Chevy to GMC Grille Swap

[SCOTI]

My 99 OBS has a worn/faded front end. Despite my love of Chevy's, I'm a "less is more" type & don't care for the Bowtie in the center bar. I'm planning to swap to a fresh GMC grille & was curious if other parts need to be swapped as well. Depending on what is correct on the NET, some say other items require swapping, while others say no.

Anyone that's done the swap on a 94-98, please advise.
Thanks!

[95 S_Trucker]

Head lights and turn signals are the same. The 4 corner lenses are different between Chevy and GMC.

The filler between the bumper is the same between makes. So is the core support.

All you need is the grill and the corner lenses.

[1badgmc]

Yep. As long as you're sticking with a '94-'98 GMC grille, all you'll need are the grille and corner lenses. Everything else is the same.

[SCOTI]

Excellent! My plan was to replace all the lighting lenses so I figured thats the perfect opportunity to update to a fresh grille w/o a badge. They will compliment the new impact-strip free bumpers already swapped on.

Thanks guys.

[likaroc13]

Yep, what those guys said! I don't mind the Chevy grille but prefer the GMC version as well. What are you planning for the light replacements?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by likaroc13

Yep, what those guys said! I don't mind the Chevy grille but prefer the GMC version as well. What are you planning for the light replacements?

Just direct replacements. I'm not a fan of the LED trend lighting (I like the factory appearance).

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Just direct replacements. I'm not a fan of the LED trend lighting (I like the factory appearance).

Same here, at least when it comes to exterior lighting lenses. If you don't mind, report back with where you purchase the new lights & your thoughts on them.

[TexasJeff]

I have a '98 and was thinking I would like to do the same thing at some point, Scoti please take pictures of the finished product.

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by TexasJeff

I have a '98 and was thinking I would like to do the same thing at some point, Scoti please take pictures of the finished product.

If you'd like to look, I have some before/after pics of my old truck that I did the grille swap on.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by likaroc13

Same here, at least when it comes to exterior lighting lenses. If you don't mind, report back with where you purchase the new lights & your thoughts on them.

I've used TYC Genera lenses in the past. Their tail lights fit like OE vs the other common supplier from LMC.

[TennesseeZ]

I like the GMC grille better also. I've changed a few, the info above is correct, nothing to it with the right stuff.

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I've used TYC Genera lenses in the past. Their tail lights fit like OE vs the other common supplier from LMC.

I bought a pair of TYC tails on Amazon. I don't recall them being Genera though. I had them custom painted but ended up with one not coming out exactly as I want. So, they're about to get redone. What mfg are you looking at for the headlights/parking lamps?

[SCOTI]

Based on the fit quality vs the other brand from LMC (Depot?), I'm looking @ the TYC front lighting group as well. Let's just say I had to do multiple set's of the LMC rears because of poor alignment quality. When you would go to tighten them down, they would be in a bind & chipped the corners on a lens (2 different sets). Despite understanding the problem, it still repeated itself.

I tried the TYC's on the 99 as my local Oreillys had a pair on the shelf. They went in as easy as the factory pieces came out. Zero issues.

[likaroc13]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Based on the fit quality vs the other brand from LMC (Depot?), I'm looking @ the TYC front lighting group as well. Let's just say I had to do multiple set's of the LMC rears because of poor alignment quality. When you would go to tighten them down, they would be in a bind & chipped the corners on a lens (2 different sets). Despite understanding the problem, it still repeated itself.

I tried the TYC's on the 99 as my local Oreillys had a pair on the shelf. They went in as easy as the factory pieces came out. Zero issues.

I saw those TYC tails in my local Oreilly store as well. I assume those are equivalent to what I purchased on Amazon. I test fitted one of mine after purchasing, & it seemed to fit good. One very minor thing I recall was that the edges of the plastic had some areas that weren't cut very smoothly. I carefully used my Dremel to make them a little better.

[slime]

Good info here. I would like to do the same with my 96 truck, so that's nice to know.

[mountie]

I replaced my rear lenses with the TLC brand .... BE CAREFUL....

The upper corners of the lens are very brittle & a bit thinner than factory.

The first lens I installed broke at the upper corner as it just pressed against the soft rubber weather strip. ( O' Reilly parts swapped it)

I was more careful next time.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by mountie

I replaced my rear lenses with the TLC brand .... BE CAREFUL....

The upper corners of the lens are very brittle & a bit thinner than factory.

The first lens I installed broke at the upper corner as it just pressed against the soft rubber weather strip. ( O' Reilly parts swapped it)

I was more careful next time.

Weird. That's the exact problem I had w/the tail lights I purchased from LMC. On both sets, one of them chipped the corner off as they were be tightened up.