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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: jbird526 on September 03, 2009, 09:24:19 am

Title: 80 to 78 grill and components
Post by: jbird526 on September 03, 2009, 09:24:19 am

I have an 80 k-10 with round headlights and I am thinking about changing out the bezels and trim to the earlier 78 style. It appears that the lower gill panel is the same in 78 and 80. All of my current trim parts are trashed so buying new parts is in order. So do I just need new headlight bezels, markers, and upper and lower molding?

Title: Re: 80 to 78 grill and components
Post by: got2haul on September 03, 2009, 04:35:13 pm

I did this conversion on my '80 stepside.  You need the following parts:

1.  LH and RH headlamp bezels
2.  Lower grille surround molding.

Remove the 79-80 headlamp bezels and the lower grille surround.  The parking lamps are the same as used for the 75-80 models and will not require any change as they are tucked behind the '79-'80 bezels.  The '73-'78 headlamp bezels will bolt right up with no modifications using the same screws.  The lower molding will also bolt right up provided the one you buy has the bolt studs with it (they slide into the molding from the ends, if I remember correctly.)

If you use a 1978 grille to replace the 1980 grille, it will also bolt right up.  There are 6 screws holding the grille on.

Title: Re: 80 to 78 grill and components
Post by: Blazin on September 06, 2009, 11:53:59 pm

I also did this to my 79 K 30. As said above it all bolts up. One thing is the filler panel has holes in it from the wider lower trim.

Title: Re: 80 to 78 grill and components
Post by: VileZambonie on September 07, 2009, 09:37:35 am

The parking lights look better with the chrome trim also.