What yr grill is this ?

[Art Vandelay]

My 77 has that feature line on the hood like the first pic shows.

A hood is next on my list. I don’t like the feature line.

 

[mlsceo]

A hood is next on my list. I don’t like the feature line.

I like the feature line, adds a nice detail.

 

[mlsceo]

Yep. 75-76. Those years also have their own hood latch style.

What's the difference in the hood latches as opposed to 73-74 or 77? What year did the hood latch go from behind the grille to in-cab?

Edit. I'm seeing optional in 77 and standard as of 81.

 

[bucket]

My 77 has that feature line on the hood like the first pic shows. And the second pic shows no engine callout on the grille in 76. Guess it's true, the only things certain are death and taxes...

Everything I've been able to find says the feature line didn't start until '79. At that point in time, the feature line style of hood became the service replacement for all years and the earlier style hood was discontinued. I have a '78 without the feature line and it is a known original hood.

Also, the '73-'76 hood differed from the '77-'78 hood on the underside, to accommodate the new-for-'77 optional inside hood release.

Oh yeah, and there was no engine callout if the truck had a 250.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

What's the difference in the hood latches as opposed to 73-74 or 77? What year did the hood latch go from behind the grille to in-cab?

Edit. I'm seeing optional in 77 and standard as of 81.

73-74 should have the handle in the middle of the center grille support. 75-76 it kicks off to to the drivers side of the center support. Then I believe it was 77-80 that put them in the center again.

 

[mlsceo]

Everything I've been able to find says the feature line didn't start until '79. At that point in time, the feature line style of hood became the service replacement for all years and the earlier style hood was discontinued. I have a '78 without the feature line and it is a known original hood.

Also, the '73-'76 hood differed from the '77-'78 hood on the underside, to accommodate the new-for-'77 optional inside hood release.

Oh yeah, and there was no engine callout if the truck had a 250.

Death and taxes...

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

Everything I've been able to find says the feature line didn't start until '79. At that point in time, the feature line style of hood became the service replacement for all years and the earlier style hood was discontinued. I have a '78 without the feature line and it is a known original hood.

Also, the '73-'76 hood differed from the '77-'78 hood on the underside, to accommodate the new-for-'77 optional inside hood release.

Oh yeah, and there was no engine callout if the truck had a 250.

As far as I know and have seen, the feature line/raised panel on the square body hoods was not on them till the '79 models. I would figure the '77 mentioned, had the hood replaced at some point. When our '78 Sierra shop truck got wrecked in May of '79, the hood wasn't replaced, because it came open and popped up when the impact happened. The rest of the front clip was replaced...as well as the passenger bed side and the frame.

 

[bucket]

As far as I know and have seen, the feature line/raised panel on the square body hoods was not on them till the '79 models. I would figure the '77 mentioned, had the hood replaced at some point. When our '78 Sierra shop truck got wrecked in May of '79, the hood wasn't replaced, because it came open and popped up when the impact happened. The rest of the front clip was replaced...as well as the passenger bed side and the frame.

That's what I've found too. So far every feature line hood I've seen on a pre '79 truck that was claimed to be original, turned out not to be original upon inspection.

 

[Art Vandelay]

The grille is '75-'76 and has the hard to find stainless trim strips too. The loose bowtie emblem is for '77+.

Also wanted to ask if there is a trick to getting the stainless trim strips off? I have one that’s dinged I want to fix but they don’t budge much.

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

Also wanted to ask if there is a trick to getting the stainless trim strips off? I have one that’s dinged I want to fix but they don’t budge much.

IIRC they sort of press on. There's some notches on them that may go on bumps on the plastic....I think Dad used a small straight blade screwdriver and a putty knife to get them off. The ones I have for sale, he got them off several grilles and paid $$$ to have a guy in Austin restore them. Repolish and straighten them, more correctly....

 

[75 short]

that is a 75 and that chevy emblem was part of the deluxe grill option with the chrome strips plus i believe the hood latch was a 75 only so check the opening in the grill cut out for the latch hope this helps

 

[75 short]

they snap on carefully come off harder

 

[Art Vandelay]

they snap on carefully come off harder

You weren’t kidding. Got the strip off with the dents but not touching the other two.

 

[JBswth]

Picked this up and began cleaning and have a few questions.
What years?
Would the bowtie on right be factory installed or after thought. The holes on front are sloppy but in back are perfectly smooth?
What colors would the 350 emblem have been?

This is about 75 - 77. Later ones didn't have the engine size, 73 - 74 was different - recessed in the grille frame, rather than flush with it.

J. B.