Changing Front Ends Questions

[frog210]

Hey guys I have a question
I just got myself a 74 Chevy Custom Deluxe Shortbed V(link)
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=515988

And well I'm not a fan of that front end
I want to switch it over to the 80's square front end
I want to know what would i have to get from the donor chevy
Like
-Fenders
-Hood
-Grill
-Radiator support
????
Am I missing anything?
Will it just bolt on or will I have to frame/body work
any help is appreciated

[Dalaigh]

You'll need the hood, fenders, inner fenders, core support, cowl, wiper system (73-80 wipers are too short for the 81-87 cowl), plus theres work you need to do to the cowl on the cab. The 81-87 hood hinges attach at the cowl on the cab, and recess into the cowl, so holes need to be cut. It's a lot easier to go from the 81-87 front end to the 73-80 front end, then it is to go from the 73-80 front to 81-87 front end.

[Dalaigh]

Personally I prefer the 73-80 front end, and if you were a lot closer I would trade you my 84 front for your 74. If yours were in great shape, mines all new. You will have a lot of people on here saying stay with the 74 front end, its more desirable.

[J Knight]

To go from a 73-80 to a 81-87/91 front clip you will need the entire front end including cowl panel, hood hinges, bumper with brackets, radiator, and wiper studs(if that's what they are called). You will also have to mount hood hinges on you cowl, trim the frame horns, and possibly move the front frame mounts about 3/4in for the radiator support to line up. Personally I hate to see another round eye lose its identity to a newer clip, especially a 73-74.
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[frog210]

Well mines a 74, I'm not a fan of the this front end
I might just hold on to this front end for a little longer then
What would yall suggest I'm still gonna be fixing it up too
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[J Knight]

I would suggest keeping the 74 front end on the truck, but that's just my opinion. If you do swap it out, at least keep the radiator support, grill, and all the hardware intact. There are lots of guys looking for those parts.
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[frog210]

I might just keep it
Who knows might come out good
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[nekkidhillbilly]

73-74 and a 80 are about the rarest fronts idk why you would change it.

[Dsquared]

i would change the grill and get some 79-80 headlight bezels.

[frog210]

I never thought of that
Changing the grill and bezels
Are they really that rare the 73-74 fronts?
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[nekkidhillbilly]

to get square headlights he would need an 80 headlight bezels and grill. 73-74 are about the rarest front end besides the square headlight 80. theres probably double or triple the number of 75-79 and the round headlight 80s out there.

[frog210]

That's what I want square headlights
That's why I wanted to change the front ends
Unless somebody has managed to put square headlights on this
Grill?
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[nekkidhillbilly]

well if you can find an 80 grill and headlight bezels its just a matter of unbolting one and going to another. but like i said there about the rarest grill and not repoed or anything. yours is the second rarest and no parts for it are repoed besides the grill itself and its high dollar.

[frog210]

http://www.brotherstrucks.com/prodin...number=HLB80SQ
Like this one?
I like square white one
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[Dalaigh]

Originally Posted by frog210

http://www.brotherstrucks.com/prodin...number=HLB80SQ
Like this one?
I like square white one
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In order to change to that bezel all you'd need is new turn signals and the lower grille trim. It'll be a lot easier then finding an 80 bezel with square lights or changing to the 81+ front end.

[nekkidhillbilly]

here you can see the 80 square headlight option it uses the same sheet metal as your 74. there where both square and round headlights in 80. to go to a 81-91 2nd pic your going to have to change the whole front sheet metal.

[nekkidhillbilly]

again before you change it i think you should dig through the pictures of the trucks with your front on the board you may be impressed.

[nekkidhillbilly]

in example

[nekkidhillbilly]

thats the round headlight 80 yes. it wont accomplish what your wanting. personally i like the 77-78 chevy the best however i wouldnt change a 80 or 73-74 out if i had one due to the fact there not something you can buy every day.

[frog210]

Okay
I'm going to do some looking around, maybe I can find an adapter or
A 80's grill
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[nekkidhillbilly]

Originally Posted by frog210

Okay
I'm going to do some looking around, maybe I can find an adapter or
A 80's grill
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well there is no adapter you just gotta have the headlight buckets and bezels that fit square lights. just be prepared it will take searching and wont be cheap.

[frog210]

I'm going to look into it I just don't like
How the headlights are round and the body is square lol
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[nekkidhillbilly]

well the upscale 80 be your best bet. you prob could sell your parts to offset some of the cost also. i love round headlights myself.

[frog210]

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/pts/2910734745.html
Are those the square bezels?
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[Dsquared]

my 80 model has round headlights with the full bezel....it goes around the turn signal lights too. you can buy them from LMC but they are plastic. i would put in an aftermarket tube grill. i don't have any pics of my 80. i will try to get some.i think the square head lights came in an 80 1/2.