76-80 please help!

[4x4bonanza10]

Hey I am new to the board. Although I do visit this site very often to look at user rides and parts etc.. I have a 1976 Bonanza 10 400 small block rosedale red fully restored over a year ago and owned since new in Jan of 1976, what I am wanting to do is change the front grill portion to the 1980 style the only year GM put square headlights on the 73-80 body style if possible could anyone tell me what I need from a 1980 chevy truck to make this work it would be very helpful.. Thanks!

[joesgarage71]

Welcome!
Headlight Doors, headlights, the light retainer and buckets.
Steve

[4x4bonanza10]

Hey thanks very much. I am going to look up the stuff to order. So will my existing signal lights work with it the pics I have of a 1980 the signals look a little higher than what it already as It just might be an illusion but thanks for the information.

[Blazin]

The turn signals are the same. You will also need to drill holes in the filler below the grill or replace it with one from a 1980.
Are you looking for new parts? Or used? I have everything uswed as I went the other way on a customers truck a few years back.

[4x4bonanza10]

Thanks! Yeah used would be fine as long as its not in to bad of shape rusted or anything.. if you got a pic of it that would be great and maybe I could buy it from you if it is for sale.

[Blazin]

I will have to dig the parts out of my box trailer. The sheet metal is clean no rust. Been a while but if I remember correct the chrome was in good shape, not perfect but not to bad. I swaped it because neither him or I like the square head lights in the old body style.

[4x4bonanza10]

That sounds good if you can take a picture of the parts and send them to band_mail@att.net and give me a price I will buy them from you if you have the signal lights I would like to buy those as well. I have the amber color lenses in my truck now

[Blazin]

O.K. it might be a few days. Don't hesitate to drop me a line at hknottwelldanbury@yahoo.com as it isn't unheard of for me to forget something. I would trade a set of clear park light lenses for amber ones in good shape. I have a cople of beer boxes full of clear lenses, and not one amber one.  

[Fast68]

the rad support differs too

its not the same

you will see when you compare above the headlights on the top rail of the support

shaped all differently

wont work

80 square light support is one of a kind unique



good luck

[Blazin]

I have still not located the parts. I am thinking maybe I allready got rid of them. The radiator suports are the same.

[Fast68]

the 1980 square light supports are shaped/countoured differently above the headlights for the top of the headlamp bezels

ive had a couple square light 1980 silverados and this is how they were, very noticeable differently there at the front top edge of them

youll see


good luck

Edited by: Fast68 at: 3/15/07 5:22 pm

[Blazin]

Don't tell me what I will see. I have swapped the square head lights over to the round over a dozen times and the round lights to square twice that I can remeber on these trucks over the years. I never once swapped the core suport. The only thing diferent is the head light, head light bucket, the mount to which the bucket attaches to, the head light door, & the parking light assembly.

[Pushrod]

I've never done this swap but someone changed mine from a 77 to a 80 before I got my hands on it. For some reason the headlight wire connecters were hacked out and replaced. I dunno if theres actually a difference between the round and square headlight connecters. Whatta ya  guys say?

What are ya doin with the old round headlight setup? I might be interested.

[Blazin]

I never changed the head light plug on the ones I did. I have replaced them due to corosion etc.