Metal Grille

Folks,

I'm in the process of gathering together all the parts I need to convert the front-end of my '96 Blazer to the '98-04 type.  I got most of what I need, except that I am completely unsatisfied with the choice of grilles that are out there.  Just about everything I see is this cheaply made plastic CRAP.  Is this what the OEM grille is made out of?!?

What I want is a grille that's made out of metal. I don't care if it's aluminum, stainless steel, or chrome -- but for some reason, nobody is selling this.  It's making me think I need to go into the manufacturing business myself.  LOL

Does anybody know where I can get a metal grille?  If I can't find one, then I'm giving up this project and keeping the existing setup.  Thanks for the help.

Raphael

The OEM grills are made out of a fiber reinforced injection molded plastic.  About your only option is to fabricate one yourself...

'xactly.  Why exactly would you want a metal grille anyways?

Well...the existing grille is indeed plastic, but it still seemed to be a stronger material than what was shipped to me.

What I MAY end up doing is keeping the sealed beams and getting a phantom grille instead.  They look just as cool.  Still can't decide.  Hmmm....

Once it's mounted up, the grille is much more rigid than when it's just flopping around uninstalled...

Most trucks have plastic grilles.  My old man's 1996 K1500 Silverado has a plastic grille.  I believe the only Blazer that had metal grilles were the old K5's.

Wow...I never woulda thunk it.  You learn something new every day...

What purpose is this metal grille going to serve? Anyway, it was not and would not (for anyone else) be very cost effective to produce a metal grille. The time, material, and labor would far outweigh the profit factor.

I too am dissatisfied with all the plastic on these Blazers.  It's just that about 1 in 2,000 of us care at all that it's all plastic so the auto manufacturers think it doesn't matter.  I care, and eventually I'll probably pay to have custom made metal parts such as the grille, and many many interior parts.  I'm basically going to look at it as if I'm designing an interior for the 1950's and everything that should be metal will be.  Not rational or cost effective I know.  But I will never be selling my Blazer as long as I live.  It may be on it's 8th engine and over a million miles by the time I die, and that's fine.  Everything that must be replaced along the way, will be.  And I'll spend 100 times less money than all the people who sell their car every few years doing so.  SO, it is worth it to be to make certain things more solid for that tougher feel instead of that....plastic creakey cheap feel. 

I agree w/ everyone else. Nothings wrong w/ the plastic grille, I mean if you take care of your ride it shouldnt matter unless you wreck it, and even then it could still jack up a metal grille. Or you could always buy a billet grille, those arent plastic are they??

Brian, thanks for your thoughts.  It is nice to know I'm not the only one that's thinking along those lines.
 
As for upgrading to the '98-plus...I've decided not to waste my money.  Instead I'll get a cheap black plastic '96 grille. Phantom grilles are hard to find, and even when you do, they're expensive.  I may table that project for later.
 
I think what I'll focus on instead is performance enhancements for now.

quote:

ORIGINAL: BrianMichaels1

I too am dissatisfied with all the plastic on these Blazers.  It's just that about 1 in 2,000 of us care at all that it's all plastic so the auto manufacturers think it doesn't matter.  I care, and eventually I'll probably pay to have custom made metal parts such as the grille, and many many interior parts.  I'm basically going to look at it as if I'm designing an interior for the 1950's and everything that should be metal will be.  Not rational or cost effective I know.  But I will never be selling my Blazer as long as I live.  It may be on it's 8th engine and over a million miles by the time I die, and that's fine.  Everything that must be replaced along the way, will be.  And I'll spend 100 times less money than all the people who sell their car every few years doing so.  SO, it is worth it to be to make certain things more solid for that tougher feel instead of that....plastic creakey cheap feel. 

 
It's not that the manufacturer doesn't care. As I said before, it is not cost effective. ANother thing is that plastic does not rust, or require paint. Also, not many people want a 1950's interior in their 1990's vehicle. SO, if you want a cold metal feel inside then go for it, but don't expect to easily or cheaply get the sweet curves of the blazer interior from metal.

My grille is made of ABS plastic.  It holds up fine and looks like chrome metal.

My overlays are metal, but if I F up the plastic grille... I'll just get a new one off Ebay for 80 bucks!
BTW Speed, I thought your new grille was busted from the wreck... wait a minute... you can get a new one for 150 bucks! ROFL!
Anyway, even though the Blazer does have a plastic grille, every other body panel except the rear quarters are metal anyway.

Haha.  I was describing my grille as though it is still on my car.  lol.  it did get wrecked.  it is currently sitting in my garage in 4 pieces...  but whatever, you can still check out the pics in my photobucket album and imagine that my blazer still has that chrome grille on it....lol