80s to 70s front clip

[82ChevroletK20]

Alright guys, im trying my hand at throwing a 70s front end on my 82. To anyone who has done this before i would love to pick your brain. Will my 82 bumper fit the 70 front end? Were the 70s bumpers the same shape?

I appreciate it

 

[Shorty81]

No it will not work without modifying. The frame horns are different 73-80 than 81-87.

 

[shiftpro]

And the windshield wiper system is different too.

 

[bucket]

No it will not work without modifying. The frame horns are different 73-80 than 81-87.

The older bumper bolts to the '81-up frame brackets, you just have to shim the lower bolts a little. The bumper ends up about 3/8" further away from the filler panel compared to an actual 70's truck.

I've got a complete '78/'79 clip on my '84, still using the original bumper brackets (not the outboard ones, just the original ones on the frame horns) and the original core support frame mounts too. It takes a little finesse and some fine tuning with the fitment of everything, but it really can be a 100% bolt-on deal.

 

[CSFJ]

https://www.gmsquarebody.com/thread...d-help-me-with-all-my-newbie-questions.11942/

 

[82ChevroletK20]

The truck is an 82 the current bumper is an 82 and the front clip is 70s... so the frame horns arent an issue because its already on the truck im just asking if the bumper will look right?

 

[Shorty81]

The truck is an 82 the current bumper is an 82 and the front clip is 70s... so the frame horns arent an issue because its already on the truck im just asking if the bumper will look right?

This is a 79 chassis and front bumper with 86 clip. I think it looks good that way.

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[RecklessWOT]

The older bumpers had a little more "detail" to them, the newer ones are a little smoother/more plain looking. It wouldn't look awful to keep your newer bumper on the older front end, and people who don't know these trucks well probably wouldn't even notice. I personally like the look of the older bumpers better though, I kind of want to put one on my '87.

 

[Craig 85]

The 81-87 bumper will bolt in place, but it will rub the fenders in the indicated spot on the below photo due to the fact the upper corners of the bumper are narrower than the 73-80's. The 81-87 fenders are tapered in.

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[82ChevroletK20]

The 81-87 bumper will bolt in place, but it will rub the fenders in the indicated spot on the below photo due to the fact the upper corners of the bumper are narrower than the 73-80's. The 81-87 fenders are tapered in.

Basically what i was asking is if they were the same overall shape. So if i understand correctly they are the same shape (looking down at them, like the same curvature across the front) its just the latemodel bumper will rub the early model fenders.

 

[Craig 85]

Correct.