Which year fits on a 73 Blazer

[SWOO]

I have a '73 Blazer with a chewed up late model front end.
It's been cut like **** and rust is everywhere.
I want to put on an older front end that was closer to the original year on it and I'd like to know which years fit the fenders, inside fenders, hood and grill?
Does it all fit up to 79?
Someone told me '80 was it's own special year and it doesn't fit.
Shoot me stright so I can buy the right front end.
Thanks

 

[dremu]

I have a '73 Blazer with a chewed up late model front end.
It's been cut like **** and rust is everywhere.
I want to put on an older front end that was closer to the original year on it and I'd like to know which years fit the fenders, inside fenders, hood and grill?
Does it all fit up to 79?
Someone told me '80 was it's own special year and it doesn't fit.
Shoot me stright so I can buy the right front end.
Thanks

73-80 will fit, physically. You'd hafta switch fenders, hood, and radiator support, plus grille, headlights, etc, as yours hopefully has all the new-style variety

The good thing is that old front clips are cheap, as everyone seems to want the newer ones.

-- A

 

[SWOO]

Do i have to weld anything to make it fit?
Is the grille post and all the same?

 

[atlantak-5er]

73-80 will fit, physically. You'd hafta switch fenders, hood, and radiator support, plus grille, headlights, etc, as yours hopefully has all the new-style variety

The good thing is that old front clips are cheap, as everyone seems to want the newer ones.

-- A

Yeah, I dont know why! I have always thought the 73-80 front clips are the meanest looking trucks that were ever built! The new ones softened the look IMO. Props to you for wanting to go back to early model front clip.

 

[noahrob]

I've got a 1973 and am with you. A couple guys have tried to get me to update, but I dig the way it looks now...just need to find a new front fender...

 

[seschev3]

79 1/2 and 80 have different rad support and grill for square headlights, but round is all the same.

 

[Cmoe]

I like both from ends but if I find a clean 81-91 quad light front end I will change my '74 to the newer style....

 

[seschev3]

I like both from ends but if I find a clean 81-91 quad light front end I will change my '74 to the newer style....

Just remember that the cowl is different.

 

[73k5blazer]

Yep, I like the old style. When I ordered my fiberglass body, I could have just as easily choosen the '91 style front clip, but I wanted to stick with sweet looking '73.

 

[bigjbear]

If you swap a complete front clip you wont have any issues. If anything is different on the 1980 its minor and limited to the rad support/grill. Piecing stuff together is what gets interesting, like the shape of the cutouts are different on the inside of a '73 fender. This means you cant use the washer bottle from a '73 on a '78 fender. (The '73's slips into one of the cut outs but the '78's is screwed on. ).

 

[Cmoe]

Yes I know about the Cowl, wipers pivits are different, and hood hinges mount in different!

 

[GM Man]

I'm all for the older style as well, glad you want to change yours back. I have a 78 and I like those front ends, they look tuff!

 

[rwright07]

i love the way my '76 looks, wouldnt swap in a newer front clip for nething

 

[seschev3]

I went with an 80 style because I like the square headlights. Still looks tough on my 75'.

 

[bigjbear]

'80 GMC is still my fav

 

[SWOO]

I'm not sure I know what you mean when you said "...This means you cant use the washer bottle from a '73 on a '78 fender. (The '73's slips into one of the cut outs but the '78's is screwed on...."

What part are we talking about? Where it connects to the lower part of the frame?

 

[rdn2blazer]

I have I think an 89' to 91' front clip on my 73', looks good, fits fine. I didn't do the install, previous owner did. I need to find a better fitting fan shroud ir just improove the fit of the one thats there, but other then that I dig it.

 

[rjpastor]

I like both looks, but mine's a 76 GMC and I wouldn't change it. Lucked out and the grill is is great shape.

 

[Metrodps]

I'm not sure I know what you mean when you said "...This means you cant use the washer bottle from a '73 on a '78 fender. (The '73's slips into one of the cut outs but the '78's is screwed on...."

What part are we talking about? Where it connects to the lower part of the frame?

The plastic washer fluid bottle just slips into a cut out in the fender (bottle has a lip on back that is raised and slips behind metal). The newer one bolts to the fenders (held on by screws).