Round Headlight Question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

87 V20 Scottsdale · 09-22-2010, 09:17 PM

I've never owned a 70's model, so I don't know what the difference is. I've seen some that have the sunk-in area that's around the headlamp is painted black and some that are not. Was this something that changed in a certain year or what?

**N2TRUX** · 09-22-2010, 09:21 PM

For a simple over view take a look at the chart below. Essentially the square body truck ran from 73-87 (till 91 for Blazers and Burbs). The "round eye" break is 73-80.

87 V20 Scottsdale · 09-22-2010, 09:28 PM

So basically by looking at that the only years that the headlamp surround was not painted black was 75-76, correct?

ray_mcavoy · 09-22-2010, 10:17 PM

73-78 all use the same style of headlight bezel but the recessed area around the headlight changed colors over the years:

73-74 = black
75-76 = silver
77-78 = gray

79 (and some 80 models w/round lights) used a new design of bezel that goes down around the parking lights. I think these continued to use the same gray color in the recessed area around the headlight.

RandyP · 09-23-2010, 07:56 AM

So you're saying N2TRUX's picture is wrong? According to his diagram the 77 and up have a headlight bezel that also surrounds the lower park lamp.

I actually have no clue as I've never owned anything pre 81. I had always thought the bezels changed in 79 myself, and then in 80 you had some round and some square (square in silverado only I believe). I'd like educated for sure myself on this.

68 TT · 09-23-2010, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyP

So you're saying N2TRUX's picture is wrong? According to his diagram the 77 and up have a headlight bezel that also surrounds the lower park lamp.

I actually have no clue as I've never owned anything pre 81. I had always thought the bezels changed in 79 myself, and then in 80 you had some round and some square (square in silverado only I believe). I'd like educated for sure myself on this.

My 72,000 mile 78's body & paint look to be all original and it has the headlight trim of the older style separate from the marker so it doesn't fit the diagram either. The other 78's I have seen look just like mine too so I think the drawing my not be accurate for the 77-78 years but who knows if anything you see is correct with how easy it is to swap parts from year to year and how old these trucks are getting.

THE "10" SILVERADO · 09-23-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 68 TT

My 72,000 mile 78's body & paint look to be all original and it has the headlight trim of the older style separate from the marker so it doesn't fit the diagram either. The other 78's I have seen look just like mine too so I think the drawing my not be accurate for the 77-78 years but who know if anything you see is correct with how easy it is to swap parts from year to year and how old these trucks are getting.

I also think the chart might be wrong....My 77 has the silver on it....

monza1979 · 09-23-2010, 10:43 AM

Well damn!! now your getting me all confused about my truck!! title says 78, but it has the 73-74 grill and HL bezels, with 75-76 markers? hmm, what has my truck been through?!?!

68 TT · 09-23-2010, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monza1979

Well damn!! now your getting me all confused about my truck!! title says 78, but it has the 73-74 grill and HL bezels, with 75-76 markers? hmm, what has my truck been through?!?!

The 73-74 grille swap is popular as it has a little more depth to it and many think it is the best looking round headlight grille.

You may still have a 78 but it just has some other vintage front trim pieces on it.

gregg72340 · 09-23-2010, 12:15 PM

I thought it was a 79 only thing that has the headlight bezel incorporate the turnsignal?

*78 Chevyrado* · 09-23-2010, 12:26 PM

I always thought they matched the headlight bezel paint to the grille installed at the factory?

Adams74Chevy · 09-23-2010, 12:28 PM

My 73 and my 74 headlight bezels are just chrome, no paint...but the grill in my 73 is a 75-76 I believe. Plus some people have also painted the recess of the bezels later so I think it's anything goes after all these years.

THE "10" SILVERADO · 09-23-2010, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregg72340

I thought it was a 79 only thing that has the headlight bezel incorporate the turnsignal?

I thought the same thing but I thought they incorporated them in 78....

joe231 · 09-23-2010, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

For a simple over view take a look at the chart below. Essentially the square body truck ran from 73-87 (till 91 for Blazers and Burbs). The "round eye" break is 73-80.

