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| | | Dodge grill swap - 73-79 on an 81 | Joined: Sep 2020 Posts: 2 stranger | OP stranger 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: 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. Front is 13 1/8" high all across and 76" wide. | | | Re: Dodge grill swap - 73-79 on an 81 | Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,266 Likes: 43 old hand | 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.
1987 B250 - Painkiller
| | | Re: Dodge grill swap - 73-79 on an 81 | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 21,211 Likes: 25 Supreme Master | Supreme Master 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 | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 21,211 Likes: 25 Supreme Master | Supreme Master 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 | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 6,256 Likes: 164 Master Metal Sculptor | 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 | Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,266 Likes: 43 old hand | 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 | Joined: Sep 2020 Posts: 2 stranger | OP stranger 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! | | | Re: Dodge grill swap - 73-79 on an 81 | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 2,964 Likes: 63 veteran | veteran 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. | | |
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