47-55.1 Lack of Sleep + Photoshop gets weird

[americanmusc1e]

I've been lamenting modifying my 49 Chevy grille to fit around the frame of my Dodge donor. I've been going for a power wagon/ WWII theme. So I asked myself what a power wagon style grille would look like on an AD truck, then my brain went nuts. Enjoy the laughs.

[MiraclePieCo]

I vote for #2.

[_Ogre]

I vote that you up your Photoshop skilz
You have a big ol hole that you can fill with most anything and you chose about the ugliest dodge grill. Try drawing a modified jeep style slotted grill, more than 7 slots obviously. When you get a design you like, find someone with a cnc plasma cutter

[mr48chev]

I like the vertical bar look but would shape the cross bars to match the contour of the original grill bars. Then mount the vertical bars so they are all facing straight forward rather than angled with the contour of the cross bars.

[PDW HOTRODS]

I would us stock grill, remove bottom grill bar and build a bumper over the frame. Maybe with a winch in it.
Something like this.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/grm-trt-0921-8

[americanmusc1e]

Originally Posted by PDW HOTRODS

I would us stock grill, remove bottom grill bar and build a bumper over the frame. Maybe with a winch in it.
Something like this.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/grm-trt-0921-8

Yep. that's what I'm still planning to do. I was just lamenting cutting up my grille. It's not in good enough shape to worry about though.

[americanmusc1e]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

I vote that you up your Photoshop skilz
You have a big ol hole that you can fill with most anything and you chose about the ugliest dodge grill. Try drawing a modified jeep style slotted grill, more than 7 slots obviously. When you get a design you like, find someone with a cnc plasma cutter

Well I was acutally using Gimp because I don't own photoshop and I taught myself to do that in about an hour. So I'm sure I could be a lot better.

I did try a jeep grille. This one has been enlongated and slots added. I was only slightly impressed with the looks. Some modifications to the slots might improve the look.

[PDW HOTRODS]

You don't need to cut the original grill. Drill out the rivets holding the bottom bar in if they are still there. You can always put it back. I usually bolt my grills together. Either the rivets get loose, or I need to take apart to do repairs or replace a bar.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by americanmusc1e

Well I was acutally using Gimp because I don't own photoshop and I taught myself to do that in about an hour. So I'm sure I could be a lot better.

I did try a jeep grille. This one has been enlongated and slots added. I was only slightly impressed with the looks. Some modifications to the slots might improve the look.

I think the biggest reason Microsoft keeps updating is to get did of legacy programs, I had an old version of Photoshop that is not compatible with new Windows

The jeep version is closer to old power wagon, narrow the slots. It'd be nice if you could figure out how to peak the grill

[1project2many]

For me there is something "right" about having a smaller grille and engine compartment and fenders outside the compartment. For most manufacturers this style reached it's peak in the thirties although Power Wagons carried it into the forties and Jeep carried it into the 2000's and many "conventional" semis still use the style. While it has mostly disappeared in passenger cars and light trucks, some designs suggest the early lines in a beautiful way. Monte Carlos had this as a basic aspect of their design although the 73-77 models and the 78-80 models really made the lines prominent in the nose and on the side. Dodge trucks quickly dominated the market when they came out with their 1994 redesign. PT Cruiser and HHR both used very rounded versions of this idea as well. The opposite to this often beautiful and efficient design is the current truck trend of creating a wall on wheels. It is neither good looking nor creative. It makes me think that anyone can nail a few scraps of plywood together and call it a nose. Personal opinion, but ugh.

AD trucks are in a tough spot. I'm sure GM's engineers wanted to show they were moving away from the cars of the thirties and forties by getting rid of the very lines that many folks today find appealing. The fenders and hood still give a strong suggestion of the early construction methods but the grille tries to scream "New! Modern! Today!!" They created this look by making the grille cover much more of the front of the truck than previously. It actually cuts into the fender lines instead of sitting quietly and peacefully in front of the radiator like the "old" Power Wagons made in the same year.

I realize these are horrible. I don't have the skills to do them justice. But try to see how shrinking the grille makes it more PW-ish. Realistically the grille should be higher with the top of the grille being above the fenders, also.