front clip/ headlight /bezel/grill question ? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

travlinman · 10-20-2015, 09:07 PM

Hey guys. Question for u gurus. I have a newer 91crew cab r-30 with the later crew/suburban front clip with the rectangle style headlights. I like the 85-87 style double square.
I would like to swap to the later style on my truck.
Looking at it I see the hood fenders and support are the same.
Can I just do a headlight grill swap or do should I do a complete clip swap?
Will my later harness work with the later lights or do I need to swap the front harness also?
Thanks for your knowledge in advance

bbbc10 · 10-21-2015, 03:03 AM

going to need the core support, grill, headlight bezels, headlights an wiring harness....I did the same to my 84 when I got it, it had the suburban front end and I swapped to the 85-87 front

travlinman · 10-22-2015, 04:28 PM

Thanks. I was hoping I wouldn't have to change the front support. Probably easier to just find another clip and swap it out.

bbbc10 · 10-22-2015, 04:52 PM

its not that hard to do....your going to end up doing way more work swapping a whole front clip than just core support....any grill from 88-91 suburban crewcab or k5 blazer will fit your truck...but if you want any 81-87 style grill just have to swap what I said before an for 73-80 front end you will need the whole front clip.

silverbear · 10-22-2015, 05:05 PM

I went the opposite way, I installed an 89 Suburban core support on my 86 K10. Everything bolts up the same but the bulk head connector for the wiring was different. I had to convert the newer style from the Suburban back to the 86 style. The headlights and grill are designed to work with the correlating core support. Your radiator and mounting bracket will work with either core support. Fenders and hoods are the same between the years.

I went from this...
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*gmachinz* · 10-22-2015, 08:56 PM

Yes the headlight connectors are different...as is the bulkhead-GM went with 480 and 630 series terminals, and the 88+front ends use a washer jug with built in pump which means that wiring is slightly different as well. I like using the wiper arms on the older trucks since the squirter hoses attach to the wipers arms for a better spray pattern....just a lot of little things like that make using the 88+ front ends a nice upgrade on 87-older trucks. Incidentally, 1987 trucks with TBI are set up the same as the 88-91 K5's and Burbs too in every respect except the front lighting harness.

Project86 · 10-23-2015, 08:41 PM

I just did a 89 burb front end on my 86. Wire harness, core support inner fenders, fenders and hood.
Everything bolted in place fine. Only difference in wiring is on the burb front end I had to splice two dark blue wires into one from my firewall. And two light blue into one wire as well. No lighting issues whatsoever

10-20-2015, 09:07 PM	#1
travlinman Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: stockton ca. Posts: 502	front clip/ headlight /bezel/grill question ? Hey guys. Question for u gurus. I have a newer 91crew cab r-30 with the later crew/suburban front clip with the rectangle style headlights. I like the 85-87 style double square. I would like to swap to the later style on my truck. Looking at it I see the hood fenders and support are the same. Can I just do a headlight grill swap or do should I do a complete clip swap? Will my later harness work with the later lights or do I need to swap the front harness also? Thanks for your knowledge in advance __________________ 94 ls swap silverado 65 Pontiac 78 c30 crew cab dually (parted and gone) 82 c30 crew cab dually ( now building ) 91 r30 crew cab dually (parted and gone) 69 swb-sold 71 lab sold all in progress......__ ..........._______ \|__\__ ..........\|__(O)______(O)] ........................

10-21-2015, 03:03 AM	#2
bbbc10 Diggin The SquareLife Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: garland,tx Posts: 1,933	Re: front clip/ headlight /bezel/grill question ? going to need the core support, grill, headlight bezels, headlights an wiring harness....I did the same to my 84 when I got it, it had the suburban front end and I swapped to the 85-87 front

10-22-2015, 04:28 PM	#3
travlinman Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: stockton ca. Posts: 502	Re: front clip/ headlight /bezel/grill question ? Thanks. I was hoping I wouldn't have to change the front support. Probably easier to just find another clip and swap it out. __________________ 94 ls swap silverado 65 Pontiac 78 c30 crew cab dually (parted and gone) 82 c30 crew cab dually ( now building ) 91 r30 crew cab dually (parted and gone) 69 swb-sold 71 lab sold all in progress......__ ..........._______ \|__\__ ..........\|__(O)______(O)] ........................

10-22-2015, 04:52 PM	#4
bbbc10 Diggin The SquareLife Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: garland,tx Posts: 1,933	Re: front clip/ headlight /bezel/grill question ? its not that hard to do....your going to end up doing way more work swapping a whole front clip than just core support....any grill from 88-91 suburban crewcab or k5 blazer will fit your truck...but if you want any 81-87 style grill just have to swap what I said before an for 73-80 front end you will need the whole front clip.

10-22-2015, 05:05 PM	#5
silverbear Registered User Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Glen St. Mary, Florida Posts: 304	Re: front clip/ headlight /bezel/grill question ? I went the opposite way, I installed an 89 Suburban core support on my 86 K10. Everything bolts up the same but the bulk head connector for the wiring was different. I had to convert the newer style from the Suburban back to the 86 style. The headlights and grill are designed to work with the correlating core support. Your radiator and mounting bracket will work with either core support. Fenders and hoods are the same between the years. I went from this... ...to this. __________________ 86 Chevrolet K10 350/SM465 Frankie SOLD 1995 GMC Yukon GT SOLD 1996 GMC Yukon GT 2010 Suburban 1500 4x4 5.3l/6L80e. Sold 2016 Silverado 2500HD Crew Cab 4x4 6.0l/6L80e

10-22-2015, 08:56 PM	#6
gmachinz Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Des Moines, IA. Posts: 4,143	Re: front clip/ headlight /bezel/grill question ? Yes the headlight connectors are different...as is the bulkhead-GM went with 480 and 630 series terminals, and the 88+front ends use a washer jug with built in pump which means that wiring is slightly different as well. I like using the wiper arms on the older trucks since the squirter hoses attach to the wipers arms for a better spray pattern....just a lot of little things like that make using the 88+ front ends a nice upgrade on 87-older trucks. Incidentally, 1987 trucks with TBI are set up the same as the 88-91 K5's and Burbs too in every respect except the front lighting harness.

10-23-2015, 08:41 PM	#7
Project86 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Biloxi MS Posts: 259	Re: front clip/ headlight /bezel/grill question ? I just did a 89 burb front end on my 86. Wire harness, core support inner fenders, fenders and hood. Everything bolted in place fine. Only difference in wiring is on the burb front end I had to splice two dark blue wires into one from my firewall. And two light blue into one wire as well. No lighting issues whatsoever



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