going from circle to square headlights.... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

73Blazer · 04-26-2003, 09:08 PM

I am currently in the process of fixing up a 73 2wd Blazer. I like the looks of the grille with the square headlights from 1980 (though I don't think many were made) I was wondering if anybody knew what I would have to change/modify to swap the headlights. I know I need the bottom grille molding and top grille molding, and of course the 'headlight door' (molding around the headlights). Will I have to get a new radiator support? If so, where can I get one made for the square headlights? Or will I just beable to modify mine to fit them. Hopefully someone will know what I need.
Brett

gchemist · 04-26-2003, 09:25 PM

Welcome to the site 73Blazer,
Why not go for the '91 Suburban look?

73Blazer · 04-26-2003, 09:42 PM

That looks pretty nice but I don't want to have to change pretty much the whole front clip... though that would be nice to do maybe later on...

apstguy · 04-27-2003, 12:20 AM

I know what your talking about and it is pretty rare. I haven't seen any parts in restoration catalogs for that fron end. I guess you would just have to find one at the junkyard and stripp parts & compare with that.

Nvbowtie · 04-27-2003, 02:23 PM

Now here you are trying to go to a 1980 look

and this morning I was looking to get away from the 1980 look.

Too bad you were not closer we could swap. The radiator
support shows to be the same for 73-80

GOTO:

www.chevyduty.com

Headlight bezel: 48-035 $29.95 Lft.
48-036 $29.95 Rt.
Grill: 61-229 $99.95 Grey/Chrome
Emblem: 59-339 $24.95 Yellow/chrome
Note: the emblem you will need to be creative to mount or
pay 324 for the original grill that it mounts to.(see pic below)

www.tuckersparts.com

Upper moulding: FGM-7907 $16.95
Lower moulding: FGM-7908 $24.95

======= $ 226.70
+/- Tax/ship/screws and sh!t.........

Bill

apstguy · 04-27-2003, 03:27 PM

Oops. I thought you ment the 80 quad headlight! Those suckers are rare! The square ones aren't that rare, but you'll have to track parts down.

c10scotty · 04-27-2003, 06:01 PM

80 quad headlight?? never heard of that. are you sure?

apstguy · 04-27-2003, 06:44 PM

Yeah I am. Ugly suckers! I have only seen one once, but it was gross! I saw another one online somewhere, so GM did make them.

*1FaastC10* · 04-27-2003, 07:10 PM

Tyler, must have been an aftermarket setup. the bodyshop manager has an '80 C10, we looked at grille trim from GM. i only remember seeing 2 choices, square and round. anybody got any pics of such a setup?

73Blazer · 04-27-2003, 08:50 PM

Nvbowtie, do you know if behind your headlights on the radiator support, if the hole is circle or is it sqaure. I got a sqaure headlight (out of older van, but same one used in 80') and I don't think it will fit on my same radiator support unless I modify it. But when I have been looking for a new radiator support with the square hole, all i have been able to find is 73-80 with round hole, but I'm pretty sure that is what I have now.....

*Mdapperdan* · 04-27-2003, 09:36 PM

I beleive that the photo above is a late 70,s The '73 has a different radiator top cover. The radiator surport is the same with a round hole.

*1FaastC10* · 04-27-2003, 10:50 PM

Dan, there is no radiator cover, nor is there a radiator. Bill has a 1980 truck, and he took a picture of it, so we definitely know its a 1980. the radiator supports are all the same, 73-80, and all of the different radiator upper plates will fit them.

all holes should be round, as the back of the headlights are all rounded.

littlebubba · 04-28-2003, 12:20 AM

Is what you are asking, will the square headlight mounting bucket fit your core support? It should, you will probaly need to get new springs and adjuster screws for it. All the pieces you need should be easy to find and change over.

Nvbowtie · 04-28-2003, 02:54 AM

Sorry so late getting back to ya, I was out working on the truck all day -------->

73Blazer wrote:
(- "Nvbowtie, do you know if behind your headlights on the radiator support, if the hole is circle or is it sqaure".-)

Round is correct on 73-87 to my knowledge.

