Mounting order for bumper and grille bar on 53 Special

[imported_JPIndusi]

I am ready to mount the bumper with re-chromed bumper guards and polished teeth and rechromed upper grille bar (mustache bar) on a 53 Special. I am thinking of mounting the bumper, bumper guards and grille assembly first as the grille opening is larger without the upper grille bar in place. Next I plan to mount the upper grille bar and chrome extensions. The last step will be to attach the filler pans at each end of the grille bar by working from below.
Has anyone done this before and what are your recommendations on the order of assembly?
Appreciate any help I can get.
Joe, BCA 33493

[Kennymac55]

I have not reassembeled mine yet, but when I took it apart the upper grill bar would not come out until the bumber was off, this leads me to believe that the upper bar would have to be mounted first. I believe they call this the mustache bar. If the ends are off it my slide in with the bumber on. Where did you get your rechromeing done and what was the cost?

[imported_JPIndusi]

Thanks for your response.
The chrome work was done by QUAL KROM in Erie PA, 1-800-673-2427.
The upper grille bar and extensions came out absolutely perfect, no waves, perfect finish, smooth, just the best I have ever seen. I think the price was reasonable; you need to send your parts to them for their assessment because each part may need special prep work. My face bar had a scrape and minor crack but it looks better than new now.
Joe, BCA 33493

[imported_JPIndusi]

Well I did it! With help from a neighbor and 3 1/2 hours of work I mounted the grille, bumper and upper grille bar and extensions on my 53 Special 45R with no paint or chrome scratches. On this model, the bumper guards are integral with the upper bumper face bar and the grille assembly. The order of installation that I followed, after much thought, is as follows:
1. Install upper bumper face bar, two bumper guards (bombs) and grille assembly as one unit and bolt the bumper guards with one bolt each from the back and below.
2. Install the upper grille bar (mustache bar) with extensions attached. In this order you should not scratch the end grille vertical teeth on the back of the mustache bar.
3. Carefully slip the left and right painted metal pans that go between the bumper and the lower fenders. These pans are painted the color of the body and are attached to the bottom of the mustache bar and extensions by three bolts each. These are installed from the bottom.
4. Attach the lower bumper face bar to the upper bumper face bar and bolt it to the bumper brackets as well.

The tricky part is getting the pans in place and I don't know how else to do this without scratching any of the parts. I installed re-chromed bumper face bars, bumper guards, and mustache bar and extensions. I polished each of the stainless steel vertical grille teeth to a high luster before asembling the grille to the upper bumper face bar and the guards. This is muuch more complicated then my 48 Special where the bumper is totally separate from the grille.
Lots of chrome and stainless that looks beautiful, but I don't want to do this again.
Joe, BCA 33493

[Bert]

Sorry I just read your post...but I have a '53 Special and have had the front off multiple times and here is how I've put it together....
1) assemble mustache bar, with extentions (and the metal pans that are to color of the car)..mount on the car...special attention to under fenders to not strip from extentions....I do NOT install the single bolt on each side at "center of the side of the opening" for the mustache bar.
2) with the bumper(s) assembly complete, also attached grill, and the help of two helpers I have them swing the grill-bumper into place by leaning the top
back....mine comes right into position and I affix the bumper-bomb bolts lightly by hand...then the four bumper bolts...then tighten all six.

I cannot remember but I believe before I put on the bumper-assembly I put on the bottom pans. (I believe they are attached from the inside and impossible to put on after putting on the bumper).

Keep in mind that I did not have rechromed goodies that I was concerned about but I did repaint and clean everything the best I could (including the inside of the bumpers).

Because I feel this is an "easy" project, I plan on pulling it back apart and removing/cleaning/painting the two framing pieces that hold the radiator and "tube-hole" parts...since that is the first part you see when you open the
hood.

You already did the work so I'm not so sure my comments will help...but this is
"how I approched it".

[imported_JPIndusi]

Bert:
Thanks for the post. I think your method would also work as I thought especially about your step #2. By leaning the grille and bumper back at the top it would seem that they would clear the upper face bar (mustache). However, I just had the face bar and extensions rechromed and I didn't want to take any chances. This whole assembly would be easy, as you stated, if were not for the filler pans. Without them you could install the grille and bumper and then bolt on the mustache bar and extensions.
Joe, BCA 33493