Questionable life choices...

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Joined
Aug 7, 2024
Messages
174
Reaction score
224
Location
Orlando, Florida
My Car
1972 Coupe
So I am posting this in the exterior forum rather than on my build post...because I need some honest assessments about what I believe to be is one of my "for **** sake" moments. And the fault lies in two options: 1) I bought something I didn't do proper research on, or 2) I am not skilled enough to understand what needs to actually be done to avoid a debacle.

So I took off the old 72 standard grill because I wanted to upgrade to a Mach 1 grill. And after doing some searching, found one on a fellow forum members eBay page. Good guy and good deal. (to be clear, this has nothing to do with him or the purchase). It a a 71-72 Mustang Mach 1 grill, which I believe should (with the exception of the center bracket needing to be added) fits this coupe. So while I am still battling the running issue, I decided to tear down the front end, take off the bumper, valance, remove the old grill, etc. I do need to get the fender extensions off as well, which leads me to the following:

Issue 1 - these fender extensions seem impossible to get off based on where the bolt locations are. I tried multiple ways and am coming to the conclusion that I have to remove the entire fender to access them. Is this correct? I cannot find any fathomable way to reach the two inside bolts to get these things off. I really didn't want to have to remove the whole fender to this. So, let me know if thats the proper procedure.

Issue 2- the reason (outside of them needing to be replaced) to swap out these extensions was because in trying to fit the new grill in, I suddenly became aware that this grill seems about a half inch two wide on both sides. I couldn't just pop it in as there is no way, or angle to get it past the extensions. So then I realized I'm going to have to remove these in order to get this thing in....or the bigger issue....this damn grill does not fit the car and I just purchased something without triple checking that little fact.

See below. It would appear the holes "sort of" line up to mount it, but it certainly will not go in with the extensions on. Furthermore, even visually taling the extensions off, it still doesn't appear that the squarish corners of the grill will fit correct to the contour of the inside of the fenders.

Am I missing something, or am I just a ******* that bought the wrong grill?

1) whats the best way to get the extensions off
2) do I need to remove the whole fender to do so
3) is this grill not going to fit regardless.

Inquiring minds want to know.

- PBR

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Is that grille aftermarket? The top seems way too big . You should be able to put grille in without taking off fender extensions. Here is a pic of a factory grill that I sold
 

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By any chance is the grill upside down, it kind of looks that way to me. Also I agree with 72MustangSprint above, you should be able to remove the grill without taking the extensions off. I have done it many times and for the same reason going from the non-Mach 1 grill to the Mach 1 grill. Good luck.

Tom
 
By any chance is the grill upside down, it kind of looks that way to me. Also I agree with 72MustangSprint above, you should be able to remove the grill without taking the extensions off. I have done it many times and for the same reason going from the non-Mach 1 grill to the Mach 1 grill. Good luck.

Tom
Ugh.....for ***** sake. I think Tom is right. I don't even have the words right now. Was so focused on getting it in that it never even occured to me.

Yeah....I'm going to go quietly into the night if thats indeed the case and never come out. lol
 
Maybe it is from Australia!
That's it! He bought an Australian market grille! If that's the case, does a northern hemisphere left hand drive grille fit a southern hemisphere right hand drive car? Or is it the other way around?
 
That's it! He bought an Australian market grille! If that's the case, does a northern hemisphere left hand drive grille fit a southern hemisphere right hand drive car? Or is it the other way around?
Was wondering why it said "straP droF lanigirO" on the back. Looked great in the mirror anyway.

See what I did there?
 
Was wondering why it said "straP droF lanigirO" on the back. Looked great in the mirror anyway.

See what I did there?
Yeah, that's the virtually unbreakable secret code used by the Australian embassy in New Zealand....
 
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