Author Topic: 80 to 78 grill and components  (Read 3341 times)

Offline jbird526

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 22
80 to 78 grill and components
« 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?

Offline got2haul

  • Frequent Member
  • **
  • Posts: 289
Re: 80 to 78 grill and components
« Reply #1 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.

1980 Custom Deluxe Stepside
        Stepside thread: http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=7505.0
1980 Silverado Short Bed Fleetside
1976 GMC Sierra Grande C15

Offline Blazin

  • Blazin new trails!
  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 6130
Re: 80 to 78 grill and components
« Reply #2 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.
Some people are like Slinkies. Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs

Offline VileZambonie

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 19183
Re: 80 to 78 grill and components
« Reply #3 on: September 07, 2009, 09:37:35 am »
The parking lights look better with the chrome trim also.
,                           ___ 
                         /  _ _ _\_
              ⌠ŻŻŻŻŻ'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10