Hi there,

I recently ordered a pair of OER grill inserts for my '68 Firebird 400. The part numbers ordered were 9793723 and 9793724, which I've checked multiple times are the right numbers for a 1968 400.

For each one of these grill inserts, there are 5 mounting points. Three u-clip fasteners along the top to bolt against the upper bumper reinforcement, and two pegs along the bottom, which fit into the grommets of the grill-to-bumper brackets.

However, when I try to mount the grill inserts to the upper bumper reinforcement using the three u-clip fasteners, the lower half of the grill insert looks like this:





If I instead only use the two grill-to-bumper brackets, I get much better lower fitment, but the upper half of the grill insert is no longer flush, and looks like this:




When the bumper-to-grill brackets are used, and the lower part of the grill sits flush with the bumper, It is not possible for me to use the three u-clip fasteners to mount the grill insert to the upper bumper reinforcement, as the holes in the upper bumper reinforcement are about 1/2 an inch above, and 1/2 an inch behind where the u-clip fastener is:



Most of the stuff I've bought from OER has been pretty true to fit. This doesn't look like a fitment issue that just requires some minor trimming, it's as if I have the wrong part entirely. Both the left and right side grill inserts which I bought suffer from the same problem.

Does anyone have any idea what is going on here?

I don't think they are going to have a different set. After trying to use OEM parts with minor cracks, etc. I've ended up using two sets of the OERs and they fit okay(see thread from a while back on repainting them). My guess is that your lack of straightness lies elsewhere?

Have not heard too much about OER grilles over the years, but based on lots of other OER parts, fit is generally poor to horrible.

On the other hand, most repop front bumpers are also a poor fit. You don't say if your bumper is original, repop, rechrome, etc. If original, the the original grilles fit well, then you can rule out the bumper. bumpers that have been rechomed, 'may' have been straightened before chroming. It is possible the straightening process actually bent the bumper out of shape.

If you can find or borrow a set of original grilles, you could narrow down the problem fairly quickly.

Here is the thread on the grille colors/paints used:

https://firstgenfirebird.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=215132

I used the OER grills inserts a few years back and had no issues with alignment.

With an original, or repop front bumper? (just to clarify)

OP here...

Wish I could comment on whether the bumper is original, rechromed, or a repro, I do not have enough information on the vehicle history to know. Is there any way I can easily tell?

Original front bumper.

On the top inside mounting area, it should read MADE IN CANADA if OEM

Here is a image of the assemble in case you do not have it.

Hi all...

I pulled off the bumper to ensure that it was stamped "MADE IN CANADA" along the top, and sure enough, it is:



After going back and forth, trying to decide what to do, I eventually just gave up and decided to mount the bumper to the car, with the poor fitting grill. I have plenty of other work to do on this car, and I didn't want this one issue to hold up the whole project.

Resolution

However, in the process of mounting the chrome bumper to the rest of the assembly, I had to force the bumper quite a bit to get all the screw holes to line up. Once I finished forcing everything together, the plastic grill insert lined up much better! Strange thing is, I needed to mount the bottom chrome bumper fasteners BEFORE the top ones, to get everything to line up properly. For whatever reason, starting with the top fasteners first doesn't work.

I'm now thinking that the chrome bumper got slightly bent out of shape from laying flat for 3 years in my driveway.

If anyone else experiences an issue similar to this, my advice is this: mount the bottom of the chrome bumper to the assembly first (but keep the fasteners loose), and use the 4 brackets to hold the plastic grill insert in place. Then, with the bottom of the chrome bumper mounted, use some force to get the top of the chrome bumper's mounting holes to line up. You may need a second second of hands to run the fasteners through the top. Once you have all the fasteners in place, tighten them up, starting with the bottom fasteners first. By the time you've made your way to the top, the grill insert should line up much better.

Thanks again!