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Razor Grill swap to 88

Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2019 12:24 pm
by Rinkle_Stinkle
I've read a few threads on this but getting conflicting information so i'd like to ask the tired old question again in hopes you guys won't hate me too much.

getting a 79 razor grill from a j10 and will put it on my 88 grand wagoneer.

part I think I need:
Grill
Pie plates and round headlights
cut the mounting brackets off the bottom of the 79 and 88 and swap them and weld back on
hood bar ( I hear its a pain in the butt to drill these holes any one have suggestions or pics) I've also read that it needs to be uninstalled properly... what needs to specifically happen to uninstall it properly?
this is where i'm getting conflicting info, i've read something about the hood latch being an issue, but most say its not. thoughts?

If there anything i'm missing?

complexity of doing this swap on a 1-10? keep in mind i'm a dumb blonde :lol:

Re: Razor Grill swap to 88

Posted: Tue Aug 20, 2019 2:38 pm
by Stuka
No pie plates for a razor grill. Those are used with rhino grills.

Also, a '79 won't have a razor grill. It will have a pig nose grill with square headlights. No hood bar is used.

Are you sure the grill is a '79?

Use the following image for help:
Image

Re: Razor Grill swap to 88

Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2019 12:54 pm
by Rinkle_Stinkle
Stuka wrote:No pie plates for a razor grill. Those are used with rhino grills.

Also, a '79 won't have a razor grill. It will have a pig nose grill with square headlights. No hood bar is used.

Are you sure the grill is a '79?

Use the following image for help:
Image

might be a 78 then.

So no pie plates , then i'll just need to mount the round headlights with some self tapping screws? I've seen where someone used metal tabs to close in the hole for mounting, would you suggest that?

Re: Razor Grill swap to 88

Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2019 2:13 pm
by Stuka
Rinkle_Stinkle wrote:might be a 78 then.

So no pie plates , then i'll just need to mount the round headlights with some self tapping screws? I've seen where someone used metal tabs to close in the hole for mounting, would you suggest that?
I used to aluminum sheet metal (like 1/8" thick) to make tabs for mine. Been that way for like 14 years now. You cannot mount the round lights without some sort of tabs.

Re: Razor Grill swap to 88

Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2019 12:30 pm
by Rinkle_Stinkle
Stuka wrote:
Rinkle_Stinkle wrote:might be a 78 then.

So no pie plates , then i'll just need to mount the round headlights with some self tapping screws? I've seen where someone used metal tabs to close in the hole for mounting, would you suggest that?
I used to aluminum sheet metal (like 1/8" thick) to make tabs for mine. Been that way for like 14 years now. You cannot mount the round lights without some sort of tabs.

that's what I had read so that will be the plan then.

How about drilling the hood bar holes in the hood? I know they are a PITA but i'm a little unclear as to why.

Re: Razor Grill swap to 88

Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2019 2:56 pm
by Stuka
The holes need to be fairly large, I think its like 3/4 or so. So you have to drill a pilot hole, and then use a hole saw to drill the larger hole. But the front of the hood is curved, so its tricky to drill, and they have to be nearly exact for the hood bar to line up properly.

Re: Razor Grill swap to 88

Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2019 3:02 pm
by SJTD
Do they need to be that beeg? I figger that's for wiggle room at the factory. With some care I'd think you could drill them a little over the bolt size.

Or does part of the casting poke through?

I'm leaving the bar off on mine. I like the scoop look. Might put some baffling inside and use it for cold intake air.

Re: Razor Grill swap to 88

Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2019 4:49 pm
by Stuka
The casting actually pokes through. It acts as kind of an alignment.

I have a bar, but have never bother to drill the holes. I just painted that part of the radiator support satin black and it has a hood scoop kind of look.

Re: Razor Grill swap to 88

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 5:16 am
by fulsizjeep
Pretty easy modification...
http://jubileejeeps.org/tech/facelift

Re: Razor Grill swap to 88

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 6:26 am
by Rinkle_Stinkle
thanx guys! I really appreciate the help.

The hood bar sounds like lots of cussing and disappointment, so right up my alley!

Re: Razor Grill swap to 88

Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2019 4:39 pm
by jpswapmohn
I have the razor grill (swapped in the valence that was behind it to make it easy). I have a really good hood bar (after 3 that had cracks..pot metal isn’t really repairable). I wasn’t sure i was going to use it, so declined drilled the holes before paint. Now I am scared I will screw up the hood or get the holes wrong. It doesn’t look bad without it, but you can definitely see the top of the valence and aluminum radiator in there.. Just looks a bit unfinished to me. It may not help that my grill is mat black like the rest of the trim on the rig. Plan was to paint the hood bar black to match the grill instead of body color.

Maybe some blacked out screen of some sort behind the front line of the hood up there would look good and hide the stuff behind it. Air coming through there just hits the face of the solid upper radiator, so I am not gaining much in airflow.

I realize all that offers little help. Maybe I will get the nerve to take a drill to my grill..or get someone else to.

Image

Re: Razor Grill swap to 88

Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2022 7:04 am
by tabrakadanak
Hey jpswapmohn!
Did you put the hood bar on the hood finally?
I'll make the swap this summer and I need a hood bar, can't find one... If you want to sell scrap of your spare ones, or even the one you didn't install, contact me!
Thanks