This is what we at Jim Carter Truck Parts (with 41 years’ experience) have learned about these very popular grilles. Here is some grille bar data that many followers of the famous Advance Design trucks should find of interest. This can be very important for a person on a hunt for a restorable grille.
During your restoration of a ½, ¾, or 1 ton, you need a grille. Beware of a set of great condition painted grille bars that need little to make them ready to paint or have chrome plated. They may be grille bars from a 1 1/2 or 2 ton Chevy truck!
Yes, the big truck bars will fit, however these are wider than those of the smaller pickups. Because the “big trucks” have 20” wheels (not 15”, 16” or 17”) most everything in that truck’s front is slightly oversize. That includes, fenders, hood, radiator support, and yes, the grille bars. NOTE: Though the front fenders all fit correctly, the bigger trucks have a larger cut out to allow the 20” wheel to turn at corners.
The height of the five grille bars was increased to fill the larger opening of the 1 ½ and 2 tons. This had to be because all the rest of the front was increased!
Interesting that the length (side to side) of smaller and larger truck grille bars are all the same. Yes, each bar is a slightly different length. Important is the height that was increased. This can create much frustration when a nice set of used bars are bought. Then after a few small dents are removed they are painted or worse, much is paid to the chrome plating company do their magic.
Yes, they fit the smaller pickup but too much grille material makes something not correct. There is too much grille bar for the space provided! Sorry, the deed is done! Your money is spent!
These wider bars certainly have their place! When they are placed in the large truck with 20” wheels, all fit together perfect. Unfortunately, some in a hurry to purchase a clean used grille will soon discover there are two sizes of 1947-53 Chevy truck grille bars.
In reverse, placing the smaller pickup bars in a big truck it is not visually correct. Just not enough metal for the larger opening. The package looks incomplete! The following photos will show the difference in the two sizes.
Bars below are shown vertical:
To our knowledge, the 1 ½ and 2 ton trucks were not given the chrome grille bars option at the factory. Big trucks were for work and few would pay the extra for a chrome option.