Bill

Nvbowtie · 04-28-2003, 04:50 AM

1FaastC10 -

I agree with you on that, being I have a 1980 and have done hundreds of hrs of research, and never saw a GM computer with a 1980 & 4-headlights. >> (which I want real bad.......)

Tyler --

What you saw was one of two things:

- inserting a 81 grill setup w/4-headlights

- or they had a 81 single lamp bezel and cut out the lower
delete panel and tried to put a headlight in it, which would have left the headlight sticking out or recessed too far
- > in other words, FUGLY.....

Bill

Nvbowtie · 04-28-2003, 06:06 AM

Not sure if you can see all that you need, but here is
all of the supports 73-80 & 81-87.

(Of coarse - -less the lamp housings / or buckets, which is probably what you need to see -sorry if this don't help)

Bill

**Captkaos** · 04-28-2003, 11:11 AM

Just for another reiteration... There were no quad headlight in 80. That started in 81. In 80 you got either square or round. The bezel surrounds were different, but the core supports are the same. In fact, if you had a 79 and wanted square all you would have to come up with is the bezels and headlight buckets/hardware.

If you saw and 80 with quads, it was like Nvbowtie said. They stuck them in a factory bezel. I have seen it done and it looked like crap.

73Blazer · 04-28-2003, 03:38 PM

alright, thanks everybody for the pics and explanations, should make it a lot easier

CustomChevy · 04-28-2003, 06:54 PM

get yourself an LMC or JC Whitney catalog. They have the parts you want new.

the headlight will mount differently than the round one, you may have to use a 1980 model core support because the square headlight was not used prior. I believe the 1980 model has 2 different provisions for mounting becaus of this. I will check and snap a pic for you. I have a 1980 support sitting in the back.

good luck!

apstguy · 04-28-2003, 08:58 PM

I'm positive the one I saw was stock. I think they were older body styles made in late 80 that MAY have been labeled as 81. They are old bodystyle but have grille & headlights very similar to mine. Maybe they were California only models???? I had to do a double take when I saw it, and it was butt ugly. I INSIST that this was stock and exists somewhere. I will find a picture again one of these days!

Nvbowtie · 04-29-2003, 05:35 AM

Customchevy;

Look up five posts from your post

--> thats a picture of a 1980 core support, Mine to be exact,

If you take a pic, make it a 1980 with round headlights,
because the one I posted is equipped with ->square...

73Blazer · 04-29-2003, 05:40 PM

Nvbowtie, I just noticed in your pic of the '80 radiator support, that my '73 radiator support doesn't have the bracket where headlight adjusting screw is (all the way on the right) I think thats what I need?...

04-26-2003, 09:08 PM	#1
73Blazer Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Salisbury, MD Posts: 9	going from circle to square headlights.... I am currently in the process of fixing up a 73 2wd Blazer. I like the looks of the grille with the square headlights from 1980 (though I don't think many were made) I was wondering if anybody knew what I would have to change/modify to swap the headlights. I know I need the bottom grille molding and top grille molding, and of course the 'headlight door' (molding around the headlights). Will I have to get a new radiator support? If so, where can I get one made for the square headlights? Or will I just beable to modify mine to fit them. Hopefully someone will know what I need. Brett

04-26-2003, 09:25 PM	#2
gchemist BAD BOW-Silverado XST Join Date: May 2000 Location: Senior Member from Austin, TX Posts: 6,431	Welcome to the site 73Blazer, Why not go for the '91 Suburban look? __________________ Gerardo a.k.a. Mad Chemist Silverado XST videos Last edited by gchemist; 04-26-2003 at 09:29 PM.

04-27-2003, 12:20 AM	#4
apstguy LED King Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,088	I know what your talking about and it is pretty rare. I haven't seen any parts in restoration catalogs for that fron end. I guess you would just have to find one at the junkyard and stripp parts & compare with that. __________________ Tyler 1985 C10 305 w/ Bowtie OD TH700R4 3.42 LSD 202,000 miles 2006 Ford Focus ZX3 5-speed Stick 2016 Chevy Spark EV Gone: 2002.5 VW GTI 24v VR6 Gone: 2008 VW R32

