74 vs 75 GMC pickup grill

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Sergio729

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2020
Posts
9
Reaction score
20
Location
Virginia
First Name
Sergio
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350
Hey everyone I’ve got a 1975 GMC k25 and am looking at my options for which grills fit.

The truck came with a grill in the bed which I assume is for a 77+ and will not fit at all. I’ve found a couple 74 grills for sale on eBay but I wasn’t sure if 74-75 years were interchangeable?
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,446
Reaction score
28,352
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
'73-'76 GMC and '73-'74 Chevy grilles interchange.
 

75gmck25

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2016
Posts
2,266
Reaction score
2,210
Location
Northern Virginia
First Name
Bruce
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K25 Camper Special TH350 NP203
Engine Size
5.7
I’ve never found a ‘75 GMC grill for sale and none of the parts places sell them. I’m using a later model grill, but had to also pull the matching steel supports from the donor truck.

Bruce
 

Sergio729

Junior Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2020
Posts
9
Reaction score
20
Location
Virginia
First Name
Sergio
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350
Why does it seem like stuff for a 75 GMC is so sparse ? I feel like they make everything under the sun for the same year Chevy and for a fraction of the price but I can hardly find anything for a GMC.

“75gmck25” Did you have to change the hood latch as well? I’ve got a grill for a 77 but it isn’t nearly as deep as it needs to be and it hits the hood release latch.

“bucket” thanks for the info, figures I’d have one year outside of it. I might try and sell or trade it for a 73-76.
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,869
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
My dad has a 75 gmc. He punched it out accidentally with his skid steer. Damn.
 

75gmck25

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2016
Posts
2,266
Reaction score
2,210
Location
Northern Virginia
First Name
Bruce
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K25 Camper Special TH350 NP203
Engine Size
5.7
When I used a newer grill it already had a section cut out to fit around the hood latch. My truck has an exterior latch, but at some point they switched to a cable inside the truck. I used my original latch mechanism.

Bruce
 

calredneck

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2018
Posts
55
Reaction score
24
Location
Cailf.
First Name
Kerch
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Look at LMC the 73 and 74 radiator supports and grills are different than 75 to 80
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,446
Reaction score
28,352
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
Look at LMC the 73 and 74 radiator supports and grills are different than 75 to 80

Just for Chevrolet. The changeover year for GMC was '77.
 

Itali83

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2015
Posts
575
Reaction score
1,078
Location
Maine
First Name
Ben
Truck Year
1982, 1987, 1987
Truck Model
K10, 'burban C10, Jimmy
Engine Size
350, 6.2, 350
Necro thread but 110% the grills from 73-74 and 75-76 GMC’s WILL NOT interchange without new brackets and technically a core support. The 73-74 are deep dish and will hit the factory brackets on a 75 and later truck. I just put a 73-74 grill in my 76 knowing of this issue and bought the brackets from lmc and then made my own for the part way in from each side brackets.

Ben
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,446
Reaction score
28,352
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
Necro thread but 110% the grills from 73-74 and 75-76 GMC’s WILL NOT interchange without new brackets and technically a core support. The 73-74 are deep dish and will hit the factory brackets on a 75 and later truck. I just put a 73-74 grill in my 76 knowing of this issue and bought the brackets from lmc and then made my own for the part way in from each side brackets.

Ben

Did your '76 for sure have it's original GMC brackets? And not Chevy?

I had always assumed that the grille brackets changed for both models in '75. But a while back, there was a member here that swore up and down that the '75-'76 GMC retained the earlier style brackets. I believe he said he removed his incorrect, earlier Chevy grille and the correct '75-'76 GMC grille screwed right in.
 

OldBlueDually

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2020
Posts
2,428
Reaction score
8,518
Location
Minnesota
First Name
Justin
Truck Year
1976 GMC
Truck Model
C30
Engine Size
455 Olds
I too found out that 75-76 GMC's really suck to find parts for. I searched for a bit and found a truck within a couple hour drive, bought the entire truck just for parts. It has a beautiful grill, and original potmetal headlight bezels.

You must be registered for see images attach




ANNNNNDD.....it has a factory tach which I did not know until I looked at it the day I picked it up.

You must be registered for see images attach
 

Itali83

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2015
Posts
575
Reaction score
1,078
Location
Maine
First Name
Ben
Truck Year
1982, 1987, 1987
Truck Model
K10, 'burban C10, Jimmy
Engine Size
350, 6.2, 350
Did your '76 for sure have it's original GMC brackets? And not Chevy?

I had always assumed that the grille brackets changed for both models in '75. But a while back, there was a member here that swore up and down that the '75-'76 GMC retained the earlier style brackets. I believe he said he removed his incorrect, earlier Chevy grille and the correct '75-'76 GMC grille screwed right in.

110% sure. Just look at the grills and you see the 73-74 are recessed in. 75-76 are basically flush Mount. Mine had factory brackets still and broken grill. Couldn’t find a 75-76 GMC grill for less than $400 and I like the 73-74 the best anyway so it was a no brainer.

Ben
 

Goldie Driver

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2018
Posts
4,042
Reaction score
6,634
Location
Houston, Texas
First Name
Britt
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
GMC K1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350
I too found out that 75-76 GMC's really suck to find parts for. I searched for a bit and found a truck within a couple hour drive, bought the entire truck just for parts. It has a beautiful grill, and original potmetal headlight bezels.

You must be registered for see images attach




ANNNNNDD.....it has a factory tach which I did not know until I looked at it the day I picked it up.

You must be registered for see images attach


AND that you are turning into a driver, not ruining a beautiful green truck by stripping it for parts - right ? Right ?


:angels2:
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,446
Reaction score
28,352
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
110% sure. Just look at the grills and you see the 73-74 are recessed in. 75-76 are basically flush Mount. Mine had factory brackets still and broken grill. Couldn’t find a 75-76 GMC grill for less than $400 and I like the 73-74 the best anyway so it was a no brainer.

Ben
So can I get a confirmation that the '75-'76 GMC grille mounts the same as the Chevy and later grilles? Or is the '75-'76 GMC it's own mounting design?
 

Forum statistics

Threads
44,173
Posts
950,867
Members
36,288
Latest member
brentjo
Top