Just like the smile on someone's face, the front of your ride is usually the first thing people see. If your grille is all broken and the chrome is scratched and worn away, that car just won't look as good as it should. In the past it's been pretty easy to get replacement parts for early cars like the first-gen Camaros and pre-'72 Chevelles, but if you had a G-body you were screwed. Well, that is not a problem anymore thanks to Original Parts Group Inc. (OPGI) and the company's '78-87 catalog. OPGI has a ton of restoration products for the G-body platform, making these cars a whole lot easier to restore or refurbish. In this story, we are going to freshen up the front end of an '82 Malibu with all new bright work. We ordered up a bumper, grille, turn-signal lenses, and headlight bezels. The job should only take an hour or two, but the pay-off is worth way more than the time spent doing it. At the end of the story we will give you a breakdown of the parts and tools needed so all you G-body people can be prepared for your own front-end facelift à no anesthesia necessary. Parts DescriptionPart No.Price Headlight bezel (RH)KR2007380.95 Headlight bezel (LH)KR2007280.95 Turn/parking lens (RH)L24026336.95 Turn/parking lens (LH)L24026436.95 GrilleL23009395.50 BumperL240431304.95 Total$636.25 Tools Needed Screwdriver with T15 bit Pliers 7mm socket 13mm socket 13mm wrench 3/8-drive air ratchet (optional) 3/8-drive impact (optional) 1 Here are the nice and shiny parts we ordered up from OPGI. All the products are an exact duplication of the factory stuff, so they have all the correct holes in all the right places.1 Here are the nice and shiny parts we ordered up from OPGI. All the products are an exac 2 Here is the front of the Malibu, and for the most part it’s a 10-footer (it looks good from 10 feet away). Even though the chrome appears decent from afar, when you get up close you can see it’s starting to wear off the bumper, and the grille looks like it has been through a few sandstorms.2 Here is the front of the Malibu, and for the most part it’s a 10-footer (it looks good 3 The bright work comes off in a certain order starting with the headlight bezels. Four T15 Torx screws hold on each one. Also, in this close-up you can see how bad the finish is on the bezels.3 The bright work comes off in a certain order starting with the headlight bezels. Four T 4 Once the headlight bezels are off, the grille can be removed. Six little plastic clips hold it on. You will need to pull out the center of the clip with a pair of pliers to free its grasp. The inset image should give you a good idea of how they work.4 Once the headlight bezels are off, the grille can be removed. Six little plastic clips 5 After the headlight bezels and grille are out, the turn/parking lens assembly can be addressed. Three 7mm screws from underneath hold them on.5 After the headlight bezels and grille are out, the turn/parking lens assembly can be ad 6 Once the screws are out, the assembly slides straight forward until you can get behind it and twist out the bulbs.6 Once the screws are out, the assembly slides straight forward until you can get behind 7 The bumpers on the G-bodies are mounted to an impact plunger assembly and big ol’ adapter plates. The best way to get the bumper off without needing to re-align the new one going on from scratch is to unbolt it from the adapter plate. There are six 13mm bolts holding each side of the bumper to the adapter plate.7 The bumpers on the G-bodies are mounted to an impact plunger assembly and big ol’ adapt 8 With the bumper off, you now have access to the center support, license plate holder, and all the nut clips that need to be transferred to the new blade.8 With the bumper off, you now have access to the center support, license plate holder, a 9 Unbolt the center support (more 13mm bolts) and remove all the clips. To minimize frustration, use a small screwdriver to lift up on the center tab before sliding the clip off.9 Unbolt the center support (more 13mm bolts) and remove all the clips. To minimize frust 10 Lastly, unbolt the license plate bracket, which is held on by two 13mm nut-and-bolt combos.10 Lastly, unbolt the license plate bracket, which is held on by two 13mm nut-and-bolt co 11 Now you can transfer all those parts onto the new blade, starting with the nut plates and plate bracket …11 Now you can transfer all those parts onto the new blade, starting with the nut plates 12 ...Followed by the center support. 13 The freshly assembled bumper can now be mounted up to the adapter plates. If you are working alone, the best way to get it in place is to use your entire body—arms, gut, knees, and feet—to lift and support the bumper while you thread in one bolt. Once you have one side in, it’s pretty easy to spin around and start the other side’s hardware.13 The freshly assembled bumper can now be mounted up to the adapter plates. If you are w 14 Now the other things can be reinstalled in reverse order. The turn/parking lens assemblies have two little plastic nutserts that need to be taken out of the old ones and reinstalled into the new units. Two of the three 7mm screws will thread into these from under the car.14 Now the other things can be reinstalled in reverse order. The turn/parking lens assemb 15 With the nutserts and bulbs reinstalled, the lenses can be slid straight in and screwed in.15 With the nutserts and bulbs reinstalled, the lenses can be slid straight in and screwe 16a Since OPGI has made everything an exact duplicate of the factory stuff...16a Since OPGI has made everything an exact duplicate of the factory stuff... 16b ...Everything lines up nicely and all the clips and screws slip right in.16b ...Everything lines up nicely and all the clips and screws slip right in. 17a Just to give you a good idea of how bad the finish was on our original stuff, we took these two photos...17a Just to give you a good idea of how bad the finish was on our original stuff, we took 17b ...The old stuff reflected what looks like a yellow blob. The new stuff lets you totally see that the yellow blob is actually a ’64 Chevelle.17b ...The old stuff reflected what looks like a yellow blob. The new stuff lets you tota 18 With everything tightened up, we wiped off all the fingerprints and stood back to enjoy the new shiny front end. The car looks years younger now and is ready for a cruise night on the town.18 With everything tightened up, we wiped off all the fingerprints and stood back to enjo By Calin Head Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
