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09-21-2010, 04:31 PM | #1 |
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73/74 grill swap
This topic is now an FAQ- "73/74 grill swap"
I just finished up this swap for my '78. Ive seen posts on the board where folks have told others how to do it, but Ive never seen a write up with photos before. That said, I figured Id go ahead and put one together. This should fit 75-79 trucks, and later models with older sheetmetal lol. Hope this helps someone along the way since this seems to be a popular swap right now. To get started you need the 73/74 center support and two side supports. I didnt take a pic of what the grill looked like originaly. If your truck started as anything like mine, you know what a chevy grill looks like when its missing about 20 teeth lol. Just remove the 8 screws holding that old busted up grill on and toss it aside. That will leave you looking at your center grill support. Heres a picture of the 75 and up grill support in my parts truck Now this is the center support youll need from the 73/74 donor truck. Swapping the center supports out was a pretty simple. 8 bolts and your done. Heres the side support brackets (pic 1), the 73/74 grill (pic 2), and the side brackets attached to the grill To mount the side supports youll need to drill four holes, two on each side. If you look just to the inside edge of the headlights, youll see Chevy provided dimples where the side brackets need to mount. The pre-drill shot of the dimples didnt come out as well as I would have liked, but the after shot shows up better. In my own case here I drilled the holes a little large, and used washers with my bolts. I figured my chances of getting it exactly right on the first try were slim to none. Doing it this way will allow me to adjust the gaps. Heres an after picture with the grill installed. Now your down to re assembling everthing and viewing the finished product. As it turns out, Ive still got some adjusting to do. Im off about 1/4 inch to the left. I still need to make something up for the center mounts too. Aside from those little details the swap is done though. As it turns out this is probably one of the easiest things Ive done to the truck. Hope this helps someone along the way.
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1978 Scottsdale - celebrating 10 years of teaching me profanity 1990 Silverado - bought in Nov. 2016 and it's already catching up - Sold 1987 k5 blazer - sold... :\ seed money for the 81 1981 k20 4x4 - 5.3 swap in progress Events attended: Spring GOG 2011 Dale JR car show Summer 2012 Gathering at Tommys pickup parts Last edited by N2TRUX; 02-28-2011 at 10:06 PM. |
09-21-2010, 04:33 PM | #2 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
This swap did leave me with one question. Ive asked this to a few 'chevy' guys that I know, and none of them could give me an answer. If those dimples where the side mounts bolt on were only necessary for the 73/74 side mounts, why did they carry them on into later years?
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1978 Scottsdale - celebrating 10 years of teaching me profanity 1990 Silverado - bought in Nov. 2016 and it's already catching up - Sold 1987 k5 blazer - sold... :\ seed money for the 81 1981 k20 4x4 - 5.3 swap in progress Events attended: Spring GOG 2011 Dale JR car show Summer 2012 Gathering at Tommys pickup parts |
09-21-2010, 05:21 PM | #3 | |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
Quote:
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09-21-2010, 10:58 PM | #4 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
That would make sense. My thought process was that since that person, or piece of machinery was no longer needed, that it would be eliminated from the assembly process.
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1978 Scottsdale - celebrating 10 years of teaching me profanity 1990 Silverado - bought in Nov. 2016 and it's already catching up - Sold 1987 k5 blazer - sold... :\ seed money for the 81 1981 k20 4x4 - 5.3 swap in progress Events attended: Spring GOG 2011 Dale JR car show Summer 2012 Gathering at Tommys pickup parts |
09-21-2010, 06:50 PM | #5 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
so that replacement core supports can be offered from 73-80 i assume.
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09-21-2010, 08:36 PM | #6 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
Thanks for sharing.
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09-21-2010, 11:06 PM | #7 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
I love the 73-74 grill, so you know I dig the conversion. It looks to me like the gap around the trim is a bit wide. Anyone got a good pic of a 73-74 front end to compare?
BTW- What about the internal hood latch. Will this work alright with that?
