73-80 front clip on my 85 cab...Is it possible? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

elwood · 07-06-2004, 12:07 AM

I can get a complete front clip from a mid 70's truck (core support, hood, fenders, inner fenders, grille...everything) How hard would it be to hook all this stuff up to my 85 cab? Any welding/fabbing or is this just a bolt on affair? I really like the older front end.The front clip on my truck is a pile of tin, over-seas cheap body parts that bend if you so much as fart on them.
Any extra parts that I need? And what's up with needing the shorter wipers? What about the hood hinges/springs?

Thanks, I'd really appreciate your assistance.

sixty8chev · 07-06-2004, 12:24 AM

This thread is along the same lines, http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=109701
I think the only thing that might require a bit of ingenuity is the wiring.

elwood · 07-06-2004, 12:39 AM

Thanks for the link, I looked over that post and thats where I got these questions. I don't think the wiring would be a prob. I'm worried about the wiper and hood hinges the most. Should I have a prob. with those?

Thanks for the reply!

*1FaastC10* · 07-06-2004, 02:24 AM

no problems at all. get a 73-80 wiper linkage, the 73-80 hinges are bolted to the fenders. wiring is your only worry.

elwood · 07-06-2004, 09:35 AM

Cool...sounds good.

Thanks for the replies.

beaterC10 · 07-06-2004, 05:35 PM

What about the bumper or stop that sits behind the hinges on the 73-80? Will it thread into one of the 81-87 hinge holes?

Tom · 07-06-2004, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elwood

I really like the older front end.

Glad to see the AZ heat hasen't fried your brain yet

dswancutt · 07-06-2004, 07:44 PM

On the wiring, shouldn't he be able to use the harness off a 73-80 truck by removing the retaining bolt & retainers from the junction box on the cab, remove the 85 wiring, and plug in the 73-80 wiring, or are the boxes different?

Doug

elwood · 07-06-2004, 09:12 PM

It's pretty bad when you have to work on your truck at night because it's 110* outside!

The firewall harness may be different between years. It looks like I'll have to take a closer look at that. That'll put my ASE certification in electrical to good use.

OK...what exacly do I need to do with the wiper situation? Linkage or just arms? What do I need to get my hands on so I don't have to bust out the Rain-X? (not that I need it in Arizona)

Thanks for all the helpful posts, I'm going to try to pick up a front clip from a '76 tomorrow and we'll see how this goes.

sixty8chev · 07-07-2004, 12:09 AM

Let us know what kind of problem's you run into, I'm putting an 84 cab on my 79 in a couple weekends and I'd like to know what to look forward to.

07-06-2004, 12:07 AM	#1
elwood Keep it gangsta! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Peoria, Arizona (Phoenix Area) Posts: 102	73-80 front clip on my 85 cab...Is it possible? I can get a complete front clip from a mid 70's truck (core support, hood, fenders, inner fenders, grille...everything) How hard would it be to hook all this stuff up to my 85 cab? Any welding/fabbing or is this just a bolt on affair? I really like the older front end.The front clip on my truck is a pile of tin, over-seas cheap body parts that bend if you so much as fart on them. Any extra parts that I need? And what's up with needing the shorter wipers? What about the hood hinges/springs? Thanks, I'd really appreciate your assistance. __________________ 1984 K5 Blazer 305-NP208-700R4 Ex Police Unit It's old school, but moves along nicely... '78 C-20 - SOLD

07-06-2004, 12:24 AM	#2
sixty8chev The Sauz Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Chilliwack BC, Canada Posts: 149	This thread is along the same lines, http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=109701 I think the only thing that might require a bit of ingenuity is the wiring. __________________ 68 lwb 2wd (spread between 3 garages) 72 Burb - Flat Deck 92 Yukon 3" lift - 33's - the new bush pig 01 Sierra - Daily Driver (for now)

07-06-2004, 12:39 AM	#3
elwood Keep it gangsta! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Peoria, Arizona (Phoenix Area) Posts: 102	Thanks for the link, I looked over that post and thats where I got these questions. I don't think the wiring would be a prob. I'm worried about the wiper and hood hinges the most. Should I have a prob. with those? Thanks for the reply! __________________ 1984 K5 Blazer 305-NP208-700R4 Ex Police Unit It's old school, but moves along nicely... '78 C-20 - SOLD

07-06-2004, 09:35 AM	#5
elwood Keep it gangsta! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Peoria, Arizona (Phoenix Area) Posts: 102	Cool...sounds good. Thanks for the replies. __________________ 1984 K5 Blazer 305-NP208-700R4 Ex Police Unit It's old school, but moves along nicely... '78 C-20 - SOLD

07-06-2004, 07:44 PM	#8
dswancutt Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Franklin, NE Posts: 387	73-80 front clip on my 85 cab...Is it possible? On the wiring, shouldn't he be able to use the harness off a 73-80 truck by removing the retaining bolt & retainers from the junction box on the cab, remove the 85 wiring, and plug in the 73-80 wiring, or are the boxes different? Doug

07-06-2004, 02:24 AM	#4
1FaastC10 Account Suspended Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 6,399	no problems at all. get a 73-80 wiper linkage, the 73-80 hinges are bolted to the fenders. wiring is your only worry.

07-06-2004, 05:35 PM	#6
beaterC10 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,277	What about the bumper or stop that sits behind the hinges on the 73-80? Will it thread into one of the 81-87 hinge holes?

07-06-2004, 09:12 PM	#9
elwood Keep it gangsta! Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Peoria, Arizona (Phoenix Area) Posts: 102	It's pretty bad when you have to work on your truck at night because it's 110* outside! The firewall harness may be different between years. It looks like I'll have to take a closer look at that. That'll put my ASE certification in electrical to good use. OK...what exacly do I need to do with the wiper situation? Linkage or just arms? What do I need to get my hands on so I don't have to bust out the Rain-X? (not that I need it in Arizona) Thanks for all the helpful posts, I'm going to try to pick up a front clip from a '76 tomorrow and we'll see how this goes. __________________ 1984 K5 Blazer 305-NP208-700R4 Ex Police Unit It's old school, but moves along nicely... '78 C-20 - SOLD

07-07-2004, 12:09 AM	#10
sixty8chev The Sauz Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Chilliwack BC, Canada Posts: 149	Let us know what kind of problem's you run into, I'm putting an 84 cab on my 79 in a couple weekends and I'd like to know what to look forward to. __________________ 68 lwb 2wd (spread between 3 garages) 72 Burb - Flat Deck 92 Yukon 3" lift - 33's - the new bush pig 01 Sierra - Daily Driver (for now)

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