1985 Headlight Question

[Koopage]

I just purchased my truck(kind of on a whim to help a friend), and would really like to upgrade as lights from 1985 aren't very good. It currently has the quad side by side head lights with the turn signals below. I have been researching on what I need to do to go to a stacked headlight setup, but I am struggling to find what is the correct thing to buy. I am wanting to replace the entire grill/surround as the chrome is cracking/peeling as well. So I figured if replacing all of it might as well go to the stacked headlight setup that I like the aesthetics of more. I am not opposed to keeping the quad head light setup if I can find a grill/surround to replace the current along with headlights/turn signals that don't suck.

Please go easy on me as this my first C10 and first vehicle I have ever owned older than me.

I have attached a picture to show the front end on the current truck.

 

[Keith Seymore]

Those actually aren't the lights from 1985.

That's a 1988 - 1991 square (R/V) front end that someone has grafted onto your truck.

Your original front end would look like mine (only GMC rather than Chevy).

As far as the changeover: I think you'll need the radiator support and all the associated attachments with that.

K

 

[Strick]

That looks like a nice ride from the pics. I agree with @Keith Seymore that it's an 89-91 nose. I have just done the same conversion on my 87 V10.
All four headlamps don't illuminate on that setup as they would on the factory 85. There are many complaints about the lack of upgrades too.
I'm not there yet, but I'm going to wire in an extra relay for the high beams so they'll burn with the low as well. The relay should take the extra amperage load off the headlamp switch (hopefully).

HS

 

[gmbellew]

get the LMC housings for 89-91 that take 9005xs brights and 9006sx low beams. trim the bottom of the back of the low beam headlight bucket with a dremel tool so a 90deg bulb will fit. get some Diode Dynamics sl2 pros for the lows. the 9005xs is fine for high beams. but you can trim the bucket and part of the core support to fit a 90deg bulb in the high beams if desired.

you can also buy a new parking/ turn cover from LMC to freshen them up.

I have a 1990 suburban and did all of the above. It made a HUGE difference, and the lighting is about as good as a new car. I've also got some Diode Dymanics SS6 wide/fogs mounted to the bottom of the bumper for when I want more light to the side (backroads) or when the weather is bad.

 

[TotalyHucked]

As others have said, your truck has been converted to the '89-91 R/V style front end. You'll first need to at least take off the grille and headlight bezels to see how they did the conversion. You may still have the original '85 core support behind there or they may have done it correctly and changed it to the later one. Also on the harness, look close toward the bulbs and see if they cut/spliced anything. You may or may not still have your original harness.

If they converted it properly (changed the core support, the whole front harness, etc), you'll need the proper '85 core support, front harness (you may be able to modify what's there), the '85 headlight buckets/adjusters/springs/trim rings/headlights/marker lights and grille/headlight bezels. I think that pretty much covers it.

'85 dual headlight core support:

Premium Radiator Support (Dual Headlamps) - 81-88 Chevy GMC C/K Pickup Blazer Jimmy Suburban

Premium Radiator Support (Dual Headlamps) - 81-88 Chevy GMC C/K Pickup Blazer Jimmy Suburban Reproduction OE style radiator core support for the 1981-1988 Chevy & GMC Squarebody C/K Pickup, Blazer, Jimmy & Suburban. Correct for use on models with dual headlamps only. Stamped from high quality OE...

www.autometaldirect.com

LH upper headlight bucket:

Headlamp Mounting Bucket - LH - Upper - Dual Headlamp - 81-88 Chevy GMC CK Truck SUV Firebird

Ensure proper alignment and functionality of your headlights with this LH Upper Headlamp Bucket, designed specifically for 1981-1988 Chevy and GMC C/K Squarebody pickup trucks, Blazers, Jimmys, and Suburbans equipped with dual headlights. Additionally, this bucket fits the outer headlights on...

www.autometaldirect.com

RH upper bucket:

Headlamp Mounting Bucket - RH - Upper - Dual Headlamp - 81-88 Chevy GMC CK Truck SUV Firebird

