I am looking to swap the bumpers and exterior lights on my 1980 Camaro to a 74-77 bumper and lights. Going for a bumblebee style. I just want to know if I need to do any frame extensions and other heavy work or just replace the front fenders, back bumper panel and front bumper support. If it’s just a couple easish things, I am curious to know what the part numbers are. I wanted to ask here because another forum said that it was a LOT of crazy work that needed done, such as frame rail extensions for different style trunk pans and new quarter panels. I have also read that none of that crazy work is needed. Has anyone put lights and bumper from a 74-77 Camaro onto a 78-81?

 

This is the first time I have seen this question. Might have something to do with the fact that the 75-77 camaros were the least desirable Camaro and the 78-81 were the second least desirable. 74 is a different animal because of the back window. Its a one year only car.

I can not say for sure about frame extension but it sure looks like mounting would be different. You have to be carful going off non-project threads where guys will say you don't have to do this or that. "you don't need that" Sometimes the translations is, "I did it and just used wire ties." Sometimes the translation is, "I just walked over to my fabrication shop and made what I needed "

https://www.chicagomusclecarparts.co...t-bumper-parts
https://www.chicagomusclecarparts.co...ront-end-parts

The nice part of this swap is you are going from plastic to mostly internal metal parts and Harbor freight has cheap welders. I would buy the external parts and make most of the internal parts or find a donor without a title for all the parts you need then resale what is left. Heck you could break even depending on what was there to start with. Also keep in mind it will be almost the same work as converting it to the front and rear of a 70 RS. IMO the 70RS will bring a lot more money if you ever have to sell it. It is also is and has been a very common swap. There is a plus side, the newer floor board you mentioned has more strength. There was an issue with early 2nd gens with t-tops folding in half in a head on collision. The new floor fixed that and stiffened up the later 2nd gens.

This shows a 74 coming a part the front end is the same 74-77 so you can get a look.

 

Interesting. So is the back window for the 74 the same all the way through 77? I thought the 74-77 were all the same thing, same way that the 78-81 are the same, but I know you mentioned that it was a one year thing.

 

The rear window in the 74 is the small window like the 70-73 cars but the lights are the 74-77. That makes the rear quarter panel one year only. The fact that GM dropped the Z28 in 75 also makes the last year of the early Z's. They have never been worth 70-73's value but they always worth more then the 75-77's. The 74 only had 245hp due to emission but GM did not get back to near that HP until the late 80's L98 350. The 74 also had completely different and optional graphic for the Z28. I have a soft spot for them because my first daily driver was a black 74 LT Z28 Clone. If you find a cheap 74 they are the easiest to clone to a 70RS but finding a cheap one can be tuff. The people that own them know what they have. Nice Z's can sell for 40K. A solid, well done clone can go for mid 20's