'80 front to round eyed 73+?

[Puglia10]

Hey everyone, quick question. What's needed to change the 1980 front end to the more desirable (imo) round eyes of the 73,74,75. Etc. Not sure if they differ by year but I know they look better to me than the 80! What am I looking at here? Mine came as an 80 with a billet grille but I've recently fallen for round eyes!
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[Manbearpig]

fenders, hood, grille, core support(i think), headlights, parking lights, misc accessories lol

[Puglia10]

Wait are you sure? I thought it was much easier and 73-80 hoods and fenders were the same then 81-87 were the same body-wise?
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[87 chevy silverado]

no u gust need the grill headlight bezels, headlights an the hood latches and i might be forgetting a couple things

[bitchin85]

Originally Posted by Manbearpig

fenders, hood, grille, core support(i think), headlights, parking lights, misc accessories lol

what he said..

nothings the same in the front clip. the hood latches are diferent too. you have to do some custom work to them i believe to get them go work right.. and if you want the old style bumper, you have to make your brackets custom because the frames are a little different.

[77gmcjoe]

Originally Posted by Puglia10

Wait are you sure? I thought it was much easier and 73-80 hoods and fenders were the same then 81-87 were the same body-wise?
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You are correct sir.

I'm not sure where everyone else is coming from with this, but it appears to me that you would need to change the headlight bezels and mounting buckets that attach to the radiator support, along with (obviously) the headlights themselves. "Maybe" the radiator support, although I don't think so. Fenders, hood, grille, etc? No way. Look at the LMC website and you'll see which parts have different part numbers for round vs. square.

For what it's worth, I really like the square eyes myself.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Puglia10

Wait are you sure? I thought it was much easier and 73-80 hoods and fenders were the same then 81-87 were the same body-wise?
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Yes, THIS is correct.

[bigblock73]

Wow, read the post and study the trucks fellas...


As a couple have alreay said, pretty simple swap. Headlight bezels, lights (perhaps headlight mounting buckets too), lower grill trim...and that should be it.

[benoit454]

he said 80 guys not 81-87 which would require front clip.

80 is the same fenders and hood as the 73-79 hints 73-80 body style.

As they said grille, headlight buckets and cups, i think the core/rad support is the same. I aint sure on the latch I thought it'd be the same,and bumper and brackets should be the same, maybe some braces, brackets or supports behind the grille, not sure what else. I'd get the headlights, buckets(bezels I should say) the mounting buckets round black metal pieces the adjusters and springs go to, the adjusters, and springs, yours might work? then the grille and lower trim piece? or would it work? you need the parklights, then I guess see what all bolts up or won't and is missing.

That would be my best guess only, and I don't blame you I hate the 80 square lights and front end, well mainly the headlights and bezels, grille is ok with me. I also don't like the 81-87 stuff I'd switch to a round eye setup anyday.

[Puglia10]

hmmm, this seems a little more confusing than i had hoped, glad to be reassured i dont need fenders/hood though. if anyone knows exactly what i need let me know, and thanks for all the help so far!

[Maxxd07]

I have one round and one with square (80s) and Im pretty sure the grills are the same, just the lights and bezels and possibly some of the trim is all that needs to be changed. I can take a closer look tomorrow to be sure.

[Puglia10]

Thatd be awesome! The less I have to change the better, especially big pieces like core/radiator support, and I already have a billet grille for the 80...let me know what you find, thanks!
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[westofb]

Headlight buckets, bulbs and trim rings, lower molding for the grill surround, headlight bezels, center bar that the grill attaches to, and of course the grill itself. Depending on what year grill you decide on, you will have the match the center bar that the grill attaches and might involve changing the hood release as well, I can't remember for sure which way is which, but the 73-75 and the 76-80 differ in where the hood latch release handle is located...one series is centered while the other series is off set to the driver side.

The fenders, core support, bumper, hood, hinges, lower valance for 73-80 will interchange as far as I know.