04-27-2003, 02:23 PM	#5
Nvbowtie Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Laughlin, Nv. USA Posts: 700	Now here you are trying to go to a 1980 look and this morning I was looking to get away from the 1980 look. Too bad you were not closer we could swap. The radiator support shows to be the same for 73-80 GOTO: www.chevyduty.com Headlight bezel: 48-035 $29.95 Lft. 48-036 $29.95 Rt. Grill: 61-229 $99.95 Grey/Chrome Emblem: 59-339 $24.95 Yellow/chrome Note: the emblem you will need to be creative to mount or pay 324 for the original grill that it mounts to.(see pic below) www.tuckersparts.com Upper moulding: FGM-7907 $16.95 Lower moulding: FGM-7908 $24.95 ======= $ 226.70 +/- Tax/ship/screws and sh!t......... Bill Attached Images __________________ www.unlimited2u.com/chevy Bill 1980 Chevy C-10 Silverado 1988 Chevy Blazer Tahoe Last edited by Nvbowtie; 04-27-2003 at 02:32 PM.

04-27-2003, 03:27 PM	#6
apstguy LED King Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,088	Oops. I thought you ment the 80 quad headlight! Those suckers are rare! The square ones aren't that rare, but you'll have to track parts down. __________________ Tyler 1985 C10 305 w/ Bowtie OD TH700R4 3.42 LSD 202,000 miles 2006 Ford Focus ZX3 5-speed Stick 2016 Chevy Spark EV Gone: 2002.5 VW GTI 24v VR6 Gone: 2008 VW R32 Last edited by apstguy; 04-27-2003 at 03:34 PM.

04-26-2003, 09:42 PM	#3
73Blazer Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Salisbury, MD Posts: 9	That looks pretty nice but I don't want to have to change pretty much the whole front clip... though that would be nice to do maybe later on...

04-27-2003, 06:01 PM	#7
c10scotty ~THE SILVER BULLET~ Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: WYOMING Posts: 285	80 quad headlight?? never heard of that. are you sure? __________________ ~1980 c10 chevy scottsdale~ ~2.5/4 drop 305/th350c~

04-27-2003, 06:44 PM	#8
apstguy LED King Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,088	Yeah I am. Ugly suckers! I have only seen one once, but it was gross! I saw another one online somewhere, so GM did make them. __________________ Tyler 1985 C10 305 w/ Bowtie OD TH700R4 3.42 LSD 202,000 miles 2006 Ford Focus ZX3 5-speed Stick 2016 Chevy Spark EV Gone: 2002.5 VW GTI 24v VR6 Gone: 2008 VW R32

04-27-2003, 07:10 PM	#9
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,400	Tyler, must have been an aftermarket setup. the bodyshop manager has an '80 C10, we looked at grille trim from GM. i only remember seeing 2 choices, square and round. anybody got any pics of such a setup?

04-27-2003, 08:50 PM	#10
73Blazer Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Salisbury, MD Posts: 9	Nvbowtie, do you know if behind your headlights on the radiator support, if the hole is circle or is it sqaure. I got a sqaure headlight (out of older van, but same one used in 80') and I don't think it will fit on my same radiator support unless I modify it. But when I have been looking for a new radiator support with the square hole, all i have been able to find is 73-80 with round hole, but I'm pretty sure that is what I have now.....

04-27-2003, 09:36 PM	#11
Mdapperdan Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Santa Rosa Ca. /Prescott Az. Posts: 169	I beleive that the photo above is a late 70,s The '73 has a different radiator top cover. The radiator surport is the same with a round hole.

04-27-2003, 10:50 PM	#12
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,400	Dan, there is no radiator cover, nor is there a radiator. Bill has a 1980 truck, and he took a picture of it, so we definitely know its a 1980. the radiator supports are all the same, 73-80, and all of the different radiator upper plates will fit them. all holes should be round, as the back of the headlights are all rounded.

04-28-2003, 12:20 AM	#13
littlebubba Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Clinton Twp., Michigan Posts: 323	Headlight bucket? Is what you are asking, will the square headlight mounting bucket fit your core support? It should, you will probaly need to get new springs and adjuster screws for it. All the pieces you need should be easy to find and change over.

