94-02C/K Grille

[bird33mchale32]

I am wondering if this will fit in my 81 GMC C15 short bed? I know I would have to get all new supports, and I have seen guys on here convert to the late 80's grilles. Anyone have any luck installing a 94-02 C/K Grille on their early 80's trucks? Can it be done without breaking the bank?

[85_SWB]

No, i don't think it can be done without breaking the bank
it would require lots of modification and i am not sure but the sizes between the two are probably way off

[Captkaos]

Without some SERIOUS modifications it isn't going to bolt up, then NONE of the body lines are going to match.

[Zoomad75]

The only way I've seen it done is with Fiberglass fenders. The project 74 K5 in 4wheel and off road magazine used some fiberglass pre-runner fenders that are made to fit the 94-02 grille to the 74 k5. Since they are pre-runner style they are extra wide for tire clearance. This is how they get enough width to match the wider body of the newer trucks to the narrower older style.

It still required mods to a core support from a later truck to fit on the earlier one. If your not making a pre-runner or need tons of clearance for big tires and lots of wheeltravel, it would look goofy to use the fiberglass fenders on anything else.

[dubdeuce80]

i'm lost...since when is 94-02 the same body style? were they the heavy dutys?

[canadianc-10]

i really wish i had taken pictures of the truck that was parked by my house for a few weeks. it was an red early 80's c10 swb diesel 2wd with a 94 up chev grille how they did it i have no idea but was extremely well done, it was almost the same as setup as the 89-91 burbs but had composite headlights and the 94+ chev style grille. other than monochrome paint and chrome wheels the truck looked stock. im going to check around some ones gotta know the owner in town. anyways it can be done obviously, but a hell of alot of fabricating

[Zoomad75]

Originally Posted by dubdeuce80

i'm lost...since when is 94-02 the same body style? were they the heavy dutys?

THey built the older style into 2000 labled as "classic" for half tons and the 3/4 and 1 tons until the HD GMT800's came out later.

I'm sure somebody with a lot of time and talent could meld the two fenders together. Problem is the shapes are all different. different character lines all the way around.

I've seen some 89-91 Blazer/sub front clips where the 4 individual lamps were replaced with two composite housings from a celebrity eurosport. By making that change, it goes along way to making the front end look like it came from a later truck without changing sheetmetal.

[Captkaos]

I think you are really talking about this:


If so, this is a 89-91 R/V grille in a 81-87 pickup.

[bird33mchale32]

Looks like I am going to be switching over to the 90-91 style. Now I just need to know where to buy the supports at the cheapest price.

[Srubydo1986]

find one that been wrecked that how my buddy got all he need from me when i rolled my 1989 gmc jimmy k5. God i loved that truck, i will have another one

REMEMBER: that grille set up is an 88-92 grille set up so you got many years. it what the 89 was.

[Captkaos]

Originally Posted by Srubydo1986

find one that been wrecked that how my buddy got all he need from me when i rolled my 1989 gmc jimmy k5. God i loved that truck, i will have another one

REMEMBER: that grille set up is an 88-92 grille set up so you got many years. it what the 89 was.

Actually it is 89-91.