72 Grill Modification and Tonneau Installed Today

[Phil105]

Made some changes to the stock grill on my 72 today. Installed expanded metal behind the grill inserts - painted chrome - fab'd a piece of light guage galvanized/painted red and installed in the cross slot on the grill to sort of copy a 69 Ranger. To me it dresses the somewhat plain grill up and helps hide the radiator and crap behind it.
Installed new Truxedo LoPro QT tonneau cover - really like this. See what ya'll think.

Grill Modification



Tonneau Cover

[crewdcab]

Looks sharp!

[towtruckerfour]

Your truck looks great.

[robroy]

Good day Phil,

I really like what you've done with the grille, because it retains the factory appearance while making it more functional. That should keep stuff from messing up your radiator as easily!

And needless to say your truck looks pristine overall.

Robroy

[Phil105]

Good day Phil,

I really like what you've done with the grille, because it retains the factory appearance while making it more functional. That should keep stuff from messing up your radiator as easily!

And needless to say your truck looks pristine overall.

Robroy

Thank you Rob. And you are correct - the expanded metal will help to keep some trash from getting in the radiator. I made a screen mesh cover for the radiator in my Mustang - had flat roll magnets sewn onto the edges of the screen and it attaches to the sides of the radiator - whenever I clean it - it's just a matter of pulling the screen, hosing it off and re-attaching to the radiator. I'm not quite as finicky about the truck - but I do hate crap all over the front end when you open the hood.

[71highboy]

looks good and i for one like the rims you got on there.

[Mancar1]

Good job.

[michael69]

Where did you find the cover. I have been looking and have not found one? 1973 and up is all I have been able to find. Thanks for any help

[cdeal28078]

Grill mod looks good. A better grill mod would be to put some 71 inserts in but that is just me. I might be way biased since I own a 71 though. It does look good.
I really like the bed cover. I did a stupid bed cover on my 71 long bed years ago where I had to drill all of the holes along the top sides of the bed. It looked good for a year or two and then went all to pieces. Took a long time filling them holes before I painted the truck. I don't suggest anybody go that route.
You have a very nice looking truck. Any inside pictures? What about inside the bed pictures and engine pictures? Tell us more about your truck. It is nice.
Clint

[Phil105]

Where did you find the cover. I have been looking and have not found one? 1973 and up is all I have been able to find. Thanks for any help

I ordered the cover thru Summit Racing from Truxedo. It is called the Truxedo LowPro QT - only style you can get for our era trucks. It has to be custom ordered to fit these beds. Cost was about $450.00

[Phil105]

Grill mod looks good. A better grill mod would be to put some 71 inserts in but that is just me. I might be way biased since I own a 71 though. It does look good.
I really like the bed cover. I did a stupid bed cover on my 71 long bed years ago where I had to drill all of the holes along the top sides of the bed. It looked good for a year or two and then went all to pieces. Took a long time filling them holes before I painted the truck. I don't suggest anybody go that route.
You have a very nice looking truck. Any inside pictures? What about inside the bed pictures and engine pictures? Tell us more about your truck. It is nice.
Clint

I have a set of 71 grill inserts but they didn't suit me on this truck. The stainless center bar didn't add to the truck, to me, like the red crossbar on the 69 Rangers - so I tried to copy it and the expanded metal behind them helps to hide the radiator and crap behind the grill. Be happy to sell the 71 inserts/stainless bar if anyone is looking for them - pretty hard to find.
There are two reasons I got this bed cover - one - it's the only one available for these trucks (ha ha) and two - it doesn't require ANY drilling or mods to the bed.
Here are a few pictures you asked about. Not much for me to tell you about the truck other than I like these body styles, saw this one for sale locally about a year ago and went from there. (it was not NEARLY in this condition - also show you a photo of the "before".

BEFORE Picture

Interior

Dash and New A/C

A/C uses existing original controls

Engine - 360

Bed

[michael69]

Yea, I have been looking for a year or so for one. I went to the website and found where you can have it custom ordered. Thanks for the info

[Phil105]

looks good and i for one like the rims you got on there.

Be happy to sell them to you at a CONSIDERABLE discount!! They just don't work for me.

[wrkjim]

Sweeeeet

[Caseys71]

, I really like what you did with the grille there. It looks great, and seems to serve it's function pretty well with hiding the core-support and radiator. I also like the way the new tonneau cover looks. It's got a really clean look to it with the way it leaves part of the bed rail exposed and sits just about flush to it. Excellent looking truck you've got there.