Thinking about a grille swap

[dgas]

I saw another post in a search about swapping a '73 onto an '80 and got to wondering if the front clips of either the earlier '75 or '87 style grilles/Fclips bolt onto my future 82(last 3 pics). I prefer either to my 82's , It SEEMS like either would. BUT, looks are often decieving..
Next I am having trouble ID'ing the exact year of this truck seems a combination of 80 and 82 ,titled as a 82 but w two headlights and park light in the bumper????

[flamingbig10]

its a 82 and you could do but it would take a lot of modification to look wright
73-80 round headlight
80 square headlights

81-87 single and dual head lights
81-82 had the parking lights in the bumper and 83-87 for single headlight setups the parking lights are under the headlight and for dual there in the grille

[joe231]

the easiest to swap would be this one


but either could be done, in '81 GM got rid of the long hood with the built in cowl, and went to the shorter hood with a separate cowl panel. to mix the 2 you have to change out your wiper shafts as well as hinges and most everything forward of the fire wall(IIRC)
I believe with the 88-91 grill (the pic i re-posted) all you need to change is the core support, and of course all the lights, trim, ect.

[dgas]

Looking closer at the pics that I can find (all show dual headligts in 82 on car pics.com), I see what you mean. I'll have to look into this further to get rid of that to me massive looking grille and stay away from those tube grilles or the ones that go over the headlights I like neither..( No offense meant just not to my taste) I'd like to move the park lights into the bumper or into the grille center area.

[joe231]

well in that case the easiest swap would be to a 84-87?? grill and quad lights....
like this bad mamba-jamba

[N2TRUX]

This might help-

[joe231]

very cool!!

[babyJay]

I am partial to round headlight model years, and especially the headlight and grill trim of the 77-79's. Anything is possible. It all areally depends on how much cash and time you want to throw at it.

[nlped]

Originally Posted by joe231

well in that case the easiest swap would be to a 84-87?? grill and quad lights....
like this bad mamba-jamba

That's sweet!

[dgas]

Great info drawing.
I really hate the MUCH more massive looking dual over n under Headlight grilles. Long b4 that I would keep the 82 single eye grille and modify it to small intigrated park lights and use an 84-7 bumper or just go w a custom grille. It would probably make more sense to just buy the years truck i actually want but cost and availability are issues. Hard to beat a 1/2T 2wd short box driver for $400 altho a clean up n resale would probably work. but I am not into that stuff anymore.

[babyJay]

So a search, there are guys here with phantom grilles. They look nice on these squares.

[dgas]

Thats the next step, an online search for custom grilles. Hard to find I would think as I am picky as h_ll.

[flamingbig10]

phantom grilles do look good but the only thing they block light from the headlight and check your state laws because there banned in some places, but there several eBay stores that sell them
http://shop.ebay.com/items/__phantom...1983|1982|1981

[joe231]

Originally Posted by nlped

That's sweet!

here is a LINKY

[dgas]

I'll have to look into those further. I could do one that does not cover the headlights(illegal). Maybe I can refab it to what I want. Cheap enough to play with. maybe mount the park light in it too.
The full cover is too 70's custom Vanish anyway. heh heh like I said - picky. I hate going to a run and Having 17 carbon copy cookie cutter rides. I am going to car craft next weekend so I'll take truck pics -LOTS of them.

[dgas]

I a no artist but....

[babyJay]

Originally Posted by dgas

...The full cover is too 70's custom Vanish anyway. heh heh...

Hey now c'mon. Some of the finer things were made in the 70's. Just ask any of the other GenX'ers here like me. Anyhow to each his own. That drawing you made looks good. It is your truck after all. Do what you want to it to make you happy, you are the one that has to drive it. There are guys here that don't like the running boards on my 87, but it sure makes it nice climbin in and out, so to heck what they think.

Looking forward to those pics from that meet.

[dgas]

I am one of those gen X old farts (54) and an old "Vanner" to boot, (remember Mr Wonderfull) heh heh , Many things were tried then as the whole car thing was getting too stagnant and old hat. I had a 37 chevy cpe w Square headlights.

[babyJay]

Originally Posted by dgas

I am one of those gen X old farts and an old "Vanner" to boot, (remember Mr Wonderfull) heh heh , Many things were tried then as the whole car thing was getting too stagnant and old hat. I had a 37 chevy cpe w Square headlights.

I can almost picture someone posing in front of it with plaid bell bottom pants.

[dgas]

Nope, BUT I did have a blue jean jump suit that zipped ALL the way down and still have the square headlights,LMAO

[boatpuller]

phantom would be the cheapest route.and i like em.if that means anything

[N2TRUX]

Personally I am not a fan of phantom grills, but here is a fine example of one in use.

[BGRAFX]

N2trux where did you find the drawing of all the front grills. I'm gonna alter that slightly and print those on the backs of t-shirts.

[3r!c84]

Originally Posted by BGRAFX

N2trux where did you find the drawing of all the front grills. I'm gonna alter that slightly and print those on the backs of t-shirts.

http://www.73-87.com/7387info/misc/73-87diff.jpg


its better its in color

[dgas]

a few variations-I tend to tale a long time to plan my cars ,exploring idea's B4 ever turning a wrench