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Grill swap
#727235 August 28th 2017 3:41 pm
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DHope79 Offline OP
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I'm swapping my 79 to a 76 grill. What is the best headlight bucket to use? Or should I cut them from the donor and weld them in?

Re: Grill swap
DHope79 #727236 August 28th 2017 3:53 pm
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Cut them from the donor and weld them in will definitely be the best option. I used '56 Chevy buckets and that works too, but yeah if you have a donor van I'd suggest using it.

Re: Grill swap
Lindz #727237 August 28th 2017 3:56 pm
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Thanks man!

Re: Grill swap
Lindz #727238 August 28th 2017 3:57 pm
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Also, what about the core support? Cut mine or use the donor? If I need to cut mi e how much?

Re: Grill swap
DHope79 #727260 August 29th 2017 7:40 am
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I'd go either way on the core support. You can easily trim the existing one (it essentially needs to become flush with the fender "face" surfaces) and use the donor for measurement if needed.

One thing I recently did was get a new grille in better shape and trim the lower edge to clear the big corners of the 78+ lower core support/frame area. 2 rectangles (one per side) taken out of the grille in the rows of slotted lower mounting holes.

We shot this whole thing just last week using my van for an episode of Hot Rod Garage (my friend is the host, has been aware of my project and pitched his producer for a quick single episode about it.) Also fixed the angle of the turn signals since that area of the fender (or is it part of the upper core support at that point?) is at a different angle.

Another tip: enlarge the bumper bolt holes on the lower core, the old bumper bracket spacing might be the same or close but whatever you get will probably be slightly tweaked and fighting some misaligned bracket bolts while holding up a bumper and trying not to kill yourself from frustration is pretty exhaustive/impossible. I also only ended up using the top bolts to hold the brackets on. Pretty sure you'll need new holes to use the lower ones. I haven't gotten around to that yet. Unsure if I will, it's solid enough as-is.

Re: Grill swap
Lindz #727269 August 29th 2017 4:24 pm
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DHope79 Offline OP
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Thanks a ton man! I'm going to try and tackle this project this weekend. Stayed tuned for more questions!! Haha!

Re: Grill swap
Lindz #741090 September 30th 2018 3:50 am
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Hey man I saw you video van looks bitchin I’m new to the sight not sure
How to move around yet ha or even know if These threads are super old. But I’m backdating my 79 to classic grill same as
Yours I’m super confused on headlight bucket part. Do I need new headlight
Buckets? And if so couldn’t I just get any 7 inch round light buckets? Ones
For
Chevy novas are re manufactured and only like 60 bucks each for 2. I have almost everything. Grill front bumper both blinker housings but only 1 blinker cover
Still looking for the other. Any advise helps!been reaching everywhere and can’t find Shit. Wats the video of your van over and over again trying to gain as much knolage as
I can about it but still having trouble grasping the whole light
Relocation stuff.

Re: Grill swap
FreeBornRambler #741178 October 03rd 2018 7:05 am
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Hey FBR, you will need round headlight buckets. I see many of them at swap meets. As long as you can mount the adjustment screws, you should be good.
Did you see part two of the video?
Mike

Re: Grill swap
DHope79 #755144 December 24th 2019 12:40 pm
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Just checked out the vids. Nice! You guys had way too much fun doing all that. The graphics rock, too.


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