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How Do I Get The Grill Off??

I

Ironic_Masster

Full Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2002
Messages
313
Location
NJ
Hey Brother AVers I've made a custom grill insert but need to know how to get the grill off in order to attach it ???

I know about the three plactic (bolts) on the fan shroud but where are the others located?

Thanks for any help :B:

IM
 
This is what the whole assembly looks like removed.

avalanche_grille.jpg

goo929
 
I pulled my grill to put aircraft landing lights behind it----see 4 brights the clips on the small sttips under the headlights are the worst ones I had to put a rag over a small screwdriver to pop the out, and ended up boing to cheve to get mor clips. When you have taken out the screws, where its stuck, thats a clip pop it out ---and when you do spend another $100 for two headlight mounting shells from napa(the rubber one)and two 12 v aircraft landing lights from grainger use a relay or solenoid to handle the amps they look and light good-
 
The AV Bro's come through again ;)

I'll be putting the grill on Friday since I'm taking a vacation day to play on the AV and the yard >:D

Really appreciate the info. The one mechanic at the chevy dealer I bought my AV from that has an AV had no idea. He said none of them have worked on any of them yet!!!!

I figure that's a really good sign :B:

Thanks again Bro's ;D

IM

PS Goo I'm gonna have to purchase a digital like you soon to show off some of my Mods. It's driving my AV crazy not having it's picture taken as it grows up >:D
 
OK - so I got my Carriage Works billet grille and my billet bowtie - so how the heck do I get the stock grille assembly off of my Avalanche.

Ya - it's the kind that toggle bolts on to the existing grille and I figure I could struggle to get it on or take the existing grille off, lay it on the workbench and do it right in five minutes.

After getting instructions I plan to take pictures and share for others thinking of doing the same.

Thanks!
 
I would like to add the billet grill but have not yet..I am not thrilled with the idea of putting a grill on top of the original one. I guess this does not affect air flow.. I just seeems like it would be better to remove the oiginal and then put the billet in.. Why is it not done this way??
 
This version is much easier to install. The old version required you cut out the existing plastic grill (it does not just detach) and drill and mount brackets to attach to.

You could probably create a custom installation. It would be an interesting project.

goo929
 
irontrain said:
Hey Chief,there are 3 or 4 retaining clips on the fan shroud.Remove those and their holders and gently pull the grill towards you and down..There are push-in clips that are at all the corners so be careful not to break them.The ones on the chrome bar cost $3.50 each. ;D
Click to expand...
Here's the removed grille showing the fan shroud that he is talking about ... the 3 clips are on the top:

avalanche_grille.jpg

goo929
 
I removed Grill assy. and removed the grill portion so that I could paint it. I bought some Dupli color Chrome spray paint which actually looks like Billet.

The grill portion is just snapped in place with the edges hot melted over so it does not pop off. I carefully dremeled away the melted over part of the grill snaps and the grill (upper and lower) came away easily. When I was done painting them, I just snapped them back in and used a soldering iron to melt the remaining portion of the tabs which still protruded.

I have not taken any photos yet but have been told that it looks awesome and I totally agree ;D
 
I installed my Carraige Works Billet Grille in 20 minutes without removing the original grille assembly. Just thread the bolt through the grille hole and turn the toggle assy on a few turns. Next line up the new grille over the existing and you can eyeball where you will need to push the toggle assembly through the correct opening on each side of the original grille. Once the toggle bolt is through and the fins flipped back out, tightening it up is a snap, and a lot easier and faster than removing the entire grille. :D
 
I just did the new Stull grille, TM bowtie and a little custom work on the crossbar. Took the grille off with some hesitation, bit the work was done in very little time this way. Would have taken much much longer with the grille in place.
I did break off the bottom driver side clip, but seems to have had no impact, still fits in place fine.
 
sparky said:
I just did the new Stull grille, TM bowtie and a little custom work on the crossbar. Took the grille off with some hesitation, bit the work was done in very little time this way. Would have taken much much longer with the grille in place.
I did break off the bottom driver side clip, but seems to have had no impact, still fits in place fine.
Click to expand...

