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97 to 98+ front end conversion

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Old Dec 24, 2005 | 10:45 AM
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97 to 98+ front end conversion

i am wanting to put the 98+ front end on my car. i am not to familiar with the f-body cars, and was wandering what all would have to be changed...i know the fenders, front bumper, hood, headlights and such...but as far as wiring, and headlight mounting...what else will i need to make the conversion ??? thanks
Old Dec 24, 2005 | 11:00 AM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

Originally Posted by MikeSS97
i am wanting to put the 98+ front end on my car. i am not to familiar with the f-body cars, and was wandering what all would have to be changed...i know the fenders, front bumper, hood, headlights and such...but as far as wiring, and headlight mounting...what else will i need to make the conversion ??? thanks
From the research Ive done it's not that hard or expensive. I was going to do it, I even had all the parts required but then I was reading the corvette boards and how they felt about people who did the C4 to C5 conversion and it made me see there was no reason to want to do it. On the other hand I hate my headlights. I want to do the s13 headlights but there is no tech or good info on the swap.
Old Dec 24, 2005 | 11:11 AM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

what exactly are the S13 headlights, because the whole reason i dont like the front end of my car, is the headlights. i like the newer style front end, but if there was another way to make the headlight area look better, without converting the whole front end i might want to go that route
Old Dec 24, 2005 | 11:31 AM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

Originally Posted by MikeSS97
what exactly are the S13 headlights, because the whole reason i dont like the front end of my car, is the headlights. i like the newer style front end, but if there was another way to make the headlight area look better, without converting the whole front end i might want to go that route
Look down 3 threads and you will see the s13 silvia headlight conversion thread. Be warned the thread is useless though. No pics and no one who's done it to help guide the way. Just a big tease.
Old Dec 24, 2005 | 02:17 PM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

the wiring in the 93-97 f-bodies will plug directly into the newer 98-up headlights.
Old Dec 24, 2005 | 02:22 PM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

that sounds good....i found some fenders,bumper,lights...i know i need to find a hood, but is there anything else i am missing????

edit: what do the headlights mount to??
Old Dec 24, 2005 | 02:28 PM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

i believe they mount to the stock older core support. i think you need to drill one hole to get all the mounts screwed bolted up. Although it is not necessary, headlights were pretty stable with the one screw missing. need to also change the light fiberglass/plastic piece between the headlights that the top of the nose piece clips to.

Last edited by shady93z; Dec 24, 2005 at 02:31 PM.
Old Dec 24, 2005 | 02:46 PM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

I don't really understand why so many people want to upgrade to the newer front end... We have both types of 4th gens, and the '93-'97 front end is about 30 times more attractive than the '98-'02 front end...
But....
Oh well.
Whatcha gonna do with the old front end? I might take it off your hands if it is silver without collision damage .
Old Dec 25, 2005 | 09:21 AM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

Originally Posted by Brangeta
I don't really understand why so many people want to upgrade to the newer front end... We have both types of 4th gens, and the '93-'97 front end is about 30 times more attractive than the '98-'02 front end...
But....
Oh well.
Whatcha gonna do with the old front end? I might take it off your hands if it is silver without collision damage .
To me it's the headlights. I wish some company would make a nice kit. Theyed sell like hot cakes.
Old Dec 25, 2005 | 10:21 AM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

I did the Hella conversion on my front end and it makes the entire difference on the car. Gets rid of those ugly *** square headlights. JMO though. I will post pics on my cardomain tomorrow if you wanna see.
Old Dec 25, 2005 | 11:03 AM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

Originally Posted by joshp007
I did the Hella conversion on my front end and it makes the entire difference on the car. Gets rid of those ugly *** square headlights. JMO though. I will post pics on my cardomain tomorrow if you wanna see.
I would like to see.
Old Dec 25, 2005 | 12:01 PM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

Originally Posted by Honda Hunter
To me it's the headlights. I wish some company would make a nice kit. Theyed sell like hot cakes.
Oh, well I guess that makes sense, but I don't really think the old square ones are that bad... I kind of like being able to go to Autozone and just pick up a new headlight for $17.

I agree; it would make someone really rich if they produced headlights for our LT1s that fit in the stock brackets, but were a little more attractive (and one solid piece instead of 2 separate lamps). I don't like the ones that people have been retrofitting to work, like the oval or circular ones.

I've been wondering if some 1998ish Lexus SC400 headlights would fit in the space...

The newer Acura TLs have pretty narrow headlights as well. With enough experimentation, I'm sure somebody could find something that would fit.
Old Dec 25, 2005 | 12:32 PM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

Originally Posted by Brangeta
I don't really understand why so many people want to upgrade to the newer front end...
for me...it is also the headlights. i dont like the way they are pushed so far back, and to me the nose seems a little more pointy on the 93-97's than it does on the 98-02's
Old Dec 25, 2005 | 01:18 PM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

That's a strange difference in taste! The entire reason I like the early 4th gens is BECAUSE of the pointy nose!
Old Dec 25, 2005 | 01:48 PM
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Re: 97 to 98+ front end conversion

Originally Posted by Brangeta
Oh, well I guess that makes sense, but I don't really think the old square ones are that bad... I kind of like being able to go to Autozone and just pick up a new headlight for $17.

I agree; it would make someone really rich if they produced headlights for our LT1s that fit in the stock brackets, but were a little more attractive (and one solid piece instead of 2 separate lamps). I don't like the ones that people have been retrofitting to work, like the oval or circular ones.

I've been wondering if some 1998ish Lexus SC400 headlights would fit in the space...

The newer Acura TLs have pretty narrow headlights as well. With enough experimentation, I'm sure somebody could find something that would fit.
I doubt theyed fit but I can see how those would look if they did. I'm really debating on buying the sylvia projector s13 head lights to fab on but I really dont want to have to go through alot of crap to make them fit. I may just do something more simple like the upgraded square lights or even the big circle ones, I believe theyre Hella's.



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