front clip conversion

[lovetorev]

I am new to the 73-87 truck body style and would like to know if a front clip from a 88 chevy suburban can be made to fit onto my 77 blazer? I purchased the sub to use the TBI fuel injection and 700R4 trany but since I need new finders anyway I thought this might be a way to go. Any help would be appreciated

[TIMSPEED]

You'll have to use everything from the doors forward (Fenders, Cowl, Grille, Core Support, Hood). Any 81-87 Chevy Truck or 81-91 Blazer/Burb will work. Personally, I like the vintage look

[lovetorev]

My main concern is with the way the hood hinges slid into the firewall. Will bolting them on and cuting the slots work like one other guy sugested or will more mods be needed. I do also like the vintage look but my fenders are ate up with rust and the hood is kinda bent on the passenger side. So since I have the sub already for the EFI I thought I would just use the rest of the parts I needed to fix up my Blazer.

[TIMSPEED]

Doesn't the hood hinges bolt to the fenders?

[lovetorev]

It appears that the hood is supported by one hinge that goes to the fender and another that goes to the firewall and slides down into a slot that is cut into it.

[1972C10]

Yeah to do that there is some welding required my friend has a 77 blazer with the newer style frontend his came off an 87 truck so its not like yours but same princeaple since the fenders are the same.

[swervin ervin]

Edit.

I was wrong. I had it backwards.

Yes, you will need to cut a slot where the cowl is.

[Jonboy]

There is a bit of bracing around the hood hinges in the cowl that you will want to use as well. They are held in place with a couple of spot welds around the hinge, IIRC. As you have the sub, it will be easy to spot. Since I am guessing that you are going to scrap the sub, just make a bigger hole so you can see it. You will need to swap the wiper stands too, as they are longer to make it through the cowl grille. Everything else should bolt up.

[the baron]

I'm going the other way on my 87 Burb , I will put a 79 front clip on it.

a question : will the 79 hood fit on the 87 cowl grille , or do I have to remove it ?

Thanks

the Baron

[Captkaos]

a question : will the 79 hood fit on the 87 cowl grille , or do I have to remove it ?

No, you need to remove it, and you need to change the wiper stalks too.

[gchemist]

For details on the coversions for your model visit this webpage.

I did the conversion to my 83.

[lovetorev]

Wow! thanks for the great link gchemist. Do you think he welded the hinge due to rust on the firewall or would it be better to weld it for better support? I am not sure if I want to cut my firewall if I can't complete the conversion. I have limited resources for welding things on.

[gchemist]

From reading the article, it seems he made the recess hole too big. This caused a problem. He did not enough metal from the hole to the fender to drill a hole for the hinge mounting plate. If you use a dremel tool or small enough saw, you can make the hole just big enough for the hinge to recess. By making the hole small you can then drill holes to bolt the support for the hinge. Take a good look at the 88 sub firewall. You basically duplicate the hinge area to your Blazer.

[lovetorev]

I appreciate everyone's help on this issue. This message board is great! I think I will go for the conversion! I will put Pics up as soon as it is done.

[Jonboy]

The front end conversion is not terribly hard to do. We converted a buddy's 75 Blazer to an 88 front in an afternoon, but that was in a pretty well equipped shop. I would think you should be able to get it done in a weekend, for sure.