Difference between a '65 Chevy van and the '65 GMC Van?

Good find, Rascal. I bet someone on their forum could give us the measurements we need.

I was doing some more searching tonight. I saw a photo in the Tucker's catalog of just the headlight bezel. They must bolt onto the grill. I thought it was all one piece. These bezels would be ready to go (depending on their size, of course). Here you can see them up close, and even the backside:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=626498

Who's going to be the first to try this? Huh, huh, huh???

I like it also

cool idea

M1D

I usually hate custom stuff, but this actually looks good. Looks like it very well could have been factory GMC. 

Kooky, don't you have a new 2nd Gen Chevy you could try it on???
I think it would look good on either, true it's probably more fitting on a GMC but still the same van body style. JMO

Yeah, I wonder how many 2nd Gen GMC's we have on Vintage-Vans. Let's see a raise of hands!

kookykrispy wrote:I usually hate custom stuff, but this actually looks good.

'Hate' is such a strong word. The 'custom stuff' is what sets each of us apart as an individual.

I was never one to limit myself to someone else's vision of something. Here's what one PO of my van did, and it was done well, and I dig this quite a bit....





....along with that rear bumper (and front too), which I think are from a Ford truck of some type, that matched the body curves nearly perfectly.

(....now, if I could just get the front pin out of that leaf spring in the picture.)

I tried this about 15 years ago, using the grille from a 64 Chevelle (very close in size)





If you have a clutch, the pedal comes in contact with the inner headlight bucket.

Very cool! Great minds think alike! Yeah, those Chevelle lights look good for this.

How far did you get? Got any photos?

Not really, I mocked it up and realized how much work it would take.

I had quad square headlights, but they were held in with plumber strap.


In this pic you can see some of the stuff that is in the way of a round headlamp

mines a 2nd gen!!

That Chevelle grill would look great in there if it was done in two halves.

freakNeck wrote:That Chevelle grill would look great in there if it was done in two halves.

That was my plan, It would have required clearancing the floor for the headlight, and the clutch pedal would touch the inner headlight bucket. Moving the grille and headlights out 1/2" for clearance didn't look right, and left a gap.

I could probably do it now and make it look ok, but have sorta lost interest in the mod.

That picture above showing the 2nd gen van w/o the grill...is that how the 2nd gens are, with a removable grill?

No, sir, my grille was cut out by the previous owner in the 70's to instal square headlights.

When I pulled my van out of the garage after parking it in 98, I decided to go back to stock, and made my grilles removeable.

vanner68 wrote:When I pulled my van out of the garage after parking it in 98, I decided to go back to stock, and made my grilles removeable.

Removable would mean you could make inserts of different styles.

Yep.

Or Chrome plate the grilles....

Well, there you have it:



Who's going to try it?!

I emailed the seller, asking for measurements of the headlight bezel.