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Question for anyone who has done the '89-'91 grille swap.

82355

82355

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Did you have to splice the headlight harnesses together? I did it on my 1987 V10 with a 1990 Suburban radiator support. The harness plugs were different at the firewall. Not a big deal.

On some Facebook page (full of idiots), some people are saying they didn't have to splice the harnesses. Are some of them the same, or do those guys not know what they are talking about. I'm just curious.

Martin
 
Depends...
Got a Scottsdale, you'll have to add the the leads for hi beam.
If it's a Silverado already has twin light L/R so you're good.
Just can't recall if the small headlight uses same plug '88 and down. Thinking it's same plug.
All very easy no matter what you have. An afternoon of wiring with beer breaks.
 
No, I already did it. It was simple. I went from Single headlight to dual headlight. The plugs were just different at the firewall, so I had to use the 1987 plug, and splice the 1990 harness to that plug.

Martin
 
I was just curious if ALL 1989-'91 R/V series used a different plug at the firewall or not.

I did my swap a couple years ago.

Martin
 
good question..
I could go by book and part number or look at my current '89.
I think that GM with it's "save dime to make a dollar" would carry over same plug from what, '83(dual headlights) and change only the socket ends when '89 rolled out.
 
Well mine were different. They wouldn't use a different plug for dual and single headlights would they?

Martin
 
Well you got me there. Maybe when ABS was intro'd in '90 they might have changed plugs.
Other than that '87 TBI should be same as '89 TBI…nothing changed.
Headlights would(should) be the same at the fuse panel with separate hi beam leads breaking out of the harness after the firewall.
 
The Headlight Harness comes through in a different spot than the TBI harness.

Martin
 
82355 said:
The Headlight Harness comes through in a different spot than the TBI harness.

Martin
Click to expand...


Ive got a 86 single headlight ill be cab swapping here soon, ill see if the plugs look different. But i wouldnt think they would be in the 81-88 years (88 being same grille as the 85-88), but maybe the 89-91s they changed? Weird.
 
I just went and checked almost every rig on my place. They are most DEFINITELY different.

The real early ones must be different too.

My 1989 V1500 GMC Suburban, and 1990 Blazer both have the same style of plug as a 1990 K3500. 1976-1988 all appear to be the same, and the 1974 K20 I have has a different style. I don't have any 1973's, and my phone died while taking pictures, but I am going to check a 1975 K5 I have.

Martin
 
82355 said:
I just went and checked almost every rig on my place. They are most DEFINITELY different.

The real early ones must be different too.

My 1989 V1500 GMC Suburban, and 1990 Blazer both have the same style of plug as a 1990 K3500. 1976-1988 all appear to be the same, and the 1974 K20 I have has a different style. I don't have any 1973's, and my phone died while taking pictures, but I am going to check a 1975 K5 I have.

Martin
Click to expand...
Geez...sounds like you have enough trucks around to figure it out.
I checked part numbers for harness and they are different.
This is how it pans out:
85-88 single head lamp-12064514
85-88 dual head lamp-12064515 - RPO V22
89-91 single head lamp- 12074106
89-91 dual head lamp- 12074107 - RPO V22
Physically, don't know as I don't have them in front of me. Now I have to go look next time I'm at the J/Y. Truck ADD
When I have swapped the later clip on, I grafted the cab harness into the '89-91 lighting harness. 20 minute job. Hi to hi, low to low. Wire colors are even the same.
 
The 1975 was the same as the later models. I would assume the 1973 is the same as the 1974. Which means 1973-'74 is one style, 1975-'88 another, and 1989-'91 a third.

The harnesses are different between a single and dual headlights, but the connectors are still the same.

Martin
 
I took a stupid amount of pictures.

I have no 1973's.

A 1974 K20:



A different style of plug.



1975 K5



Then I found the air cleaner in the back seat.



It has the newer connector, same as all of mine have till 1988.



A 1976, the air cleaner was gone, so no emissions sticker.





1980 K5 Jimmy



Easy to get a good picture with no fender.



My 1982 K30 3+3, the air cleaner was long gone, and there was no sticker on the radiator support. Removed for a paint job?





My 1988 V10 Suburban:



Still the same plug as the 1975 K5:



My 1990 K5:



Definitely a different plug than the past 14 model years.



Another shot.



A 1990 K3500 I have. I had a picture of the Emissions sticker, but the phone died, and I lost it. They changed the location back to the air cleaner. Has the same plug as a 1989+ R/V series



Different shot, same plug.



The plug in at the firewall.




Martin
 
I have a LOT more pictures of several more years. If anyone wants me to post them, I can.

Martin
 
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