Chevy & GMC Vans

OK guys, this may be a bit unorthodox, but bear with me.

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:


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.


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?

Herbie,

I like the way that looks.Not sure what or how you could do it.The Caddy front swap does require some fender reshaping and filler.

If your going to do this,please keep the pic's and posts coming.I'll be setting in the cheap seats here cheering you on.

Dude, I think it would be sweet. I've been thinking about blacking mine out this winter.

At the risk of divulging my own ignorance, what Caddy swap are you referring too, G? Did I miss something?

T.Low wrote:Dude, I think it would be sweet. I've been thinking about blacking mine out this winter.

At the risk of divulging my own ignorance, what Caddy swap are you referring too, G? Did I miss something?

I think someone did an Escalade grill swap at some point. Looked cool for that sort of "genre". My aesthetic is running more towards the "mini-Sportsmobile" look.

Edit: yeah, it starts on page 3 of this thread and goes on from there.

Got it, thanks.

Yeah, the swap and paint idea you have would look awesome yet still factory.

Do It!

I think it will look great!

I can't wait to see it!

I think maybe a couple of you guys are confusing the stock Safari grill/sealed beam parts on the ground there and the idea of actually swapping the GMC Savanna front end onto the Astro.

Blacked out? I'll always think of this one.
2nd post.
http://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6621

loopie wrote:I think maybe a couple of you guys are confusing the stock Safari grill/sealed beam parts on the ground there and the idea of actually swapping the GMC Savanna front end onto the Astro.

Blacked out? I'll always think of this one.
2nd post.
http://www.astrosafari.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=6621

Yeah, I'd just be painting/swapping the safari grill and sealed beam parts, but I'm referencing the newer Savanna for the aesthetic I'm shooting for. That's one of a few blacked-out grills I've seen, and I'm liking it. Here's another one I found in Japan, that I could do with my existing hardware:

that one looks good too. I think I actually like that one better.

Herbie wrote: Here's another one I found in Japan, that I could do with my existing hardware:

I know I'm a little late to the party, but I just did this to mine over the weekend:



In my case, my grill was broken, and I epoxied it back together, so I painted it mainly to mask the "welds" a bit, but it also always bugged me that the grill was the only chrome (albeit fake chrome) on the car, while all the rest of the trim was black.

I think it looks great, but I think it would look even better with a set of black "Projector" headlights, like these:

Herbie wrote: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.

What do you think?

I think if you are going for a base/cargo look it's the way go go.

in actuality, that's all it is. as seen below is a step up from base, still not an option loaded by any means, with composite headlight/signal light assembly.



personally, i'd go with the newer truck style as opposed to the van style. again that's a personal preference and the ONLY thing that I associate with the 'newer' look. i mean if you're simply doing matte black a safari grill and just want to bolt it on, this is a bit much. no matter whether you go with a Chevy or GMC