'89 GMC 'Burb grill swap questions

Thesiger · Feb 4, 2023

Lol, thanks for the support guys, assuming I'd be able to buy it, I think it'd be a super interesting project. A suburban In good condition, that still just needs a little work to make a decent daily driver is a dream project of mine.

@skysurfer super good finds! very similar. So I assume they all have different interior trims since they're custom. Very interesting, thanks for sharing

@Frankenchevy Around our area we have a good scrap yard (owned by a guy who doesn't like to crush old things) I'm thinking I could hit there and probably find Suburban cores. What would be even cooler than switching to a 81 to 86 grill, would be a 73 to 79. But I know that'd be way harder, correct?

RecklessWOT · Feb 4, 2023

Thesiger said:
What would be even cooler than switching to a 81 to 86 grill, would be a 73 to 79. But I know that'd be way harder, correct?

you would also have to change the hood, fenders, bumper, etc as well, basically an entire front clip at that point. Everything forward of the windshield can essentially be removed in one piece. It can be done relatively easily and has been done a lot, but way more involved than simply swapping the rad support and grille/lights.

Thesiger · Feb 4, 2023

I'd probably just stick with an 89 to 86 swap, (IF I would do it) I don't have the knowledge to start redoing an entire front clip. Even though I think the pre-80s are far nicer looking. It 'd probably end up looking weird (Doing a 73-79) because you would never be able to get that striping and color the same on different fenders...

Thesiger · Feb 4, 2023

So then another question I have (Sorry for all the questions) is what would I have to be aware of (If anything) for small model discrepancies' if I solidly decided I was going to a junkyard to find a 1984 or 1986 Chevy grill and core support (From either a pickup or Burb) to put into this 1989 GMC Suburban? Is there anything super specific that would prevent me from doing this without butchering the GMC? Thanks.

618Syndicate · Feb 4, 2023

81+ grilles all swap

Thesiger said:
So then another question I have (Sorry for all the questions) is what would I have to be aware of (If anything) for small model discrepancies' if I solidly decided I was going to a junkyard to find a 1984 or 1986 Chevy grill and core support (From either a pickup or Burb) to put into this 1989 GMC Suburban? Is there anything super specific that would prevent me from doing this without butchering the GMC? Thanks.

As long as you have the core support and lighting you're good to go.
Everything unbolts.
The 73-80 swap is more involved, but still quite easy.
Witness this 91:

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Frankenchevy · Feb 4, 2023

RecklessWOT said:
The 89-91 grille might be desirable to some, but for me personally (and a lot of people I know) I wouldn't be able to rip that thing off a truck fast enough. It looks like an afterthought (because it was), the standard cab pickups had already switched over to the GMT400 platform (very uninspiring looking trucks IMO) and to try to make the nearly 20 year old bodystyle still being used on the burbs/blazers/crew cabs look "current" GM slapped in a grille that kind of mimicked the look of the newer trucks. It's cheap and plasticy looking, modeled after a truck that already doesn't look great, and slapped onto a vehicle on which it does not belong as a last resort to try to make a truck from the '70s look like it belongs in the early 90s, oh boy! lol

I cringe every time I see a standard cab pickup with that grille swapped on because you know it didn't come like that and someone went through all the work just to make it look more like a cheesy GMT400.

I say good on you for wanting it gone. If it really is so desirable (and I know to a select crowd it really is desirable, for reasons I never will personally understand but hey to each their own I will respect it) then you should have no problem selling or even trading your parts to cover the cost of your swap, and then some maybe.

Really? You don’t like these at all?

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oldretiredafguy · Feb 4, 2023

2nd dibs if Glen doesn't want it, except I need it for my '91 as the primary grille. Original was left under a vehicle in my body shop and someone moved the car and now it's in about 30 pieces.

gmbellew · Feb 4, 2023

oldretiredafguy said:
2nd dibs if Glen doesn't want it, except I need it for my '91 as the primary grille. Original was left under a vehicle in my body shop and someone moved the car and now it's in about 30 pieces.

I'm only interested if it is the double 150mmx90mm headlight version that was modeled after the newer bodystyle. if it is the single headlight version, it is all yours!

