Switch 79 to 80 Headlight Setup

[LTZ C20]

I have switched a bunch of 80s from square to round lights over the years for customers.

You have switched alot of 1980 square headlight to round headlight or you have switched alot of 81-91 square headlight front ends to round headlight front ends? You mean just swapping headlights or entire front ends?

[LTZ C20]

I was browsing the internet, looking at aftermarket replacement parts for the 1980 headlight setup. One of the major parts places lists 2 different lower valance panels from 79-80. The steel panel that runs under the lower grille trim right behind the top edge of the bumper. They list one for the 79 model with round lights and one for the 80 model with square lights. Looking at the pictures, the ends that go behind the park/turn signal housings look different.

Does this mean if I do this I'll need a new lower valance? Or do they just have their info wrong and I don't need a new valance?

[LTZ C20]

I'm really having a hard time deciding if I want to go thru with this or not. I took some pretty good pics of my truck the other day which sway heavily towards leaving it alone, however the pic of the blue/white truck I posted with Mrs. Brady in the passenger seat looks sooo freaking great. It just looks sharp, hands down.

This pic I took and the blue/white one are what's making the decision hard.
but

Here are the others I took just cuz they are good looking.

[philo_beddoe]

Don't do it. These old trucks were meant to be round eye and look very weird with the square headlights.

If you want to do square lights to the blazer frond end swap

I agree with enaberif! Please dont do that man!! There is nothing like the classic round eye look. You will take away the personality! Worst mistake ever! LTZ you know better than that!
Tsk, tsk...

BTW, i love that yellow and woodgraIn truck!!

[enaberif]

The biggest thing throwing you off is your grille. Get that sucker painted a dark silver and that would make the front end up even more.

Also the other thing is the fact you have the newer round eye bezel compared to the older one. The old style doesn't frame around the signal light like the newer version does. Get the old style and get some amber lenses on the front and you'll never look back.

[philo_beddoe]

Man, i can not get over that yellow woodgrain truck, i love it!!!!! Mirrors and all!  Its a tough call between that one and this one

[philo_beddoe]

The biggest thing throwing you off is your grille. Get that sucker painted a dark silver and that would make the front end up even more.

Also the other thing is the fact you have the newer round eye bezel compared to the older one. The old style doesn't frame around the signal light like the newer version does. Get the old style and get some amber lenses on the front and you'll never look back.

Again, i must agree with enaberif.

[LTZ C20]

The biggest thing throwing you off is your grille. Get that sucker painted a dark silver and that would make the front end up even more.

Also the other thing is the fact you have the newer round eye bezel compared to the older one. The old style doesn't frame around the signal light like the newer version does. Get the old style and get some amber lenses on the front and you'll never look back.

Neither of those are going to happen either. The grille is an original GM NOS piece, I'm not painting it unless it becomes very old and requires painting, currently it still looks brand new. The head light bezels are original to the truck I believe and I like the look of head & signal light together bezel better than the headlight only bezels. Also the lower valances are different between the two designs, which requires it to be changed as well.

The only way I would change the headlight style is if I went to the 80 style, it's basically the same, just restyled a little bit. But now I'm considering repainted the light grey areas of the bezels. The light grey paint is faded and some has chipped off. As you can see here.

[werewolfx13]

If I had a 1980 with square headlights, I would leave them alone for the simple sake of preserving a rare model. I would NEVER convert a round eye to that bizzare transition to the gorgeous lines of the 81-87(91) trucks. IMO, while I can appreciate a square headlight 80 being kept intact and in good condition, much like I can appreciate a 70's Ford in pristine condition, it doesn't change the fact it looks like they got dropped out of the top of the ugly tree and bounced off every branch on their way down. Your results may vary.

[LTZ C20]

An there lies my problem! The 1980 is a rare thing, they are unique and yes, they are ugly to the point of actually being beautiful. So that's why I'm completely undecided. Currently the truck looks great, but it might be one of those details that's makes people go "wait, what the?? what was that? an old chevy?" Or they go, "hey look at that truck, that thing looks saaaaweeett".

Small touches, small touches make a big difference.

[philo_beddoe]

LTZ, do you like this truck. Our town fire dept just got it. BTW, what year is it??

[LTZ C20]

Heck Yea! That looks awesome! Though it would look even better if it had an old school red light bar on the roof off of a period correct firetruck and a tool box at the front of the bed. As for the year, it's an 80 something. I tried to get a year off the headlight bezel design but I think that style was used on many years thru the 80's on lower trim levels, it's a custom deluxe so it's at the bottom of the ladder. It does look great tho!

[VileZambonie]

You saw the pic I posted of my old C10 right? Looks like yours almost. I ditched the 79-80 bezels because I liked the cleaner look of the older bezels and trim but if you're stuck on keeping it correct, why deviate from that with the other bezels then? If anything you could just pop the trim and bezels on and off if you want to change it up without drastically having to change anything.

[LTZ C20]

Vile that's the whole reason for this thread. I want to know how easily it would be to just pop my lights and bezels off, pop the 80's on and if I don't like it pop them back off and pop mine back on.

[philo_beddoe]

Sounds like a lot of popping...