[joe231]

ok, this has become way more confusing than it needs to be.
I did the swap on my '80
the grill doesn't have to change, (I did change mine to a 73-74 which also requires changing the center support because the 73-74 grill sets in farther) your billet grille will work
you need headlight buckets with headlights, turn signals, headlight bezels, and the lower filler panel.
that's all I can think of right now. it is a very simple swap and you will most likely be able to sell the '80 square light stuff

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

I just did this same swap on my '80 about two weeks ago. I bought the following parts for my swap:

LMC Part # 38-7400 (bottom grill assembly)
LMC Part # 36-4341 (comes with both bezels)
LMC Part # 38-3962 (upper molding)
LMC Part # 38-3960 (lower molding)
LMC Part # 37-4590 (parking lamps)
Headlight buckets
Halogen Headlights from O'Reilly Auto Parts
Headlight rings from O'Reilly Auto Parts
Headlight springs
Billet Grill from eBay

I have the hood release latch on the grill (not inside the cab), but you can still squeeze your fingers through the billet grill to open it that way. You will have to remove the rectangular headlight bucket bracket from the core support and mount the round headlight buckets straight to the core support. Depending on what grill you go with, you may or may not have to remove the side brackets from the core support. The billet grill I have came with brackets that replace those brackets, so I had to remove mine.

Here is a link to my photobucket where I took pics of the process:
http://s1189.photobucket.com/albums/...end%20changes/

Here are some before and after pics of my swap:
Before:


After:




If you have any further detailed questions, feel free to PM me. I'll be glad to help whichever way I can.

[bitchin85]

sorry guys forget about what i said. i feel dumb now lol i thought u meant going from 81 and up square eyes to the round eyes. i misread. sorry and good luck.. its much easier then going from new to old style front clips

[pooods]

Simple swap like stated above, but I love the 80 grill! I bought a 1980 K5 years back and thought it looked better than the round lights. Sold it many years ago and always wanted another 80.

[benoit454]

I thought if you went with the 79 round buckets/bezels you could reuse the grille trim top and bottom, and I'd think either way the top would be the same?

I know our 76 had the 79 round light trim, that wraps around the parklights and big chrome piece under the grille.

[Manbearpig]

Originally Posted by benoit454

he said 80 guys not 81-87 which would require front clip.

80 is the same fenders and hood as the 73-79 hints 73-80 body style.

As they said grille, headlight buckets and cups, i think the core/rad support is the same. I aint sure on the latch I thought it'd be the same,and bumper and brackets should be the same, maybe some braces, brackets or supports behind the grille, not sure what else. I'd get the headlights, buckets(bezels I should say) the mounting buckets round black metal pieces the adjusters and springs go to, the adjusters, and springs, yours might work? then the grille and lower trim piece? or would it work? you need the parklights, then I guess see what all bolts up or won't and is missing.

That would be my best guess only, and I don't blame you I hate the 80 square lights and front end, well mainly the headlights and bezels, grille is ok with me. I also don't like the 81-87 stuff I'd switch to a round eye setup anyday.

Ah good to know

Didnt know that

[benoit454]

don't quote me on it lol I was wondering about it to make sure I got the right info. Alot of the little pieces I wonder about myself.

[flamingbig10]

looks good Fernando

[Puglia10]

thanks everyone! the help is greatly appreciated, especially humblychevybuddy, that was a thorough response, exactly what i need! although after looking at the start i dont think im going to hate the 80 front so bad! that didnt look bad IMO, though i do agree the round eyes are better. Now i gotta decide if its worth it haha...

[HumbleChevyBuddy]

Originally Posted by benoit454

I thought if you went with the 79 round buckets/bezels you could reuse the grille trim top and bottom, and I'd think either way the top would be the same?

I know our 76 had the 79 round light trim, that wraps around the parklights and big chrome piece under the grille.

The top trim can be re-used, however the bottom cannot. The bottom piece is a lot bigger and will not fit. I decided to go with a new one to make the chrome as shiny as the new pieces, though.

Originally Posted by flamingbig10

looks good Fernando

Thanks! Like many others here, it's still work in progress so I'll keep dreaming like everyone else

Originally Posted by Puglia10

thanks everyone! the help is greatly appreciated, especially humblychevybuddy, that was a thorough response, exactly what i need! although after looking at the start i dont think im going to hate the 80 front so bad! that didnt look bad IMO, though i do agree the round eyes are better. Now i gotta decide if its worth it haha...

No problem. I'm glad I could help. Personally, I love how it came out and the way it looks now. It's pretty pricey and I'm not too fond of the plastic bezels LMC sells, but they really look good and I can upgrade to the factory ones later on anyway. Either way you go, customizing your truck to your taste and how YOU want it is what truly matters. Have fun with it and enjoy the drives!

[joe231]

I spent about $80 on my swap including $60 for a 73-74 grill shipped to me by a forum member.
Gotta love pull a part!
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[HumbleChevyBuddy]

Originally Posted by joe231

I spent about $80 on my swap including $60 for a 73-74 grill shipped to me by a forum member.
Gotta love pull a part!
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Can't beat that! That is awesome!

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You obviously knew better, but did it anyway.