Thoughts on updating grille and shell
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From: Kalgoorlie Australia
Thoughts on updating grille and shell
Just after some opinions on changing the grille and grille shell for later model gear. I have a 75 F350 and I was thinking of changing the front to look like my 80 F100(looks like US 79) which would mean new headlights, grille shell, grille etc. Is this common in the US or do you leave your trucks looking like they came from the factory?
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From: SD
It's a matter of taste. Lots of guys swap to the design they prefer, myself included. I put a '79 grill setup in my '73. It was easy, pull the parts off the '79 and install them on the '73. I reused the '73 radiator support, just needed to drill holes for the bottom bolts on headlight bracket. Everything bolted up.
Marty
Marty
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From: Auburn, WA
So 73Custom it was that easy? Just drill the bottom holes for the headlight bracket? I acutally wanted to start a forum to answer this very question and sure enough there was one going. Is the hole location for my 77 F250 headlight bracket any different then the 73?
By the way, I love this website. It keeps me from working too much.
By the way, I love this website. It keeps me from working too much.
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From: lancaster ohio
my question- not to hijack but are there any differences inbetween the 78 round and the rectangular lights? i had an opportunity to get the lights and pans from a freind so i could just change them out at will. in your opinons are there any differnces in the actuall lighting? thanks
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i did that swap(79 rectangular to 78 round) i changed the brackets (no drilling needed) and got the round bezels thats it no other changes
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From: upstate N Y
OzFTrucker I think alot of trucks here end up with '78 or '79 noses because the '78 and '79s had better galvenizing (both sides) than the previous years.This means alot of rust area truck noses from '78 and later survived.It was also an easy way to look like you had a new truck in the late 70s.Anyone have any thoughts about doing it to lower your headlights on a lifted truck?I know some states measure lift by the height of the headlights.
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From: SD
[QUOTE=rchewitt50]So 73Custom it was that easy? Just drill the bottom holes for the headlight bracket?QUOTE]
It's very easy, just a matter of swapping parts. Get the parts off the donor pickup. Don't forget to get the top corner brackets, they have ears that hold the corners of the grill shell (you will know what I mean when you see it). These brackets are different for '78-'79, and this is where the top of the headlight buckets bolt. So you get the correct positioning for the headlights, just need to drill two holes for the bottom of the headlight bracket. Then just bolt on the other parts. You will need to splice the '78-'79 blinker light socket to your old wiring. This will work for any '73-'77 pickup. It took me a couple hours (front bumper needs to come off), and I chose to use the '79 bumper, I like the shape better than the older one...
Marty
It's very easy, just a matter of swapping parts. Get the parts off the donor pickup. Don't forget to get the top corner brackets, they have ears that hold the corners of the grill shell (you will know what I mean when you see it). These brackets are different for '78-'79, and this is where the top of the headlight buckets bolt. So you get the correct positioning for the headlights, just need to drill two holes for the bottom of the headlight bracket. Then just bolt on the other parts. You will need to splice the '78-'79 blinker light socket to your old wiring. This will work for any '73-'77 pickup. It took me a couple hours (front bumper needs to come off), and I chose to use the '79 bumper, I like the shape better than the older one...
Marty
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From: Coal Country, ND
Originally Posted by eedvark
The later bumper needs to be used anyway. The shape of the frame ends fit one bumper or the other.
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From: SD
'78-79 have the more squared bumper, while '73-77 have the more rounded one. My '73 and '79 2wds had the same shape to the front of the frame, the '79 bumper fits fine on my '73. I went with the '79 bumper just because I prefer the look.
Marty
Marty
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From: San Antonio, TX
I'm considering swapping out my 78 grill to a 77 grill. I used to hate the look of the 73-77 grills and loved my 78, but lately, the 73-77 grills have grown on me. Now I really like the look of the 76-77 more than the 78 but still don't like the 73-75 grills as much.
The 76-77 grills look really good on lifted trucks, which mine will eventually be, but I think the 78-79 grill still looks better on most stock 2wd trucks (which mine currently is) so I'm not really sure what to do right now. My 78 grill shell is damaged and I need to get a new one, and I have a chance at getting a 77 grill in near-perfect condition.
I'm also getting a 77 bumper and guards, so that would match the 77 grill better... ugg... decisions decisions.
The 76-77 grills look really good on lifted trucks, which mine will eventually be, but I think the 78-79 grill still looks better on most stock 2wd trucks (which mine currently is) so I'm not really sure what to do right now. My 78 grill shell is damaged and I need to get a new one, and I have a chance at getting a 77 grill in near-perfect condition.
I'm also getting a 77 bumper and guards, so that would match the 77 grill better... ugg... decisions decisions.