'98 to '96-97 front end swap

Why don't you drive south and help me out...


...then I'll quit my whining 'bout it

 

haha id be down if i didn't have school


and there was something in it for me haha

 

Beer and added rep?

If only I had a sister...

 

YES THEY FIT!!

Just hurry up and do it already! If the 96 grille I used fits on my 01, then it will fit on your 98!!! You don't even have to deal with the hood and hood latch like I did!

 

Im underage m8 haha

^^this!!

Just do it!

 

Alright, ALRIGHT!!!!?!!

But know this... when the shit hits the fan and I hack up my front end to no avail...

...I'm blaming all of you, especially you Harry

 

Shut up and get to work haha

 

Im pretty sure if you get the 95-97 corners, headlights and grille you should be able to bolt it up with a little bit of work.

DO IT!

95.5-97 Grills FTMFW!!!!!!!!

And my stock headlights are pretty damn bright...I get flashed all the time with my low beams. They are GE halogens...so I dont know if those are OEM or not

But those round eyes look pretty sweet

 

I think im gonna get some round eyes. Or find some cheap housings and HID em or something cause mine are TERRIBLE lol

 

After all the pestering researching I've done, I'm pretty sure I just need the grille and headlight housings.

Still in question is:

1. Do I need new fillers or are my 98-00 fillers the same?

2. Do the headlight assemblies have all the mounting brackets I need, eg the adjustment screws, etc...)

 

You are probably going to need new fillers.

And I am pretty sure the adjustment screws are built into the headlight assembly..

 

Yes.... I'm bumping this again


So I have actually never looked at my front end to see how it's all attached (wow, that sounds awful) so I popped the hood and started to poke around.

I think I ascertained that I must remove the grille and grille surround first in order to start removing the rest of the parts. So I wiggle the grille to see how and where it's attached. There are no screws, right? Just those clips? So I monkey with one of the clips very lightly and the friggen thing shatters.

I know they must be brittle from 14 years of Colorado... but seriously?

Should I just be prepared to buy all new clips when I remove this thing?

 

1. Yes, the grille comes off first. There's not really a specific order to removal of parts after that though.

2. I had the same problem with the clips on my 96 when I took the grille off to change the headlights. I bought some new ones from the dealer and they were only marginally better then the ones I broke.
I eventually gave up on the stupid OEM clips and started using zip ties. Haven't gone back since. When the grille needs to come off (which isn't often), I cut the ties off. When it goes back on right after, new ties go on there again too.
A pack of 100 is like 5 bucks, max (so ~$.05 per tie at the MOST). The OEM clips are $11 for 25 of them (best price I could find in the couple mins I looked, so roundabout $.44 per clip). That means you could take your grille on and off 8 times and still come out ahead (although you would certainly break all of the clips in that time otherwise).

Cliffs Notes: Use zip ties instead. Cheaper, easier, and more secure.


You can also still PM me with any questions too, man. Don't hesitate.

 

yes its one big pain in the ass! I had to change a headlight when I got mine, and decided to do both, and man, I will say, I think the grill is the worst thing about the trucks! took all afternoon, 10 degs outside and my old hands were screaming. only thing I can say is that you need (if you want to save the clips) is several sizes of flat headed screwdrivers, and a 12 pack!

 

lol

You know I will...

...hell I'll probably creep out, find your phone number and call you relentlessly too

No seriously... just joking there ^

 

Considering I just wiggled it a bit and one of the clips shattered, I'm going to go ahead and just say... fuck'em, zip ties here I come.

 

Get that shit together man!

then ill come help ya figure it out

for reals actually..im planing a trip to CO in June..

 

Sweet.

That timing might work out nicely.

Maybe you can help me with your blinker mod too

 

When I bought a grille from ebay for my truck it came with all brand new clips.

 

haha could maybe do that as well!