Every 25 years I like to rebuild that 292, whether it needs it or not.

03-21-2023, 11:16 PM	#3
68gmcdude Registered User Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Mentor, OH Posts: 126	Re: 1968 GMC Grill Removal The truck is original so whatever they are, they are factory. They don't really look like rivets. The heads are flat. There are about 8 of them across the top of the grill from the underside.

03-22-2023, 06:27 AM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: 1968 GMC Grill Removal The whole grille and top bar come out as one. Are you wanting to separate those two parts? Is the top bar unbolted from the fenders? __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

03-22-2023, 06:48 AM	#5
ghackett1 68 C10 Longbed Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 520	Re: 1968 GMC Grill Removal Those are factory rivets, my 68 c10 had the same fasteners. Unless you have some body work to do on the grille or the inserts they don’t need to come apart. Otherwise The inserts could be taped for painting or the grill could be taped for painting.

03-22-2023, 07:38 AM	#6
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: 1968 GMC Grill Removal They are rivets. You haven't had a chance to answer if you are separating the two parts of the grille or removing the grille from the truck, which is what I assumed by "grille removal". I just grabbed a picture of my '67 grille assembly that is standing free from fenders as removed, still bolted to the core support. Maybe you meant top bar removal Attached Images __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

03-22-2023, 08:37 AM	#7
68gmcdude Registered User Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Mentor, OH Posts: 126	Re: 1968 GMC Grill Removal The bolts that attach the top bar to the fenders have been removed on both sides. Pic attached of the top bar meeting the fender. Maybe I just need to tap with a rubber mallet to break loose? Attached Images

03-22-2023, 08:46 AM	#8
jaros44sr Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454 Posts: 9,422	Re: 1968 GMC Grill Removal You will want to drill the part of the rivet that is peened over, trying to drill the head will only cause the drill bit to walk unless you can center punch it, I drilled mine out and put bolts in. 1679488929012442271451290108648 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/97391199@N06 My grille is repop and there was no EDM coating behind it, so I'm glad I took it apart Take your hood bumper off, their are bolts that hold the grill to the fenders __________________ Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim Last edited by jaros44sr; 03-22-2023 at 08:55 AM.

03-22-2023, 09:00 AM	#9
jaros44sr Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Philadelphia, Pa. 19454 Posts: 9,422	Re: 1968 GMC Grill Removal This is the location of the rivets some holes are for mounting clips for the grille surround 20200302_070417 by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/97391199@N06 To gain access to the grille bolts, you should remove headlight surround, behind the bumper are a couple more In Special Ks pic, you can see what the top of the grille mount looks like, also the. Bottom mount is similar with 2 bolts I believe __________________ Semper Fi...Uncle Sam, you da man All parts offered to help are free, unless otherwise noted Dont try this stuff in my build thread, unless you have 55 years of mechanical OTJ training SAFETY FIRST AS usual, off topic They say your mind goes second, can't remember the first Jim Last edited by jaros44sr; 03-22-2023 at 09:20 AM.

03-22-2023, 12:35 PM	#12
68gmcdude Registered User Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Mentor, OH Posts: 126	Re: 1968 GMC Grill Removal Update: Grill is out. Loosening the fender bolts did the trick. Thanks for everyone's help! Attached Images

03-22-2023, 11:48 PM	#13
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: 1968 GMC Grill Removal Good to hear, fellow GMC dude __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~



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