I was pulling the last of the parts I needed from the GTRV donor van before I send it to scrap, and I decided to pull the grill and bits and it got me thinking:
![Image](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_SUEvWXDjWPc/TORw4-l9ITI/AAAAAAAAD0k/ge8pXuHjGz4/s640/IMAG0188.jpg)
I know most people prefer the composite beam grill, and I did too originally, but lately I've started to notice that the latest generation of vans out there have a more squared-off beam design and blackout grills.
![Image](http://image.trucktrend.com/f/9101324+w750+st0/163_0802_17z+2009_GMC_Savana_4500+front_grille_view.jpg)
What if I transferred this sealed-beam grill after painting the whole thing matte black? I think it would actually make the van look a bit more contemporary, whereas the composite-lamps are starting to look a bit late-90's dated to me, and that lone chrome bar has always looked odd unless the paint is super-shiny (which mine never is!)
I'm not sure if I care about the GMC vs. Bow-Tie badging, since I'm pretty sure I have a set of "GMC Truck" caps I can swap for my bowtie wheel covers. The only other Chevy indicator is on the back door and that will be covered soon anyhow (fuel cans, etc.) Personally, I think this will look pretty cool after the lift goes on. On the plus side, I have all the parts and if I'm careful with how I do the wiring, it'll be reversible and only cost me some time and a rattle-can of matte-black.
I would take the bumper and do it too, but the donor bumper is in bad shape, so I may have to decide if I want to commit then possibly follow up (or build that tube-steel bumper with receiver that I've been wanting). As a matter of fact, when I DO put on a more offroad-appropriate bumper, the blackout grill and lamp buckets should help tie everything together a bit.
What do you think?