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Rhino grill conversion

Posted: Wed Mar 23, 2016 6:46 pm
by Driftwood
Below is my 79 with its factory Pig nose. All of the following pics speak for themselves showing the Rhino grill and valance conversion process.

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Here's the Rhino valance and all necessary parts I found in a junk yard on a J3000 Gladiator.

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Here's the Hood and Rhino Grill in the bed of the J3000.

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My 79 pig nose and valance being removed.

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Here's the J3000 Gladiator valance and grill ready to be installed onto my 79 to check for fit.

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Loosely installed. The hood still needs swapped out.

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Re: Rhino grill swap

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 9:06 am
by J10blue
Nice find!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Rhino grill swap

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2016 6:37 pm
by Driftwood
Decided to put it all back together today for a run to Sonic. I'll eventually strip the Pie Tins or install 5" lights in their place. The Valance will eventually be stripped, primed, and painted. I have the hood from the J3000. That will be installed soon as well.

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Re: Rhino grill swap

Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2016 6:29 pm
by ArchitectJS
I see you bent the corners of the rear valance, nearest the radiator opening. Was this for access to nthe bolt head?

I just got my bumper off and only have the bolts across the bottom to remove...

Re: Rhino grill swap

Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2016 11:32 am
by Driftwood
Yes. I took a long punch and hammer and bent the two corners up from below. This gave me better access to remove the valance bolts on either side of the radiator. I did not reinstall those two bolts.

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Re: Rhino grill swap

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 9:43 am
by Shep 762
What a pain in the ass those bolts are, I just took mine out yesterday and they're not going back in either.

By the way what mirrors do you have? I like them. It looks like something I can actually see the through!

Re: Rhino grill swap

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 10:09 am
by Driftwood
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Re: Rhino grill swap

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 10:10 am
by Driftwood
Shep 762 wrote:What a pain in the ass those bolts are, I just took mine out yesterday and they're not going back in either.
I had to line up the holes with a screwdriver just to get the bolts started.....

Re: Rhino grill swap

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 10:11 am
by Driftwood
Shep 762 wrote:By the way what mirrors do you have? I like them. It looks like something I can actually see the through!
CIPA 47500, JR. West Coast Mirror and Bracket
http://www.amazon.com/CIPA-47500-Coast- ... B00029WSZ4

IFSJA write up
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=174433

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Re: Rhino grill swap

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 1:40 pm
by ArchitectJS
I want your pie pans when you switch to lights. PM me when you're ready...

Re: Rhino grill swap

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 10:46 am
by Driftwood
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Re: Rhino grill swap

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 11:50 am
by Stuka
Looking really nice! The correct hood also makes a big difference, as it fits the grill more.

Re: Rhino grill swap

Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 1:44 pm
by Driftwood
I have the hood from the truck. But the latch system is different. And it needs to be painted firecracker red.
Stuka wrote:Looking really nice! The correct hood also makes a big difference, as it fits the grill more.

Re: Rhino grill swap

Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2017 9:13 pm
by az chip
Nice job on the conversion.

Re: Rhino grill conversion

Posted: Tue May 12, 2020 7:13 pm
by Tindjin
Gah! Wish the pictures were still available.

Re: Rhino grill conversion

Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2020 6:13 pm
by Driftwood
I can still see the pictures.

Re: Rhino grill conversion

Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2020 11:26 am
by Hobart
May be a permission issue, I don't see them either. But your profile pic is bad-ass!

Bill

Re: Rhino grill conversion

Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2020 4:19 am
by brielly
Looks great! Are you going to paint the black portion of the pie pans?

Re: Rhino grill conversion

Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2020 2:31 pm
by Driftwood
brielly wrote: Sat Sep 05, 2020 4:19 am Looks great! Are you going to paint the black portion of the pie pans?
No. I like them stripped.