Anybody have a billet grille?

[Austin]

I'm thinking of throwing on a billet grille, but it would get in the way of the hood release. Any suggestions?

 

[LEB Ben]

I'm pretty sure there's a cable release kit for the handle that runs down to the bumper. Not sure where these can be bought, never paid too much to billet grilles. Personally, I think billet grilles are a tad 1980's with a Messican flare.

 

[Austin]

I was thinking there was a kit, but I can't find one... I think if the truck is done in a relatively reserved fashion, billet is okay.

 

[LEB Ben]

Yeah...I don't think billet grilles necessarily look bad...just not my cup of tea. I believe Scott, ranger429, has/had a billet grille on his 79 250, so he'll probably be able to guide you in right direction.

 

[Blue Bomber]

I wanted a 50's style grille with at least 100 "bullets". I never found any bullets I like, but on a movie i watched a guy use a bunch of door knobs (matching, of course) for his truck.

 

[5.0]

Didn't some of the trucks come with a locking hood release that mounted inside the cab? I think some Econolines had them as well?

 

[LEB Ben]

Didn't some of the trucks come with a locking hood release that mounted inside the cab? I think some Econolines had them as well?

You're right, but was that to full pop? Or was it like modern hoods where the release opens to latch one and then you still need to go out front to fully release the hood?

 

[fatherdoug]

The hoods released from inside still have the safety catch that you have to lift to get the hood fully open.

 

[5.0]

Yeah, that's right. I didn't think that all the way through.

 

[dakonthemountain]

The hoods released from inside still have the safety catch that you have to lift to get the hood fully open.

Really? That must have started in 78?... Burt only has one release to open the hood and the locking in-the-cab cable/latch I pulled from another 77 has the exact same latch for under the hood attached to the cable?... I was going to install the latch this weekend and don't want to get in the middle of it to find out I can't use it. Am I missing parts I didn't know I needed?
Dak

 

[dakonthemountain]

Oh, and though I'm not a huge fan of Billet grills, on a 78-79 truck that is meant to be custom that is not meant to look original it's kinda cool!
Dak

 

[fatherdoug]

Really? That must have started in 78?... Burt only has one release to open the hood and the locking in-the-cab cable/latch I pulled from another 77 has the exact same latch for under the hood attached to the cable?... I was going to install the latch this weekend and don't want to get in the middle of it to find out I can't use it. Am I missing parts I didn't know I needed?
Dak

I only have experience with one ford with the locking hood latch, and that is the '78. I didn't realize that they were different.

 

[fatherdoug]

Here is a picture of the latch for the locking hood release. The latch on the right is released by the handle inside the cab. The latch on the left is the safety latch. There is a handle below the latch that must be lifted, which moves the latch to the right, releasing the hood.

 

[Austin]

Anybody ever hear of a relocation kit for said external release handle?

 

[fatherdoug]

No, I haven't, but one way around the safety latch would be to remove the u-shaped catch that is bolted onto the hood. That would prevent the latch from catching. But you also no longer have the safety feature on the hood latch.

 

[Austin]

I'd have to install the in-cab release then, right?

 

[fatherdoug]

Correct, Correct.

 

[ChopTop79]

I'm personally a fan of the billet grilles and I know LMC makes two different styles and Strut also makes a completely different style. These grilles are not for everyone that is for sure, but if it's your style build your truck your way and check out those companies.

 

[Austin]

Are you using one?

 

[ChopTop79]

not yet. Going to order the LMC one with the fine bars when I get a chance to do an LMC order. I'm ordering with caution as I know their stuff can tend to be crap. If their grille turns out to be crap I'll most likely use it as a template and fab my own. As you can see in my avatar my truck is far from finished.