Changing front head panel for a 83...

[Rotech]

Hey guys I want to change the front HD panel of my 80 Malibu sedan for the 82 one that has the 4 head lights. Will that be a easy task? How about wiring? Will any parts of my old front end be needed for the new one?

 

[Longroof79]

It should be a straight forward swap using the headlight harness from the '82.

 

[Rotech]

Do you to cut harness from the 82?

 

[Longroof79]

No, don't cut it. Unplug it at the firewall going to the fuse box. There should be a single small bolt holding the plug on...then carefully remove the wiring harness.

 

[pontiacgp]

that single bolt is a 7 mm and right in the middle of the two harness plugs. The other thing you could do is to get a couple of high beam connectors and tap in the ground and green wire.

 

[Rotech]

Interesting, that means that the additional head light added is a special type one? I can see in the drawing that one has a double element and the other only has one... Is this correct?

Jumping the cable is a good ideas. Since I don't have the 82 harness.

If you purchase a after market front panel (I belive it come bare) can you finish building it with the hardware of the exiting one? Or there is more to it?

 

[pontiacgp]

yes, on a 4 headlight system the outside light is a hi/lo beam and the inside light is a hi beam. The harness goes from the back of the fuse block down the driver's side to the drivers side headlight. The wires that go to the hi beam connector come from the connector for the hi/lo headlight. If you look at your headlight connector on the drivers side you should see the wires coming from the connector to feed the headlight on the passenger side.

or you can get new connectors from a place like this or ebay and do your own wiring with new stuff

http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/E...eadlight_Connectors/headlight_connectors.html

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-H4-9003-...ctor-Socket-Plug-wire-with-pins-/391397848401

 

[Ribbedroof]

Better yet, wire the headlamps through relays and use the original wires to trigger the relays. This eliminates sending all that current through an old headlamp switch.

 

[Rotech]

Wow.... Thanks for the link where did u get that wires diagram?

Can u answer the second part of my question regarding the after market part?

 

[Rotech]

Agree, the relay ideas is great.