Swapping BOP grilles/nose ones to a El Camino

[TRBrew]

Howdy,

I've been paging through this section and the General knowledge section and have not found the answer. I even tried a search on this website with no luck.

How hard would it be to swap the front nosecap/grille assemblies from the Buick-Olds-Pont group to an Elky? Would I have to swap fenders as well?

1983 is the year in question.

Why? Mainly just so I could F'wit people...

Cheers

Oly

 

[UNGN]

You have to swap fenders and hoods, too, then would have to do work getting the doors to match.

Buick El Camino

 

[pagrunt]

A LeMans or Grand Am front will line up with the body lines (they use the same doors.)

 

[UNGN]

A LeMans or Grand Am front will line up with the body lines (they use the same doors.)

An '81 Lemans Nose would look killer:

'81 lemans header panel for sale

Get you in to Orphan car shows, too.

 

[TRBrew]

Thank you!

I figured it has been done, but I could not find the answer.

Cheers!

Oly

 

[Z48LT1]

There are a number of front end swaps in this thread: https://gbodyforum.com/threads/el-camino-clip-swap-picture-thread.26338/

Cheers - Gary

 

[Longroof79]

I think by using the Pontiac Lemans, Grand Am, etc. header panel, you'll also need the fenders as well. Even though the bodylines line up with the doors and quarters. I believe the Pontiac header panel will not mate properly with the Chevy fenders. The mating surface for the Pontiac header is straight up and down, whereas the Chevy Malibu/ El Camino is on an angle.
...and you'll also need the hood as well.

I always liked the Grand Am header panel. I know it's been done on an El Camino....and there was a concept car done by GM (if I'm not mistaken) made up using the Grand Am nose. That looks killer.

 

[TRBrew]

There are a number of front end swaps in this thread: https://gbodyforum.com/threads/el-camino-clip-swap-picture-thread.26338/

Cheers - Gary

Thank you!

I know it is a PITA when a noob comes along and asks a question that has been answered already.

I just didn't use the proper search terms. It seems each forum/ webpage is different.

Cheers

Oly

 

[jlcustomz]

A 2016 Camaro nose will bolt right in place.
20170212_160848 by joe leleux, on Flickr

 

[Ribbedroof]

If you really want to make people say "why!", use the 82-86 Bonneville front clip. Same body lines as the lemans/grand lemans/grand am, so goes on as easily as those, and probably a lot cheaper and easier to find than lemans/grand am. Pontiac even put them on Malibu wagons for 82/83.