So I had kinda thought on this swap since buying my 54 Chevy. But now that I actually have a 54 Chevy grill in my possession that will polish up nicely I feel I need to look closer. What all needs to be done to swap just the center grill bar from a 54 Pontiac into my grill? Didn't know if it was a fairly direct swap or if theres cutting etc that needs done
Out on a string here with advice but,, I have done a little of this kind of "STUFF" and yes you will be doing some kind of cutting and shaping to get the job done. The good part is its only tin. No doubt it will also involve a trip to the Chrome Tank before finished, But that's only if you want it to look good and last. Check the face profile of the two where you want to make the joint. That will tell you more of what you're in for than anything. On my grill I cut it into 4 segments, changed the angle profile, added length then reshaped the ends to match the 49 Ford signal trim rings. Really nothing to it but work. Oh, and then the Wallet Damage from the Chrome Shop. Overall, well worth it, I think. Do yourself a favor and do it right. These have been used in 49-51 Fords with the stock 50-51 signal housings forever. The fit like **** and have a small hole at the joint because guys won't do the extra work. The center also points to the sky. It just gives a Cheap and Cheezy look to things. However, they do look good at 60 MPH.
@Pist-n-Broke addresses my complaint about most '54 Pontiac grill-bar installations..... the Pontiac grill is almost straight side-to-side, whereas the '49-51 Ford and many others that get the treatment are peaked (pointed). Other cars might have a slight forward curve to the profile. By taking the time and trouble to match the peak of the rest of his Ford's font clip, he integrated it nicely and makes it look planned. It's a subtle touch that most people probably don't notice, but to a discerning eye, it makes the car flow much better. Without matching the profile, the converted cars appear to have a case of over-bite.
28phonebooth is spot on about fit and flow. If you noticed I used 49 bumpers on my car for a reason. They are the cleanest of the 3 years and the easiest to remove some crown out of in the center. I also pulled the center most point of the Pontiac grill forward just enough so that all 4 of the center most place of every one of them are vertically in line with the top stock Grill opening trim piece. Notice how clean the side lag of the grill comes off the 49 Lense. Here's how things look when done the "just bolt it in" way. Trust me, people notice the little things.
They look good. But for me the only grille for the 54 is 54. Nothing wrong with adding some extra teeth
At least someone took the time, effort, and money to do it correctly. By matching the peak, it makes all the difference.
From first test fit and deciding what to do and how to get it done, to dropping it at the Chrome shop just under 100 hours. That's what I get for being ****. The chrome bill then, 20 years ago was an even $1K. Dang!
The first thing I would do is pick up a profile gauge that was wide enough and deep enough to get the full shape of the grill bars where I planned to mate them and figure out how close or far off they were.
52" and maybe 1/8" at it's widest point. Remember, they aren't flat on the ends. That's what the really nice one I've got for sale in the HAMB cl***ifieds measures
Probably not what you want to hear, but the original grille is a work of art in its own way. I'd run the original. JMO
If I remember correctly Bob K used to swap between a tooth grille and a 54 Pontiac grille on his 52 chevy, he was only changing the ctr part, the ends of the two must have been a similar profile?
So I may have a line on a 54 Pontiac grill bar....with a twist. It's off a Canadian Pontiac. Which were actually more Chevy than Pontiac. Am I right in thinking a Canadian 54 bar will be closer to the Chevy than an American 54 Pontiac bar?
Canadian Pontiac looks like it is exactly what you need looks like a Pontiac center and Chevy ish ends. Here’s a picture of a Canadian Pontiac
It appears good enough for my uses. Funny part is he wasn't trying to sell anything and I wasn't trying to buy anything. He's doing a 55 Chevy rear bumper swap on his Canadian 54 Pontiac. And I learned that 54 Pontiacs in Canada shared the same body as 54 Chevys. Had thought they mainly shared the ch***is. But he sent me a pic and his tail lights were just regular 54 Chevy. Gonna buy his rear bumperettes and crossbar off his stock rear bumper for my 53 too
Also getting pointers on the 55 Chevy rear bumper conversion as he progresses. Looking like I'll have to flare the bottom off the rear lower corners of the quarters for the look I want. But also the width is close enough that later on I can get an aftermarket one piece bumper after everything Is modified and painted
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