Vanning.com logo
Boxdin
Site Navigation


Advertisements
Recent Posts
Good day
by SDMickey - March 27th 2024 10:55 pm
Crazy mods
by frscke1 - March 27th 2024 9:37 pm
Lew Greger
by MufflerMan Mike - March 27th 2024 5:15 pm
1987 G20 Gypsy
by SDMickey - March 25th 2024 9:39 pm
Featured Links


Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Dodge grill swap - 73-79 on an 81
#767949 November 29th 2020 5:16 pm
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2
I
Iyan Offline OP
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
I
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2
Hi everyone, just looking for some insight into this question here. I have an 81 B150 with a pretty hideous (but totally intact) plastic grille, rectangular headlights and turn signals, and so on. I'd really like to swap it for a 73-79 tradesman grille with the round headlights, but am not sure how involved of a project this would be. I can get some measurements up for the grille area on my van if that would be helpful, and if anybody happens to have measurements on hand for the 73-79 grille that would be great too. Thanks again, yall, can't wait to show off my van here!

Added some photos here, along with measurements:

[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]

Side panel is 4" wide on top, 5" wide on bottom, about 14" high both vertically on the corner and on the diagonal end piece.

[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]

Front is 13 1/8" high all across and 76" wide.


[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]
Re: Dodge grill swap - 73-79 on an 81
Iyan #768025 December 01st 2020 1:59 am
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 43
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 43
The front ends of these two year groups are so extremely different, it would be extremely involved nor really worth it. Your van is an early Ram Van and the good news is that the first few years of the Ram had a single round headlight option. They were the base model and never chromed but made for a good looking front end.

OR you can find a way to make the front end you have fit in better to the aesthetic you want. I saw an example of a grill on here I fell in love with and it became part of how I did my van. This is just some time and maybe $30-40 bucks in rattle can and I chose light covers but the result is good.
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]


1987 B250 - Painkiller
Re: Dodge grill swap - 73-79 on an 81
Iyan #768030 December 01st 2020 8:24 am
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,211
Likes: 25
N
Supreme Master
Offline
Supreme Master
N
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,211
Likes: 25
I had an '85 with the quad-stacked headlamps. I wanted the single rounds so I bought a new aftermarket grille (79-85) and new turn signal assemblies. One of the members on here had an '84 with the parts I needed so we just swapped. The headlight buckets unbolt so it was a just a simple swap...even the wiring harness needed no mods!


Nate Breece
Re: Dodge grill swap - 73-79 on an 81
Iyan #768031 December 01st 2020 8:26 am
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,211
Likes: 25
N
Supreme Master
Offline
Supreme Master
N
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 21,211
Likes: 25
BTW, 79-85 is the range of parts that will easily fit your van...71-78 has a completely different front end.


Nate Breece
Re: Dodge grill swap - 73-79 on an 81
Iyan #768046 December 01st 2020 1:31 pm
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,256
Likes: 164
Master Metal Sculptor
Offline
Master Metal Sculptor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,256
Likes: 164
Yep.... stick with 79-85 parts

Re: Dodge grill swap - 73-79 on an 81
Iyan #768059 December 01st 2020 3:30 pm
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 43
old hand
Offline
old hand
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 43
Best is to find a whole van that you can take all the parts off. My van that’s pictured is an 87, and I parted out an 83 for the whole thing, light buckets, wiring, everything.


1987 B250 - Painkiller
Re: Dodge grill swap - 73-79 on an 81
Iyan #768122 December 02nd 2020 2:34 am
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2
I
Iyan Offline OP
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
I
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2
Thanks for the recommendations everyone! I’ll keep an eye out for one of those round headlight grilles and assemblies. I don’t hate the stacked quad headlight thing so much, mainly just that the grille is plastic, looks and feels cheap (not that my paint job helps lol). One thing at a time though!


[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]
Re: Dodge grill swap - 73-79 on an 81
Iyan #768137 December 02nd 2020 1:21 pm
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,256
Likes: 164
Master Metal Sculptor
Offline
Master Metal Sculptor
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 6,256
Likes: 164
On my 77 I added quad lights off of a mid 80's Dodge....and then covered them up with a phantom grill. Still get an amazing amount of light through the grill.

[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]IMG-8376 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]IMG-8377 (1) by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr
[Linked Image from live.staticflickr.com]IMG-8379 by Lee Hatfield, on Flickr

2 members like this: dat521, Iyan
Re: Dodge grill swap - 73-79 on an 81
Iyan #768158 December 02nd 2020 6:19 pm
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,964
Likes: 63
M
veteran
Online Content
veteran
M
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,964
Likes: 63
Lee, you are very creative and do excellent work. Does Maryland have a vehicle inspection, I know here in PA that obstructing the headlights, the van wouldn't pass our yearly safety inspection. My daughter lives in Waldorf, MD, but I never paid attention to her vehicles for an inspection sticker on the windshield.

Page 1 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Astro 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Donate


Upcoming Events
discovery
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 17 guests, and 11 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
TheDrunkenGunsmith, Jac, LOVclassics, ZenMuffin, Milkman530
12724 Registered Users
Top Posters (30 Days)
SDMickey 130
CatFish 28
frscke1 28
Wedgy 20
Forum Statistics
Forums68
Topics35,747
Posts537,897
Members12,724
Most Online177
May 8th, 2013

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4