04-28-2003, 02:54 AM	#14
Nvbowtie Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Laughlin, Nv. USA Posts: 700	73Blazer - Sorry so late getting back to ya, I was out working on the truck all day --------> 73Blazer wrote: (- "Nvbowtie, do you know if behind your headlights on the radiator support, if the hole is circle or is it sqaure".-) Round is correct on 73-87 to my knowledge. Bill Attached Images __________________ www.unlimited2u.com/chevy Bill 1980 Chevy C-10 Silverado 1988 Chevy Blazer Tahoe Last edited by Nvbowtie; 04-28-2003 at 06:09 AM.

04-28-2003, 04:50 AM	#15
Nvbowtie Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Laughlin, Nv. USA Posts: 700	1FaastC10 - I agree with you on that, being I have a 1980 and have done hundreds of hrs of research, and never saw a GM computer with a 1980 & 4-headlights. >> (which I want real bad.......) Tyler -- What you saw was one of two things: - inserting a 81 grill setup w/4-headlights - or they had a 81 single lamp bezel and cut out the lower delete panel and tried to put a headlight in it, which would have left the headlight sticking out or recessed too far - > in other words, FUGLY..... Bill Attached Images __________________ www.unlimited2u.com/chevy Bill 1980 Chevy C-10 Silverado 1988 Chevy Blazer Tahoe Last edited by Nvbowtie; 04-28-2003 at 05:07 AM.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

04-28-2003, 06:06 AM	#16
Nvbowtie Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Laughlin, Nv. USA Posts: 700	Not sure if you can see all that you need, but here is all of the supports 73-80 & 81-87. (Of coarse - -less the lamp housings / or buckets, which is probably what you need to see -sorry if this don't help) Bill Attached Images __________________ www.unlimited2u.com/chevy Bill 1980 Chevy C-10 Silverado 1988 Chevy Blazer Tahoe Last edited by Nvbowtie; 04-28-2003 at 06:14 AM.

04-28-2003, 11:11 AM	#17
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Just for another reiteration... There were no quad headlight in 80. That started in 81. In 80 you got either square or round. The bezel surrounds were different, but the core supports are the same. In fact, if you had a 79 and wanted square all you would have to come up with is the bezels and headlight buckets/hardware. If you saw and 80 with quads, it was like Nvbowtie said. They stuck them in a factory bezel. I have seen it done and it looked like crap. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

04-28-2003, 03:38 PM	#18
73Blazer Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Salisbury, MD Posts: 9	alright, thanks everybody for the pics and explanations, should make it a lot easier

04-28-2003, 06:54 PM	#19
CustomChevy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 462	get yourself an LMC or JC Whitney catalog. They have the parts you want new. the headlight will mount differently than the round one, you may have to use a 1980 model core support because the square headlight was not used prior. I believe the 1980 model has 2 different provisions for mounting becaus of this. I will check and snap a pic for you. I have a 1980 support sitting in the back. good luck! Last edited by CustomChevy; 04-28-2003 at 06:56 PM.

04-28-2003, 08:58 PM	#20
apstguy LED King Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,088	I'm positive the one I saw was stock. I think they were older body styles made in late 80 that MAY have been labeled as 81. They are old bodystyle but have grille & headlights very similar to mine. Maybe they were California only models???? I had to do a double take when I saw it, and it was butt ugly. I INSIST that this was stock and exists somewhere. I will find a picture again one of these days! __________________ Tyler 1985 C10 305 w/ Bowtie OD TH700R4 3.42 LSD 202,000 miles 2006 Ford Focus ZX3 5-speed Stick 2016 Chevy Spark EV Gone: 2002.5 VW GTI 24v VR6 Gone: 2008 VW R32

04-29-2003, 05:35 AM	#21
Nvbowtie Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Laughlin, Nv. USA Posts: 700	Customchevy; Look up five posts from your post --> thats a picture of a 1980 core support, Mine to be exact, If you take a pic, make it a 1980 with round headlights, because the one I posted is equipped with ->square... __________________ www.unlimited2u.com/chevy Bill 1980 Chevy C-10 Silverado 1988 Chevy Blazer Tahoe

04-29-2003, 05:40 PM	#22
73Blazer Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Salisbury, MD Posts: 9	Nvbowtie, I just noticed in your pic of the '80 radiator support, that my '73 radiator support doesn't have the bracket where headlight adjusting screw is (all the way on the right) I think thats what I need?...

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.