'til '91 on blazers, burbs, and crew cabs

Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device

kris's66lwb · 09-23-2010, 01:14 PM

the round that cocewrs just the light was suposedly from 73 to 78 and in 79 the changed to the round witha full bezel and then agian in 80 they went to square with full bezel and round fenders although it was a rolling modle change that means your 78s could have 79 trim and 79s could have either 78 79 or 80 trim and 80s could have 79 80 or the later ones had the new front on them

87 V20 Scottsdale · 09-23-2010, 08:59 PM

That makes me think of another question. What determined the color of the grille on the 77-79 years? I know some were black and some were argent. I remember my grandpa having a '79 C10 with the black grille, but I think his headlight bezels were gray. Hmm, I've got pictures around here somewhere....

kris's66lwb · 09-24-2010, 10:37 AM

its probably a trim levle thing thats all i can think of like the ss had a black grille and so did the rs but everything else was suposidly grey

68 TT · 09-24-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kris's66lwb

the round that cocewrs just the light was suposedly from 73 to 78 and in 79 the changed to the round witha full bezel and then agian in 80 they went to square with full bezel and round fenders although it was a rolling modle change that means your 78s could have 79 trim and 79s could have either 78 79 or 80 trim and 80s could have 79 80 or the later ones had the new front on them

That explains why I found a 79 that had the exact same grille & headlight trim as my 78. It was even the same paint scheme. That is where I got the metal bowtie grille emblem to replace my faded & damaged foil emblem.

kris's66lwb · 09-24-2010, 01:18 PM

Ya i got a metal emblem off a grille some where and i have just swaped it out i had a plastic bowtie on my 80 and my 77 didnt have one and my buddys 77 had a replaceable bowtie so i go that one the grill i have from a 74 is grey with no replace able emblem .... Yet we also had about 12 stets of bezels all factory we had 2 sets black and chrome and the rest were chrome no grey my 77 had both one black one chrome

kris's66lwb · 09-24-2010, 01:20 PM

one question see that hood detail the is raised on the front when did that start i love that extra look makes it look meaner my 80 had it but the hood is toast and my new hood is of a 75 and it dosent have it neither did my 77 or both of my buddys 77s i want another one

09-22-2010, 09:17 PM	#1
87 V20 Scottsdale Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Georgetown, KY Posts: 183	Round Headlight Question I've never owned a 70's model, so I don't know what the difference is. I've seen some that have the sunk-in area that's around the headlamp is painted black and some that are not. Was this something that changed in a certain year or what? __________________ Andrew 1987 V20 Scottsdale 383 TBI, SM465, NP208, 14FF, 4.10 1988 C1500 Scottsdale 305, 700R4, 3.08 1986 K30 Custom Deluxe 6.2, SM465, NP205, 14FF, 4.10

09-22-2010, 09:21 PM	#2
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,023	Re: Round Headlight Question For a simple over view take a look at the chart below. Essentially the square body truck ran from 73-87 (till 91 for Blazers and Burbs). The "round eye" break is 73-80. Attached Images __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

09-22-2010, 09:28 PM	#3
87 V20 Scottsdale Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Georgetown, KY Posts: 183	Re: Round Headlight Question So basically by looking at that the only years that the headlamp surround was not painted black was 75-76, correct? __________________ Andrew 1987 V20 Scottsdale 383 TBI, SM465, NP208, 14FF, 4.10 1988 C1500 Scottsdale 305, 700R4, 3.08 1986 K30 Custom Deluxe 6.2, SM465, NP205, 14FF, 4.10

09-22-2010, 10:17 PM	#4
ray_mcavoy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sherman, ME Posts: 2,359	Re: Round Headlight Question 73-78 all use the same style of headlight bezel but the recessed area around the headlight changed colors over the years: 73-74 = black 75-76 = silver 77-78 = gray 79 (and some 80 models w/round lights) used a new design of bezel that goes down around the parking lights. I think these continued to use the same gray color in the recessed area around the headlight.

09-23-2010, 07:56 AM	#5
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Round Headlight Question So you're saying N2TRUX's picture is wrong? According to his diagram the 77 and up have a headlight bezel that also surrounds the lower park lamp. I actually have no clue as I've never owned anything pre 81. I had always thought the bezels changed in 79 myself, and then in 80 you had some round and some square (square in silverado only I believe). I'd like educated for sure myself on this. __________________ *Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette?* There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. *VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good."* When the going gets tough, switch to power tools. Last edited by RandyP; 09-23-2010 at 07:58 AM.

