53 chevy belair with a 54 Grill

I got a 53 chevy Bel Air n i like how the 54s Grill and Bumper look so my questions is can you swap them without swaping the fenders?

Aaron

 

Sure with a welder and some metal...

I think the whole Grille surround area is different.

 

I'm not sure, but I think that is what has been done to this car.



Of course I could be wrong. However the opening under the grill bar doesn't follow the lines of the bar. I don't think it looks bad, and most people wouldn't even notice the change.

I do know it looks different then the grill of my wifes 54, so I assume something has been modified.

 

so if i change the whole front end with a 54 it would look almost original

 

keep the 53 !

 

I agree!!!!!

 

I really like those 54s Grills i think they look alot cleaner than the 53s just my opinion

 

i personlly like the 53's better. but if i were u would just use 54 fenders and sell yours, basically making a trade

 

how much do they usually sell for, if i do all the body work on the 53 fenders how much r they worth?

 

Not quite sure why you would want to switch. Heres a few pics of my old 53 with a stock grille. We added extra teeth but everything is factory stock parts. I think the 53 has less fender clutter due to the inboard turn signals inside the grills mouth. Just my 2 cents.

 

i dont even know why i like the 54s i just like them better.........but your 53 is beautiful man i reallly like that color

 

Thats a bad bitch!!!!!!!! Nice car Sneaky

 

Personally, I would modify the fender to meet the grille, especially if the fenders already fit good at doors and hood. Not a lot of work (if you can tack-weld and grind) to adapt. At that area it's just flat sheetmetal with a shaped cutout for the edge of the grille. I would take off the bumper and gravel shield, hang the donor grille in there with it mating up right with the hood and modify the grille cutout on front of fender right on the car.

 

If I were you I would swap the fenders, there is a-lot of hidden contour behind the 54 that you would have to try to duplicate on the 53 fenders.. Now if you have some good metal working, and welding skills then I would consider cutting up the 53 fenders to make the 54 grill fit..
If you decide to sell the 53 bumper, and grill let me know... I want to see how the 53 bumper looks on my 54 after I cut/my some changes on my 54 grill...

RJ

 

hotsilver, here's a 53 profile bumper on my 54. A lot of modifing to the front pan to get the humps out. But I like it.

 

Instead of going to all the work of changing the grille surround...why not use the stock '53, remove all the teeth, keep the park lites and simply add '54 teeth...??? That'd be more subtle than changing the whole thing...and I don't recall ever seeing a '53 surround with '54 teeth...maybe it won't work, I don't know, but it'd sure confuse the hell out of a lot of folk.

R-

 

Cool, thanks for that G-pumper!! In my opinion, the 53 grill, and bumper are by far one of the best looking front ends ever produced... I should have bought a 53..! )

 

how much would you give me for the bumpers and grill.........

 

Theres quite a bit of difference between the 53 and 54 front ends from the fenders and splash pan. My 54 (my avatar) had a 53 front end put on it at some point, and like you i love the look of the 54 front, hell thats why its my dream car is that look. My avatar is the 53 grill with a 54 center bar, and two backward dummy spots as bullets. Your best bet, as mentioned, is going to be to get an entire 54 front end or keep what you got. I have three complete front ends one for a 53, and two for a 54, depending on where you are i could sell you my extra 54 set. I dont know if youd want to pay for shipping on all that though.

Whatever you do, dont hack something up, if theres a way to do it correct from manufactured parts. Fabrication is for when you cant find a part, or want a certain look. If your looking for factory look, use factory pieces.

 

I am in the same boat wanting to change my 53 to a 54. I do not have all the 53 parts for mine anyhow. Been looking on CR for 54 fenders to make my swap.

 

Keep the 53 grille, besides the 53 teeth have a unique look. And SNEAKYTIKI that is a nice ride!

 

ARRRHHHH!!!! I had to come to Afghanistan just to get his car outta my head. Thanks Buddy

 

one thing you need to know about 53 - 54 chevy front ends is the inner fenders are different also, not the main inner fender section, but the front part that is riveted on. there are different contours of these parts to fit the different grille openings. so if you are going to swap fenders, grille, splashpan and bumpers you need inner fenders as well.

 

Im located in pasco wa ?and how much do you want for the 53 and 54 front ends

 

Hello,
I know this post is back from 2009, but I was wondering how everything turned out? I myself I have a 54 Chevy and I am going to have to rebuild the engine bay. I do not have inner fenders, supports, splash pan, radiator supports, Grill supports, and probably some parts I don't know of. What I do have is a primed ready to paint fenders, hood and grill. I wanted to find out any information from your experience that might help me for my current build.
Thank you
Stewart Kolsch