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Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra" Last edited by N2TRUX; 09-21-2010 at 11:07 PM. |
09-21-2010, 11:19 PM | #8 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
hows two of them?
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09-22-2010, 10:38 AM | #9 | |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
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Ive not done the latch swap. I didnt need to with the external latch, but from what I can find on here changing them out isnt hard. You would still have the spot for an external latch on the grill though. I noticed the gap too, but I figured there wasnt much to be done about it unless I got a grill stretcher
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1978 Scottsdale - celebrating 10 years of teaching me profanity 1990 Silverado - bought in Nov. 2016 and it's already catching up - Sold 1987 k5 blazer - sold... :\ seed money for the 81 1981 k20 4x4 - 5.3 swap in progress Events attended: Spring GOG 2011 Dale JR car show Summer 2012 Gathering at Tommys pickup parts |
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09-22-2010, 01:23 PM | #10 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
yes it does. I put a 1973 grille (also my fav, your truck would be my (future) truck's twin if you do it) in my 1978 K10 with an inside hood release.
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09-22-2010, 01:27 PM | #11 | |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
Quote:
How did your hood release work out with the 73-74 center? i am thinking about doing this to my 78 with inside release as well.
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02-28-2011, 10:02 PM | #12 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
Thanks
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09-21-2010, 11:23 PM | #13 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
My 73 cheyenne
I cannot find pics of my other trucks though. we have a green 73 white 74 and maybe another one or two i cant remember anymore haha.
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09-21-2010, 11:40 PM | #14 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
So maybe I am wrong but I still think the gap is a bit wider. According to LMC the trim is all the same, so maybe its just me.
Thanks for the pics.
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09-21-2010, 11:49 PM | #15 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
his trim does look a little off to me n2trux, but i think its the headon style photo.
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09-22-2010, 12:26 PM | #16 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
That gap is about right, looks like mine.
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09-22-2010, 01:39 PM | #17 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
Perfect fit. Didn't bind up or hit the grille.
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09-22-2010, 06:03 PM | #18 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
I really like that grille. Is the 73/74 grill being reproduced?
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09-22-2010, 06:06 PM | #19 |
paper or plastic?
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
73' grill on a 77' front clip
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09-22-2010, 09:33 PM | #20 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
You guys are tempting me to make some changes. Can't call them updates, maybe "upgrade" would be a better description.
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09-22-2010, 10:01 PM | #21 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
do eeeetttt!
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09-23-2010, 08:57 AM | #22 |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
I dunno.... I think your truck looks pretty good as is. Mine needed more help than most lol
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1978 Scottsdale - celebrating 10 years of teaching me profanity 1990 Silverado - bought in Nov. 2016 and it's already catching up - Sold 1987 k5 blazer - sold... :\ seed money for the 81 1981 k20 4x4 - 5.3 swap in progress Events attended: Spring GOG 2011 Dale JR car show Summer 2012 Gathering at Tommys pickup parts |
04-30-2011, 03:16 PM | #23 |
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I would really like to know how you did this? I am in the middle of my conversion, and nothing fits. I have all internal latch parts but they are totally different from external latch system.
From what I can tell so far I need to change the center brace to 73-74. This requires an external latch release, as well as the matching core support filler panel, and strike pin. I have some of each, but thats the best combo I can see that will work. |
05-18-2011, 10:55 PM | #24 | |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
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OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SOOOO EXCITED!! LIKE I TOTALLY CANT WAIT! (shreaks and other high pitched squeeling noises associated with teenage girl excitment also happening) pics pics pics for kicks if you can find a gmc 73/74 grill you should post pics of it too. but all shreaks aside, its gonna look awesome! please please dont forget the all to commonly over-looked amber colored turn/courtesy lamp lenses. imo they are half of what makes the 73/74 front end look soo bad a** |
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05-18-2011, 11:35 PM | #25 | |
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Re: 73/74 grill swap
Quote:
Only things I changed on my 76 were the center support, hood release and outside brackets. All sourced from a 74 GMC.
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