09-23-2010, 10:43 AM	#8
monza1979 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sammamish Wa Posts: 38	Re: Round Headlight Question Well damn!! now your getting me all confused about my truck!! title says 78, but it has the 73-74 grill and HL bezels, with 75-76 markers? hmm, what has my truck been through?!?! __________________ I had the right to remain silent, but i didn't have the ability! 78 chevy swb 4x4 sm465 np205 350 4" lift, ORD flip kit, ORD Ext. brake lines 79 Chevy Monza:current plans, dz 302, 4 speed 69 Pontiac Firebird: 74 s.d. 455 build up, m22 rock crusher

09-23-2010, 12:15 PM	#10
gregg72340 Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: ambler, pa Posts: 325	Re: Round Headlight Question I thought it was a 79 only thing that has the headlight bezel incorporate the turnsignal? __________________ Just would like the snow to stop so I can actually work on my truck!!!!!!!!!!!

09-23-2010, 12:26 PM	#11
78 Chevyrado Account Suspended Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Unnapreciative, Trollville Posts: 2,079	Re: Round Headlight Question I always thought they matched the headlight bezel paint to the grille installed at the factory? Last edited by 78 Chevyrado; 09-23-2010 at 12:26 PM.

09-23-2010, 12:28 PM	#12
Adams74Chevy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MD Posts: 417	Re: Round Headlight Question My 73 and my 74 headlight bezels are just chrome, no paint...but the grill in my 73 is a 75-76 I believe. Plus some people have also painted the recess of the bezels later so I think it's anything goes after all these years. __________________ 2006 Silverado Crew Cab 1500 4x4 5.3L automatic 1986 M1008 CUCV 6.2L Detroit Diesel TH400 4.56 Detroit Locker rear NP208 1973 K20 "Silverado" 350ci, HEI, TH350, NP203 with 2wd conversion, A/C, power windows,tilt wheel, dual tanks. My '73ish K20 thread My 5yo son claims it as his. 1987 V20 Custom Deluxe 350 TH400 NP208 "farm truck" getting parted out. 2016 Nissan Altima grocery getter/commuter

09-23-2010, 01:14 PM	#15
kris's66lwb resident wrencher Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: ramona california Posts: 720	Re: Round Headlight Question the round that cocewrs just the light was suposedly from 73 to 78 and in 79 the changed to the round witha full bezel and then agian in 80 they went to square with full bezel and round fenders although it was a rolling modle change that means your 78s could have 79 trim and 79s could have either 78 79 or 80 trim and 80s could have 79 80 or the later ones had the new front on them

09-23-2010, 08:59 PM	#16
87 V20 Scottsdale Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Georgetown, KY Posts: 183	Re: Round Headlight Question That makes me think of another question. What determined the color of the grille on the 77-79 years? I know some were black and some were argent. I remember my grandpa having a '79 C10 with the black grille, but I think his headlight bezels were gray. Hmm, I've got pictures around here somewhere.... __________________ Andrew 1987 V20 Scottsdale 383 TBI, SM465, NP208, 14FF, 4.10 1988 C1500 Scottsdale 305, 700R4, 3.08 1986 K30 Custom Deluxe 6.2, SM465, NP205, 14FF, 4.10

09-24-2010, 10:37 AM	#17
kris's66lwb resident wrencher Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: ramona california Posts: 720	Re: Round Headlight Question its probably a trim levle thing thats all i can think of like the ss had a black grille and so did the rs but everything else was suposidly grey

09-24-2010, 01:18 PM	#19
kris's66lwb resident wrencher Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: ramona california Posts: 720	Re: Round Headlight Question Ya i got a metal emblem off a grille some where and i have just swaped it out i had a plastic bowtie on my 80 and my 77 didnt have one and my buddys 77 had a replaceable bowtie so i go that one the grill i have from a 74 is grey with no replace able emblem .... Yet we also had about 12 stets of bezels all factory we had 2 sets black and chrome and the rest were chrome no grey my 77 had both one black one chrome

09-24-2010, 01:20 PM	#20
kris's66lwb resident wrencher Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: ramona california Posts: 720	Re: Round Headlight Question one question see that hood detail the is raised on the front when did that start i love that extra look makes it look meaner my 80 had it but the hood is toast and my new hood is of a 75 and it dosent have it neither did my 77 or both of my buddys 77s i want another one



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