Thesiger · Feb 4, 2023

Lol @Frankenchevy absolutely not! dad used to have a truck super similar, couldn't never get over the ugliness!

@oldretiredafguy Don't worry, if I don't need it, I'll be sure to inform you guys!

RecklessWOT · Feb 4, 2023

Frankenchevy said:
Really? You don’t like these at all?

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Not one bit. Least favorite body style of GM trucks ever made besides the current. I'd rather have an ugly-ass angry-eye truck.

Granted, the one you posted is not as bad as like an '88 w/t, but yeah heck no I like nothing about it. Interior is fugly with those dumb sweep gauges and the radio being stuck in a random spot in the dash, side moulding is cheap, wheels are gross, don't even like the mirrors. I can't think of a single thing I like about that truck besides the color. There are literally NO body lines just smooth sheet metal and plastic sh!t. Thin gauge metal too so that gentle curve of the bedsides/doors are really succeptible to parking lot dings etc and they always end up looking like hammered turds, I remember even when that was the current late model bodystyle unless it was brand new off the lot the ones that were even a couple years old always looked dinged up and just plain trashy. What a lame truck. Not to mention the weak frame and outdated drivetrains. The 454 SS was cool for what it was, the late 80s-mid 90s were a pretty pathetic time for GMs (or american vehicles in general) so at least it was still a standard cab truck and the last pickup you could actually order with a real big block. But yeah unless it was like a $400 yard truck, you'd never catch me driving one of those.

Frankenchevy · Feb 4, 2023

RecklessWOT said:
Not one bit. Least favorite body style of GM trucks ever made besides the current. I'd rather have an ugly-ass angry-eye truck.

Granted, the one you posted is not as bad as like an '88 w/t, but yeah heck no I like nothing about it. Interior is fugly with those dumb sweep gauges and the radio being stuck in a random spot in the dash, side moulding is cheap, wheels are gross, don't even like the mirrors. I can't think of a single thing I like about that truck besides the color. There are literally NO body lines just smooth sheet metal and plastic sh!t. Thin gauge metal too so that gentle curve of the bedsides/doors are really succeptible to parking lot dings etc and they always end up looking like hammered turds, I remember even when that was the current late model bodystyle unless it was brand new off the lot the ones that were even a couple years old always looked dinged up and just plain trashy. What a lame truck. Not to mention the weak frame and outdated drivetrains. The 454 SS was cool for what it was, the late 80s-mid 90s were a pretty pathetic time for GMs (or american vehicles in general) so at least it was still a standard cab truck and the last pickup you could actually order with a real big block. But yeah unless it was like a $400 yard truck, you'd never catch me driving one of those.

This is likely a 96+, so no sweepy gauges and different dash/interior than the early gmt400 dash you are referring to.

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Vs

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gmbellew · Feb 4, 2023

i still love my squares, especially the utility vehicles. but I always liked the GMT400 body style. I do agree the later interior is much better than the earlier interior on the GMT400. I also have a soft spot for the GMT800. after that, it gets harder to find things I like....

618Syndicate · Feb 5, 2023

gmbellew said:
i still love my squares, especially the utility vehicles. but I always liked the GMT400 body style. I do agree the later interior is much better than the earlier interior on the GMT400. I also have a soft spot for the GMT800. after that, it gets harder to find things I like....

I'm right there with ya, not much I like after the 800's.
I can't decide on just one body style, so I have a 800, a 400, and squares.

Thesiger · Feb 5, 2023

Don't understand how you guys can express any kind of fondness toward those post-square body styles. Maybe its because I'm young and don't understand these things...

618Syndicate · Feb 5, 2023

Thesiger said:
Don't understand how you guys can express any kind of fondness toward those post-square body styles. Maybe its because I'm young and don't understand these things...

I graduated high school in 88, in southern California, and was hooked with the first lowered OBS I saw. I bought a dropped 95 crew cab dually in 96, that was the first of many for me. Had several 800's and still have a couple. They look good dropped as well.

Guess it's just what we like.

'89 GMC 'Burb grill swap questions

Thesiger

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