how crazy is this idea?? I want to install a 71-72 grill on my 83 k10

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MannyDantyla

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Cool idea? An abomination? Even doable??

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I know a lot of people like the 81-87 front nose, but I much prefer the older 73-80 style. Mainly the shape of the fenders and the round headlights. But to do a front clip conversion, I would need new fenders, hood, radiator support, inner fenders, hood latch, hood hinges, wiper linkage, headlights, headlight bezels and buckets, turn signals, grill, grill trim....... too much.

So my idea is this: get some fender patch panels from LMC, weld them onto my current fender (wouldn't even have to cut the old fender!). And I can keep my current hood. Wouldn't have to mess with the latch or hinges. Would still have the pointy grill though. And no way is the older 73-80 grill going to fit because of the shape of the hood.

There's a guy on CL right now with like 8 grill shells from various 67-72 chevy and GMCs for $30-$50, they're all beat up but I might just pic one up and do a little prototyping with it. Would have to do some grinding and welding, buy some new headlights, custom fab the headlight buckets to the radiator support, etc.

If the old grill is too long (my 83 grill shell is 70" long, I've been told that a '72 grill shell is 74" long) then I will have to chop it. If it's has the wrong angle then it probably won't work at all. But, who knows, it just might work!

What do you think??
 

bucket

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If changing a complete front clip is "too much", then doing that sort of metal fab work is WAAAAYYY too much. I think you are severely underestimating the amount of metalwork involved in that idea.
 

Don5

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I think the easiest route would be to sell your truck and find another one that has everything you want.
 

PrairieDrifter

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I have a 70 c10 I did remove the grill, it has a good curve to it compared to the squares, and I do think it is wider than a squarebody grill too. i could kind of tell by how the hood was shaped on the nose also it wasn't straight across like a squarebody.

I don't know if I like the look of a 68-72 grill on a squarebody:shrug: just my opinion!!
 

Old77

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:whymewhyme:
 

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