MALIBU Picture of an 81 malibu header panel

[bracketchev1221]

GM shows the same part number for 80-81 header panel, (different for 78-79) but says for '81, "IT MAY BE NEC TO DRILL HOLES FOR MTG. GRILLE ON SOME MODELS"

I wouldn't order something on backorder without calling them to find out how long the backorder.

No I agree there. The backorder is listed till the end of June so it’s not going to happen soon. Especially since I don’t NEED them right this minute and I need all 3 parts to install it. Do not wish to be in a holding pattern for 4 months to find out they cant supply them.

 

[Longroof79]

My 81 has the point too. Should be the same.

Looks like you also eliminated and filled the emblem hole in the header panel. I always thought that they looked goofy.

 

[08Malibu]

Looks like you also eliminated and filled the emblem hole in the header panel. I always thought that they looked goofy.

Yep. I also removed the landau top. I was lucky that my car had regular b pillar trim from the factory. Hopefully I’ll narrow my bumpers at some point like you did too.

 

[Longroof79]

Yep. I also removed the landau top. I was lucky that my car had regular b pillar trim from the factory. Hopefully I’ll narrow my bumpers at some point like you did too.

Yeah, I was never a big fan of landau tops and B- pillars.

 

[v8liveson]

I also put an 81 grille in my 1980 because I liked the looks better. I did not have to modify anything. I even left the 1980 headlight bezels on. Some of the lines don't line up exactly from the grille to the bezels, but you really can't tell unless you stare at it long enough.

 

[toner283]

The 80 and 81 grills have the mounting screws in slightly different places. Most of the header panels, you will see the little oval plastic bushing where the screw goes in (after removing the grill). Close to that location on most of the 80/81 header panels I have seen, there will be a little depression where the bushing would go in for the other year of grill. You will either have to open up those holes and move the plastic bushing or make new holes and put another plastic bushing in those holes to hold the screws. Screwing directly into the fiberglass is not really a good plan because eventually the screws will work their way loose and the grill will fall out. And as several other people have said the headlight bezels are different between 80 and 81. They will physically bolt in place of each other but they look goofy because they don't line up properly with the wrong year of grill.

The pictures that 80Malibu posted show the black accent line that goes around the bezels and across the top and the bottom of the grill on an 81. On an 80 that black accent line only goes around the perimeter of the bezel, not across the grill.

 

[bracketchev1221]

The 80 and 81 grills have the mounting screws in slightly different places. Most of the header panels, you will see the little oval plastic bushing where the screw goes in (after removing the grill). Close to that location on most of the 80/81 header panels I have seen, there will be a little depression where the bushing would go in for the other year of grill. You will either have to open up those holes and move the plastic bushing or make new holes and put another plastic bushing in those holes to hold the screws. Screwing directly into the fiberglass is not really a good plan because eventually the screws will work their way loose and the grill will fall out. And as several other people have said the headlight bezels are different between 80 and 81. They will physically bolt in place of each other but they look goofy because they don't line up properly with the wrong year of grill.

The pictures that 80Malibu posted show the black accent line that goes around the bezels and across the top and the bottom of the grill on an 81. On an 80 that black accent line only goes around the perimeter of the bezel, not across the grill.

That’s really detailed. Thanks guys for the help.