VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 37 grill on a 38?

Hi
I'm new here,though I've owned a few chevies in the past, both cars and trucks,56 Bel Air, 63 Nova conv., 63 pickup, 73 pickup, and a few others as well.

I'm thinking of buying another, i've long admired the 37 and 38 coupes, especially the 37.

I was wondering, what is involved parts wise in putting a 37 grill on a 38. I've seen quite a few cars with it done either 37 to 38 or the other way around.

Thanks for any advice

The hood and doghouse/grille can be swapped around from car to car.The front fenders should accept either combo.

Welcome to Chatter.
I believe the sedan grilles are slightly shorter than the commercials so be careful.
I am looking for a 38 commercial front but Ontario is a little far away.
Tony

The core supports (doghouses) might swap between frames and fenders but the grills are entirely different. It would require sheet metal fab to swap grills.

Thanks for all the replys, they of course lead to more questions.

What is the doghouse, is it the piece surrounding grille that the headlights are mounted on?

Also is there a body parts manual/catalog for 37s and 38s,for parts numbers, or would that info be in the shop manual?

Again thanks

Yepper. In the picture below it's the part on the left of the picture.



Then if you compare this picture to one of a '37 it'll be obvious why the grills won't interchange.



More obvious from this angle. Look at the area just in front of the headlight mount. It's totally different on a '37.

Thanks Tiny, looks like you could change the doghouse though, and then add the 37 parts.

How is that for service...only from the VCCA can you not only get a picture of the "dog house" but a picture of the DOG that just happened to be home at the time.....ED

Just fooling Tiny.....LOL

I'm a little puzzled about why you would even want to do that. I suppose it may possible but any advantage to doing that escapes me.

I see the mismatch of 37-38 parts on one car ,on Ebay. I guess if you wanted a ratrod and found a deal on a couple of different junkers it would work. Paint it black Primer and slap some Wide White Walls on it and you're set. Loud pipes would help.

The reason is, I'm interested in a car, it is a 37, with a 38 grill/frontend.
While the 38 is nice , i've always prefered the 37 grill/frontend, it is one of the best looking parts of a good looking car.

IMO.

Not really a rat rod kinda guy.

OK, I think I understand. Someone else swapped the sheetmetal and you're wanting to return it to original. I don't know how similar the fenders are but you'll have to swap the core support back to a '37 to put the '37 grill in. Good for you wanting to put her back the way she was born.

johnod
If 2 things were in our favour (1) we were closer together and (2) the parts are interchangeable between sedan and 1/2 ton I would be willing to swap my 37 on 38 front sheet metal for your 38 on 37 sheet metal but the shipping would kill that idea as far as I am concerned at the moment.
Also I am missing a few parts and some others are not in good condition.

Tony