Projects Need a creative thinker

Ok, boys and girls, I am out of ideas for a project I have going. I have a '47 Chevy sedan delivery that I just installed an original grille in. I have removed the splash pan and the bumper and want a simple idea for filling in the lower area, such as nerf bars, extra grille bars, etc. Come on now, I know there are some very imaginative and creative thinkers on this forum, actually, some of the best in this hobby, so help an ole man out.

 

Show us some pictures so we can come up with a good idea for you.

 

Yeah, pictures would help a lot.

 

Hard to say without pics and a better idea of what you want but why not do a bonneville type push setup...

 

Try mounting the bumper upside-down. And tuck it in as far as it can.

 

Josh, I tried that and it just doesn't look right as it doesn't get much closer to the grille than where it normally is as the ends are less that 2 " from the fender to start with.

 

Roll pan.

 

what about a late 40s caddy bumper like 47 . it has the same type of profile as your grill

 

No body work. I'm one of those that can take a gallon of bondo and fill a tiny dimple and have a swollen pimple when finished with a 5 pound pile of bondo dust on the floor beneath it. A man's gotta know his limitations. Now, if you want to make me one and make it so I can attach it without body work or welding I'll go for it. I do know how to paint though.

 

put a straight axle under it and call it a gasser!

 

I don't think a roll pan alone would look right.Add a bumper to it or a push bar may look right.What is the look your going for? If you put a push bar on the front, lettering up the delivery may be needed to pull the look off.

 

I think you either need to put a roll pan on it or put the bumper back on. You can always shorten the bumper mounts and splash pan to tuck it in more.

 

I know this may not fly but something like this ? Its in keeping with the pointy thing ,Vega's had em too and they are smaller ,,I know years are off but figured since its a custom

Think 54 Stude had a pointed center as well

 

Gonna be tough to do something with that hole if body work and welding are out of the question...you could hang some "dingle balls".

Sorry I'm not much help, a roll pan would look pretty good but would take some metalworking. Personally I like bumpers.

 

Ok roll it on someones trailer and send it to me.

I love the stock grill in those ol Chebbys and it looks as though its a little late to change directions now but for future reference the grill teeth from a '51 Roadmaster look really sweet in one of those old hoopties.

Depending on your era a simple round tube across the front and bent a couple of inches back on/around the fender looks real cool. Simple looking but it does take some bending and fitting. Sort of a '60s get around the law thing I guess.

 

Just a quick concept to illustrate a valance panel. You could make one like this if you find a cheap donor hood to achieve the center peak. The rest is fairly straight forward. Just my .02 worth.

 

Dickster, have Denny over at Hammer Art make ya a roll pan. The guy's talent-on-wheels and has fast hands when it comes to that kind of panel forming. I'd want it to mimic the hood a little.

good luck!

 

Hey*****ster - what Chopt 34 said - its perfect

 

Look up a 47-48 Pontiac bumper...

 

Those 42-48 Chevrolet front end designs aren't very friendly to changes like you dream of.

 

Dickster, after looking at your pix ,it seems one more grill bar mounted below what is there already may give it a finished look.

Jack

 

I did this before I saw Chop 34's version. It's close to the same idea, with more definition where the change of angle takes place with the grill bars. The bottom grill bar extends past the panel (kinda like an overbite). Hope this is of some use.

 

Fair enough, I have yet to see pics of it done on a 42-48 Chevy. I may see if I like the flipped bumper when I get around to restoring the chrome on my '48. I was thinking of making my bumpers smoothies too, but since I want to keep the guards on mine, its almost pointless.

 

This is the ticket,match to shape and all.

 

What about somethin' like this??

 

The stainless on this grill might be something to look at.Or that camaro bumper with a couple of small dagmars could look pretty sweet.



Can't go wrong putting a 47 Olds grill in either.

 

I like the '46-'48 Chevy front bumpers. If it were mine I'd shave the bumper smooth and attach it as close to the body as possible BUT I'd also shorten the second to the bottom grill piece like this.

 

Take the second bar from the bottom and put it under the bottom one in uniform distance, then get another bar and cut the ends off along with the 2 remaining top bars (total 3) set them back inside the grille opening (like the frenched headlights) you would have to come up with sides for the grille surround. (like the olds)
Hide the parking lights behind the upper grille bottom or underneath in a shorter roll pan etc.

 

Use a '46 Chevy grille with a roll pan under it. A quick Google search for 1946 Chevy yielded this:



Sorry for the*****py pic, I tried to resize.