73-87chevytrucks.com
Technical Forum (Read Only) => Accessories and Body Tech => Topic started by: Captkaos on August 04, 2008, 10:07:03 AM
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Well I just swapped my 73 Suburbans clip out for a front clip of a 86 Chevy truck. I thought that some people might like to what it takes to do this, everything I found on line did not show what it takes so I took pictures of my swap.
The unsuspecting Suburban.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328065960.jpg)
The 73 front clip pulled off.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328065970.jpg)
The plastic screen, weather strip & wiper mechanisms need to be removed now.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328065966.jpg)
Now time to mark out where the cutting for new hood hinge holes & bolts need to be.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328065975.jpg)
Here's where I had to add metal for the hood hinges, I added some support also, it seemed a little flimsy without it.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328065987.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328065982.jpg)
Test fitting the hinges.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328065990.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328065995.jpg)
With rubber.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066001.jpg)
Now it's time to drill holes for the wiper mechanisms, plastic screen & cowl. I forgot to take pictures of the drivers side wiper mechanism hole, it had to be enlarged to fit the longer mechanism.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066009.jpg)
After hoes drilled in the right spots I installed the cowl.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066013.jpg)
Next is to put the clip on.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066025.jpg)
Here you can see where I had to enlarge some of the holes to get the clip lined up.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066017.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066022.jpg)
Now the fenders are shimmed & bolted down.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066035.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066032.jpg)
Next is the hood. I drilled a hole in the firewall & used a new hood release cable to be able to open the hood.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066041.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066051.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066048.jpg)
The front body mounts had to be cut off & welded on in the right place along with cutting the frame for the bumper.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066057.jpg)
Drilling holes for bumper.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066059.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066064.jpg)
Ta Da! It's all on.
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066081.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066092.jpg)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1193/4613785/9669227/328066108.jpg)
Next is to wire up the headlights & turn signals. I kept the wiring harness from the old clip top do this, the bulkhead connector is way different & wires will need to be spliced. I did no get pictures of this, it's not that hard to do though if you can do this clip swap.
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Hinge location/size detail:
(http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/techinfo/hood_hinges/hoodhinge_convert.jpg)