89-91 front end swap on 82

[JB45]

I have a 82 2wd k5 and want to update the front grille to the 89-91 style. I'm newb to this front end swap and wanted to know if I need to swap the whole front clip (fenders,hood,support,fender wells) or if my 82 fenders and hood will work and I can get away with only swapping the core support and grill/lights from the 89-91.

I have read Neil's how to, but still not sure if I need to change the whole front clip or just core forward. The welding of hood hinges has me re-thinking this

Any help is highly appreciated, thanks for any replies!

 

[blazinzuk]

I have never done the swap before but your hood and fenders interchange.

You should just need the core support and associated light brackets

 

[JB45]

I have never done the swap before but your hood and fenders interchange.

You should just need the core support and associated light brackets

Ok, thanks blazinuk. A fellow craigslister told me the same today, just wanted to make sure he wasn't just trying to make a sale.

 

[sweetk30]

81-up already to swap in 89-91 blazer/burban/crew can front nose is simple

all you need is the grill/headlight bezels and full loaded core suport and lower grill filler between fenders and bottom of grill with center nose suport bar behind grill . fenders / inner fenders and hood same as 81-91. and also splice in wires to the older plug on firewall for lights is all.

and if you need pig tails or sockets van's with same nose use same parts for lights .

and also these 89-91 nose units use specific grill and headlight bezels for chevy or gmc thay do not swap its all 3 1 brand or other. but can swap brands in same core suport.

update for other later : scan threw and read this . little info on 73-80 update and then 81-up update info but you get the idea. http://coloradok5.com/grilleswap.shtml

 

[JB45]

Thank you Sir, i'm feelin better about this swap now. I have the wire harnesses,lights, grill and bezels..now i'm on the hunt for the core support,filler and support bar that you mentioned.

 

[sweetk30]

ya 81-up makes it super easy .

all 3 of my trucks are swaped to the 89-91 style with gmc grills

 

[JB45]

Ok, I'm mid 91 front end swap and stuck on the wire harness portion

I sent the following to Neil from a/m thread asking for help, but if anyone else can help me out as well I'd appreciate any

"How ya doin Neil,
I'm currently swapping a 91 Burb front end (fenders,hood,core support,grille,light wire harness,etc) to my 82 2WD K5 Blazer. I'm in the putting back together stage and just looked at the fire wall plugs from my harnesses, they're different. I read your thread 3 or 4x, but im still unsure what to do with the 2 additional wires and which wires those are. Please correct me if i'm wrong; Cut off the 91 firewall plug from the 91 harness and splice corresponding wires to the 82 light harness firewall plug. Then connect the 2 left over wires to each other ???? What color should the two additional wires be ? Still confused on the pigtails as well, but i'm going to try and figure out by reading again.

Thanks for any help, I appreciate it all!
JB"

 

[sweetk30]

simple yes firewall plugs diffrent.

when i did all 3 of mine i just took cut off ends of 81-87 style and crimped on the 89-91 at the bulb end with 4-6" pig tails from 89-91 ends.

easy to do and simple.

if its a 2 bulb front now to the 4 bulb setup its 3 wires on old.

1= ground = gets split to 2 now per side.
2= low beam = gets hooked to low beam.
3= high beam = gets hooked to high beam.

if stacked 4 bulb now simple just swap plug ends at bulbs.

 

[JB45]

simple yes firewall plugs diffrent.

when i did all 3 of mine i just took cut off ends of 81-87 style and crimped on the 89-91 at the bulb end with 4-6" pig tails from 89-91 ends.

easy to do and simple.

if its a 2 bulb front now to the 4 bulb setup its 3 wires on old.

1= ground = gets split to 2 now per side.
2= low beam = gets hooked to low beam.
3= high beam = gets hooked to high beam.

if stacked 4 bulb now simple just swap plug ends at bulbs.

Thanks again SK30, lookin further into right now; my 82 harness actually has 9 wires and the 91 has 10 wires. I understand connecting the 2 dark blues to each other from the 91 harness and then connecting them to the dark blue on the 82 harness(same for the light blue) ...but now i see my 82 plug has an extra beige wire ??? Here's pic, not sure if it will help

91 PLUG ON LEFT

 

[sweetk30]

i skipped up at firewall and just did the light end.