Grills Gone Wild - Chevy Grille Installation

"Future Shock '88" is the first in a series of tech stories with trucks identified by project names. In future editions of Custom Classic Trucks, newsstand readers as well as subscribers will be able to spot on the cover if one of their favorite projects is featured in that issue.

Sort of like the mommy of all tsunamis, we predict the next big wave in trends to hit the classic truck world will be the restoration and customization of '88-93 Chevrolet and GMC 1500-series trucks. These models were the Typhoid Mary of the sport truck movement, starting the ball rolling single-handedly. Never before in the history of light-duty trucks had there been such a phenomena. Using engines to draw an analogy, finding stock restoration or custom parts for these trucks is as easy as locating the right grade of motor oil to use in a small-block Chevy. But this won't last forever. Eventually, the inventory (maybe sooner than we think) of OEM and custom aftermarket parts and accessories for these trucks will dry up. The first major supplier to address this reality--and they're a big one--is Classic Industries of Huntington Beach, California.

For those of you with the earlier series of trucks (any brand), we'll bet there's not a one of you who doesn't have regrets about not buying certain items when you had the chance. This is the part (not to make a pun) that amazed us. Classic Industries lists a massive inventory of genuine GM parts available for the 1500-series trucks. In addition, Classic Industries offers high-quality reproduction parts for the 1500 at a fraction of factory original prices. For someone looking for an affordable truck to customize, the 1500 series can't be beat.

It wasn't long after the 1500's late '87 introduction that Chevrolet and GMC dealers reported commercial customers with over 200,000 miles on their Chevy and GMC trucks that required only normal servicing. Due to the 1500's ability to resist rust better than the preceding C10 series, it's a lot easier to locate a rust-free example. Electronically, the '88-93 1500s are a relatively simple vehicle utilizing only one brain to run the entire truck. As evidenced by the accompanying photos, improving the cosmetic appearance of a 1500 is so simple even a girl can do it. Notice that removing and replacing the grille requires only a few fasteners to completely freshen our subject vehicle's looks.

With the introduction of the 2007 Silverado marking the end of the '99-06 series that replaced the 1500's '88-98 ('99 was a split year) production run, the chain will not be broken. As in the past guys built Advance-Design and Task Master trucks to pay homage to the trucks they grew up with, so will the younger generation with C10 and 1500-series trucks.