10 June 2010 CHEVY Classics

Photo #2a & 2b: The tie bar is bolted to the inner lip of thefenders with a 5/16” bolt and riveted (or bolted) to the top ofthe grille. To remove the tie bar first drill out the grille rivetsusing a 3/16” drill bit. Next remove the left and right hoodstops, unbolt the tie bar from the fenders and remove the tiebar. The tie bar will be reused with the new grille.

by Randy Irwin

1955 CHEVY CORVETTE GRILLE INSTALLATIONParts Needed:54-219 1955 Chevy Grille Brackets For 1953-57 Corvette Grille02-165 1953-57 Corvette Grille Assembly 02-68 1955 Grille Molding, 4-Piece 54-64 1955 Painted Upper Grille Molding54-65 1955 Chrome Upper Grille Molding02-162 1955 Smoothie Front Bumper

To order parts call 1-800-456-1957 or visit ClassicChevy.com

Tools Needed: 7/16” Socket1/2” SocketRatchet And Extension 3/16” Drill Bit And DrillC-Clamp

Vise Grips3/32” Allen WrenchCut Off WheelMasking Tape

If you are a fan (as we are) of old car magazines, you’ll see how popularcustom grille treatments were on 55-57’s when they were new. Somewere ugly, some were beautiful. Because of its simple design, the 1955lends itself particularly well to a custom grille installation. Every time a ‘55that has the early Corvette grille installed appears in the magazine, thephones ring off the hook wanting to know if we have a kit to do this. Wehave looked at several different installs and using some of their ideas andsome of ours to come up with a very simple and clean way to install a1953-57 Corvette grille in a 1955 passenger car.

Time Frame: 5 Hours

Randy Irwin - Technical WriterRandy has been involved in the Chevy

parts business for over 30 years. He is a wiz-ard at creating, making and modifying customparts for Chevys.

Photo #1a & 1b: The stock grille is held in place with self-tapping cap screws across the bottom of the grille and on bothsides. The top of the grille is riveted (or bolted) to the tie barthat attaches to the inner lip of the fender. To remove thegrille, first remove the hood latch striker plate and supportbracket.

#2a

#2b

#1a #1b

#3a

Before

After

02-68

54-64

54-65

CHEVY Classics June 2010 11

Photo #4a & 4b: The grillemoldings are held to the grillewith 1/4” studs and nuts. Themoldings will need to beremoved while the stock grille ismodified for the Corvette grille.

Photo #5: The outer frame of the grille will be used to hold thegrille molding in place. Using a cut- off wheel or hack saw, cutthe egg crate part of the grille from the outer frame. If youhave a used grille, use it as this will save you from cutting up areproduction grille. The outer grille can be left either chromeor paint it black to make it somewhat “disappear.”

Photo #6a &6b: Installthe grillemoldingback on tothe nowmodifiedouter grille frame and install the assembly back into the carusing the original hardware.

#6a

#6b

Photo #7: The tie bar, striker plate and support bracket cannow be installed back into the car. If you have a buddy with awelder you may want to weld up the rivet holes or install thechrome tie bar P/N 54-65 with some stainless rivets or boltsfor a more custom look. The tie bar is only seen when thehood is up.

Photo #8a & 8b: The 1953-57Corvette grill has 13 teethwhile the 1958 to 60 grille hasonly 9 teeth. The 1953-57Corvette grille fits the grilleopening on a 1955 Chevymuch better than the 1958-up

grilles. The Corvette grille assembly P/N 02-165 is shippeddisassembled. Each grille tooth has a number on it todetermine the proper location of the tooth on the grille toothbar. When the grille is assembled all the numbers on the teethwill be on the same side of the tie bar. Follow the supplieddirections and install the teeth on the tooth bar leaving thecenter and the second tooth in from each end off for now.

#8a

#8b

Photo #3a & 3b: The grille and grille molding can be removedas an assembly. Remove the self-tapping bolts across thebottom of the grille and on both sides. Lean the grille forwardat the top and lift the grille up out of place.

#4a

#4b

#3b

#9b

Photo #9a & 9b: The grille bracket kit P/N 54-219 includesthree grille mounting brackets and mounting hardware. Thecenter bracket mounts to the back side of the center tooth.The wider part of the bracket goes to the top of the grille. Donot use the lock washers here; a couple drops of thread lockerwill work fine to keep the nuts in place. With the bracketmounted to the center tooth cut off the excess threads on theteeth retaining studs flush with the mounting nuts.

#9a

?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???Original Restoration Tech Questions?1955-57 Dave Fletcher 925-516-7267, M-W, 6:30-8 pm Eastern Time1958-72 Gene Showers 407-292-2030, M-F, 3:00-5 pm Eastern Time

12 June 2010 CHEVY Classics

Photo #12a & 12b & 12c: Theouter brackets sit flat on the topof the splash pan and grilleframe. The front face of theouter brackets match up to theinner edge of the grille frame.With the grille square in the original grille frame, mark thesplash pan and grille frame and drill four 1/4” mounting holes.Using the supplied stainless steel mounting hardware, bolt theouter brackets to the splash pan.

Photo #10a & 10b: Theouter brackets mount tothe back side of the secondtooth in from each end ofthe tooth bar. The openside of the bracket facesoutward toward thefenders. The grille

mounting holes in the end brackets are slotted up and downso that the grille can be adjusted in the grille opening. Leavethe nuts loose at this time.

Photo #14: With the outerbrackets holding the grille inplace remove the Vise Gripsfrom the striker supportbracket and mark the bracket

where the two holes need to be drilled for the center grillebracket. Remove the support bracket and drill two 1/4” holes.

Photo #15: Reinstall thesupport bracket andanchor the center grillebracket to the supportbracket using the suppliedhardware. To really finishthe look, we installed oneof our “smoothie” bumpersP/N 02-162 when thegrille was completed.

Photo #16: Close your hood for the final time and take a lookat your new front end. The new grille will set you apart fromthe other 55’s on the road and will bring back that custom 50’slook! Good Luck.

#10a

#10b

Photo #13: Close the hood and check the up and downlocation of the new grille in the original grille opening. Raise orlower the grille accordingly using the Vise grips to hold thegrille in place on the center support. Once you have the grillein the proper location, tighten the nuts that hold the outergrille brackets to the grille teeth.

#12a

#12c

#12b

Photo #11: The center grille bracket mounts on the driver’sside of the striker plate support bracket. Using a pair of ViceGrips or a C-clamp, clamp the center grille bracket to thestriker support bracket allowing the end brackets to sit on thetop of the splash plan. We put tape on the splash pan to keepfrom scratching it while positioning the grille.