I just got the TM bowtie today and since I have FAT fingers I need to take the grill off to bolt in on. Once I remove the 3 plastic thingies on the fan shroud WHAT DO I DO? Is there a hidden clip that I am missing? I didn't like the sound of cracking plastic and it was getting dark and had already dropped 2 washers and one bolt somewhere down by the radiator. ?:8: You'd swear I wouldn't know what end of a hammer to use sometimes! I know better than to do a mod when my chemicals are off!

any help would be appreciated! ?:p
 
irontrain said:
Hey Chief,there are 3 or 4 retaining clips on the fan shroud.Remove those and their holders and gently pull the grill towards you and down..There are push-in clips that are at all the corners so be careful not to break them.The ones on the chrome bar cost $3.50 each. ;D
Click to expand...

Resident Putz checking in. I removed the 3 black thingies at the top, removed the headlights and got the 2 clips in the center bar on the ends. got the bottom left side white clip off and the right side broke! :8: :8:

The grill seems to be held in place in the center somewhere but can't figure it out.

Ideas? :mad:
 
I removed my grill today to have the crossbar painted.
I removed the three retainers that attach over the radiator and gently pulled at each end of the crossbar and then gently pulled at the two bottom corners. The center retianing clips popped out easy with another tug at the center of the grill.
There are three pin retainers on top and six clips across the crossbar along with four across the bottom.
I broke the two bottom ones on each corner. However, I think they will still pop right back in.
:0: Advise: Do not use tools! You may scratch yor paint. No tools are necessary to remove the grill.
 
avalanche girl said:
I removed my grill today to have the crossbar painted.
I removed the three retainers that attach over the radiator and gently pulled at each end of the crossbar and then gently pulled at the two bottom corners. The center retianing clips popped out easy with another tug at the center of the grill.
There are three pin retainers on top and six clips across the crossbar along with four across the bottom.
I broke the two bottom ones on each corner. However, I think they will still pop right back in.
:0: Advise: Do not use tools! You may scratch yor paint. No tools are necessary to remove the grill.
Click to expand...


thanks! I did try pulling the center before I read your post and starting hearing plastic cracking :8:. I must be missing something or just having a really bad week.
 
So I've decided to take on a new billet grill and bowtie. Here is my big question. Has anyone tried to do this with an AV with the Chevrolet grill guard? The guard is so close I have trouble washing the chrome. Sounds like grill removal is out of the question. As for removing the guard, I vowed never to do that again in this lifetime. Any thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks.
 
I started on this mod today.

It takes cojones the size of Montana and a leap of faith to yank the front grille of your av--but if you do your research first, formulate a plan, and be patient, it is actually surprisingly easy to do.

First, my heartfelt thanks to jamie and avalanche girl for the description and pictures.

Here is my contribution:

1. First, I used a flat head screwdriver to pop out the 3 black retaining clips over the radiator shroud. To be safe, I also yanked out my blue bowtie in front of the grille (eventhough I have 2 extra ones that I haven't decided what to paint yet). Better safe than sorry ?:)

Here is a pic of the 3 clips out and the blue bowtie...

grillemod_001.jpg
 

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The next step is where jamie and avalanchegirl's posts really came in handy. I printed theirs and committed them to memory.

Basically, the main push connectors are located on either side of the chrome cross bar and the bottome blue small bars on either side.

For the chrome bar, i gently pulled it out. No tools!!!!!

For the bottome side bars, I covered the flat head screwdriver with masking tape so i won't scratch the AV and gently popped it out.

Amazingly, the whole thing popped out without any clips being broken! ?(y)

Here is a pic of the whole grille assembly out...

grillemod_006.jpg
 

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