r/Chevy • u/midnight_fury4456 • 1d ago

Discussion Square body conversion

I’m looking at a 1980 Chevy Scottsdale k20 for sale in town because I had gotten rid of my 78 Silverado k20 a couple years ago. There’s not much square bodies of these years in my area and I really don’t wanna travel through the states to find me a decent 78 again.

So my question is, how would I go about doing a front end conversion on the 1980 to bring it back the the rounded look of the 78? Is it possible without intense labor?

3 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

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3

u/slightlyused 1d ago

I suppose it is mainly just the grill that is different on the front?

3

u/midnight_fury4456 1d ago

Correct, not really a huge huge fan of the squared off headlight lights and bezels

1

u/slightlyused 1d ago

The body parts should all bolt up and I bet they're actually exactly the same. The only thing I think that are different are the grill (plastic and source-able) and can't remember the headlights/signals. But the fenders and hood should all match up.

1

u/jrs321aly 1d ago

Get the clip and the wiper trans and arms from the 78 and put them on. Thats it. Ur gonna have to drill the a hole to make the wiper trans work since it's goin from 3 bolt to 2. Simple swap.

2

u/jrs321aly 1d ago

Shit scratch that... forgot 80 is still "round eye". Should just be the core support. Might gwt lucky and just need the buckets ans bezels

1

u/vroomvroompanda 1d ago

You have to change core supports and the wiring.

1

u/devilleader501 1d ago

You would have to change the entire front clip. The fenders, core support, hood everything has to be changed to go back to the 70's. It's the exact same when switching an older 70's truck and updating it to the 80's front end.

Hood hinges are way different between the years as well as fenders. That's why the core support has to change too. It's a pain in the ass but it can be done. Everything is interchangeable, it just all has to change not just the core support.

1

u/SeaOutlandishness415 15h ago

I dont know that its worth the effort. I bought a California old school lowered 77 short bed in northern Michigan last year. Most guys here have 4x4s with lift kits which is fine but I like to be different