What year front clip do you like best?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

1990Jimmy

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2023
Posts
11
Reaction score
22
Location
Suwanee, Georgia
First Name
Jim
Truck Year
1990
Truck Model
GMC K5 Jimmy
Engine Size
350
New to this forum. Have a 1990 GMC Jimmy and I want to change the front end looks of it. Thinking about the 1984 grille, bumper, and stacked headlight. What your favorite front clip? Here's mine now.
You must be registered for see images attach


Here's what I'm thinking

You must be registered for see images attach
 

ChuckN

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2022
Posts
1,294
Reaction score
3,918
Location
Bellinham, WA
First Name
Chad
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350
1. 73-74 GMC
2. 81 GMC stacked

The horizontally placed headlights on the later models seem to be polarizing- either people retrofit them to older trucks because they like them, or can’t wait to change it to something else earlier.
 

Strick

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 25, 2020
Posts
1,340
Reaction score
3,274
Location
Dunn, NC
First Name
Harold
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20 Crew
Engine Size
350
You must be registered for see images attach

I like the round eye deep recessed grill look (1973-76)
My '76 High Sierra has the same grille and I also have one from a '73/74 truck. I was comparing them and they are both the "deep" grilles. I thought that '76 is when the more shallow grille was installed but looking at my stash and at your truck then obviously they were deep until '77.
That's a great looking truck too, btw.

Strickland
 

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
3,600
Reaction score
11,551
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
Stacked square lights from '81-88 have always been my favorite but I've really come to like the round eyes the last couple years as well. I'm not a fan of '89-91 at all.

FYI in case you're not aware, the core support has to be swapped to make that change.
 

RecklessWOT

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Posts
2,556
Reaction score
4,764
Location
New Hampshire
First Name
Kevin
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10 Suburban Silverado
Engine Size
350 TBI
While all the round eye trucks are gorgeous, I think I slightly prefer the stacked light grilles on the post-'80 trucks. Out of those I personally like the '83-'84 Chevy best.

For GMCs I would say I'd probably go with 81-82 myself, but the one you have pictured looks great as well, definitely an improvement over what it looks like now. Personally I cannot stand the 90-91 grille, but I know some people are all about it, to each their own.

The 85-87 (-88 for burbs) grille still looks pretty decent, but my least favorite of the stacked light grilles (even though I've owned both an '87 GMC and Chevy lol), I don't like how the center trim strip doesn't continue through the headlight bezels like it does on the '84, especially on the Chevy where it is color matched to the body then just stops at the lights. The bezels were painted black on my GMC and that seemed to improve the look of it.

Eventually I will be converting my '87 to an '84 grille when I get around to painting the truck.
 
Last edited:

Craig 85

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Posts
3,914
Reaction score
4,115
Location
Nashville, TN
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30 SRW
Engine Size
454/TH-400/NP205
Back in 1995 I had an '80 3+3 the rage was to update them to the 89-91 front end, but I was cheap and went to the '85. I like the 73-78 fronts the best, but also like the look of and '84 Chevy.

If you did want to change you truck, you'd need a new core support, etc and good luck finding one of those GMC grills.
 

Doppleganger

Full Access Member
Joined
May 24, 2019
Posts
12,656
Reaction score
58,640
Location
OH-MI: Just like it sounds
First Name
Chris
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
5.7
The stacked lights with 83-87 GMC grills are my all time favorites. I have a K20 that I would almost change to GMC grill and emblems.....but thats too cobb for me.
 

TropicalSilverado

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 13, 2022
Posts
54
Reaction score
71
Location
Florida
First Name
Jim
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10
Engine Size
5.7
I favor the look of the stacked rectangular headlights but the earlier ones look good too. Especially the one year only 1980 grille.
 
Last edited:

RecklessWOT

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Posts
2,556
Reaction score
4,764
Location
New Hampshire
First Name
Kevin
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V10 Suburban Silverado
Engine Size
350 TBI
This question is like asking which one of your kids you love more.
Just cause one is a little uglier do you love them any less? Lol
If my kid were as ugly as the nose of an 89-91 I'd accuse my wife of cheating and give it up for adoption.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,067
Posts
948,702
Members
36,134
Latest member
gtewolf79
Top