Secure and align your headlights with this RH Upper Headlamp Bucket, designed for 1981-1988 Chevy and GMC C/K Squarebody pickup trucks, Blazers, Jimmys, and Suburbans equipped with dual headlights. This bucket also fits the outer right-hand (RH) headlights on 1977-1991 Pontiac Firebird models...

www.autometaldirect.com

LH lower bucket:

Headlamp Mounting Bucket - LH - Lower - Dual Headlamp - 81-88 Chevy GMC CK Truck SUV Firebird

Ensure precise alignment and secure mounting of your headlights with this LH Lower Headlamp Bucket, specifically designed for 1981-1988 Chevy and GMC C/K Squarebody pickup trucks, Blazers, Jimmys, and Suburbans equipped with dual headlights. This bucket also fits the inner left-hand (LH)...

www.autometaldirect.com

RH lower bucket:

Headlamp Mounting Bucket - RH - Lower - Dual Headlamp - 81-88 Chevy GMC CK Truck SUV Firebird

Ensure precise alignment and secure mounting of your headlights with this RH Lower Headlamp Bucket, specifically designed for 1981-1988 Chevy and GMC C/K Squarebody pickup trucks, Blazers, Jimmys, and Suburbans equipped with dual headlights. This bucket also fits the inner right-hand (RH)...

www.autometaldirect.com

Adjuster spring:

Headlamp Adjuster Spring - 80-98 Chevy GMC C/K Truck Blazer Jimmy Tahoe Yukon Suburban

Ensure proper headlight alignment on your classic Chevy or GMC truck with this Headlamp Adjuster Spring, designed to fit a wide range of models from 1980 to 1998. Whether you own a Squarebody C/K truck from the C10 to the K30 or a sleek OBS GMT400 like the C1500, K2500, or Silverado, this spring...

www.autometaldirect.com

Headlight trim ring:

Headlamp Retaining Ring - 81-88 Chevy GMC CK Truck 77-81 Firebird

Headlamp Retaining Ring (Sold Each) For 1981-1988 Chevy/GMC C/K Trucks, Blazer, Jimmy, Suburban with Dual 4x6 Headlights, and 1977-1981 Pontiac Firebird Secure your dual 4x6 OE-style headlights with this Headlamp Retaining Ring, designed for 1981-1988 Chevy/GMC C/K Pickup Trucks, Blazer, Jimmy...

www.autometaldirect.com

LH headlight bezel:

Headlamp Bezel - Gray - LH - Dual Headlights - 85-88 CK Chevy GMC Pickup Blazer Jimmy Suburban

Headlamp Bezel - Gray - LH (Dual Headlamps) - 85-88 C/K Chevy GMC Pickup Blazer Jimmy Suburban LH = driver side Reproduction headlamp bezel for the 85-86 C/K or 87-88 R/V Chevy GMC Squarebody Pickup Blazer Jimmy Suburban. Correct for use on models with dual (quad) headlamps. This bezel goes...

www.autometaldirect.com

RH bezel:

Headlamp Bezel - Gray - RH - Dual Headlights - 85-88 CK Chevy GMC Pickup Blazer Jimmy Suburban

Headlamp Bezel - Gray - RH (Dual Headlamps) - 85-88 C/K Chevy GMC Pickup Blazer Jimmy Suburban RH = passenger side Reproduction headlamp bezel for the 85-88 C/K Chevy GMC Squarebody Pickup Truck Blazer Jimmy Suburban. Correct for use on models with dual (quad) headlamps. This bezel goes around...

www.autometaldirect.com

Grille:

Grille - OE Style - For Dual Headlights - 85-87 GMC Truck; 85-88 Jimmy Suburban

Grille - OE Style - For Dual Headlights - 85-87 GMC Truck; 85-88 Jimmy Suburban Reproduction OE style standard front grille for the 85-87 GMC Squarebody Fullsize Pickup Truck, 85-88 GMC Jimmy & 85-88 GMC Suburban. Fits applications with dual headlamps. The Grille - OE Style - For Dual...

www.autometaldirect.com

 

[Koopage]

Thank you all for the information. Very much appreciated. Makes sense why it wasn't matching up to a 'normal' 85. Lol