I am really starting to like the looks of the GMC front ends more than the Chevys. I wonder how much difference there is between them. Could I put on a GMC bumper? What about the headlights? Does anyone have any side by side pictures to compare? Or maybe some first hand knowledge on this?

Thanks!!

It gets expensive. 05 and up use different fenders and all front pieces. The only piece that is the same is the core support.

First time in many many years that they were not almost all the same parts except for the gril

You would have to replace the whole front clip!

You would have to replace the whole front clip! :exactly:
The whole front clip is different. Hood, fenders, grille, bumper, etc.

When i got my gmc it was only because the chevy dealer wouldnt give me the time of day. Now i really like the gmc fronts.

How about posting pics of both so we can compare?

the only thing i dont like about the GMC is that black filler deal that is between the grill and bumper

paint it

I have always liked the GMC much better. I had an 04 that I ordered and loved, but had to sell, because I was owning two houses at the time and something had to give. Then when I sold one of the houses and GM had that super discount last August, all I could find were chevys, so that is what I got. Don't like that front ends at all, but the price was right.

You would have to change the whole front clip to switch it out. If you find a rear end wreck, you might be able to get it cheaper. But then, you have a mut of a truck. Part Chevy and Part GMC. REsale value would tank badly. If you are going to keep it til it pukes then that is not really a concern.

I have photos of the front ends, if I could figure out how to get them posted on this stupid thing. How do you post pics?

I deffinately like the GMC front end better. i don't like the Avalanche front end that they are using on everything that Chevy makes.

The black filler? Is the black filler you referring to under the bumper/License plate?

I have to get pics of my new front end, the one with the 3" 4x4 air dam. Nice dressing, if it helps with airflow through the stack so much the better.

The front end is the reason I went from Chevy to GMC ):h

GMC is professional grade....Chevy is just regular grade.

The body lines of the GMC is well rounded and everything looks proportioned properly. The chevy, while the 05-06 fronts did improve...still look unproportionate, everything from the bumper to the grill to the headlights...what is up with the headlights?? the front fenders on the chevy also don't 'fit' right with the rest of the body of the truck.

I think the Chevy front end looks so much more badass, much more of an agressive "heavy duty" look

How about posting pics of both so we can compare?

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/garage_images/i3164.jpg

try this

While the 01-02 Chevy looked good, the 06 is a big improvement (hood bulge, split bar in the grill).

Still gotta vote GMC though.

paint it
it is not that it is black it is the big gap

The black filler? Is the black filler you referring to under the bumper/License plate?

I have to get pics of my new front end, the one with the 3" 4x4 air dam. Nice dressing, if it helps with airflow through the stack so much the better.

no it is the one that is right under the grill and on top of the bumper not below it, and if it was not for that gap i would rather have a GMC looks tougher to me. anyone know if the bumper could be raised so that gap would be gone like it is on the gasses 2500HD.

I think the Chevy front end looks so much more badass, much more of an agressive "heavy duty" lookTHATS BECAUSE THEY ARE MUCH MORE BAD *** THAN GRANPAS gmc / ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. AN EVERYBODY KNOWS It!!!:ro)

GMC is professional grade....Chevy is just regular grade.

The body lines of the GMC is well rounded and everything looks proportioned properly. The chevy, while the 05-06 fronts did improve...still look unproportionate, everything from the bumper to the grill to the headlights...what is up with the headlights?? the front fenders on the chevy also don't 'fit' right with the rest of the body of the truck.:blahblah: Aside from cosmetics,They are EXACTLY the same truck.I didn't like the front of the Chevy at first,now I think it looks really tough.I guess it's grown on me.

:blahblah: Aside from cosmetics,They are EXACTLY the same truck.I didn't like the front of the Chevy at first,now I think it looks really tough.I guess it's grown on me.

that is the same with me i did not like the tall hood on the new trucks, but now i think they look good it just took some getting used to for me.

There's no doubt about it, the GMC does look a lot better, but I still like my Chevy.

I think the 02 HD Chevy's looked the best, the 05 and newer has a aggressive hood which I like but don't like what Chevy has done with the cat eye look with the headlights. I used to own nothing but Chevy's until the 03's came out and then went with the GMC:rolleyes:

At first I hated the new look Chevys, now I own one. (The good deal came along...)

I think the subtle mods I have done to it, painted bumper cover, color matched bowtie, etc. have brought it up to GMC level. When I find a good deal on an '06 (black) lower valence, the beautification will be complete.

In fact, I think I like it better than a GMC. (But now I _may_ be a little biased.)

Jay

well, I first was going to buy the GMC, but the more I looked at the Chevy, the more I liked it. :) pic attached. Bob

I think the 02 HD Chevy's looked the best
:mad: What about the 01's ??



















:joke:

There both beautiful,and both rank mother Censored er's!!!!My 2-cent's

I like the Chevy. Good thing they make both.

Even if you get that Cheby front end looking more like the GMC there is still one major problem. The Cheby will still accelerate the same so it will get left in the acceleration dust storm of the faster GMC Sierra!!!

There both beautiful,and both rank mother er's!!!!My 2-cent's
So why don't you tell us how you really feel now lb7diesel.....HAHAHA

I really didn't like the look of the cat eye on the Chevy front-end. I didn't even notice the black filler piece until after I ordered the truck. I was wishing over some pics and noticed the cheesy half-a$$ filler. Evidently the 2500 has a 2" body lift to either fit the tranny or Duramax. The day I took delivery of the truck I crawled under the beast to see about moving the bumper up. Well, much to complicated for me. Now I don't even notice it.

My vote... GMC After all, it is professional grade :)

I think the Chevy frontend looks better mostly because it is unique. The scowl look from the headlights and the power dome hood compliment the bowtie..I think the GMC frontend has too many curves and is too similar to the way a Furd or Toyota looks...

My second choice would be the GMC..

it is not that it is black it is the big gap
I was checking one out on the freeway today after I saw this post... it's not a gap, it's a black plastic filler panel, just like the OBS fillers.

Looks fine to me in black, but you could paint it.

I think the 02 HD Chevy's looked the best, the 05 and newer has a aggressive hood which I like but don't like what Chevy has done with the cat eye look with the headlights. I used to own nothing but Chevy's until the 03's came out and then went with the GMC:rolleyes:
I HATED the 03 Chevy when it came out. I bought my 2000 partly because of its conservative good looks. After 3 years the Avalanche look is growing on me. I really dig the split bar on the grill and the bulged hood. Afterall, chicks dig a big bulge.:ro) :ro)

I think the Chevy front end looks so much more badass, much more of an agressive "heavy duty" look

Ditto.

I like both, but the chevy is much better looking. the 03-06 chevy front end is the first one I've really loved since the 80s... all through the 90s they were entirely too rounded and wimpy looking, in 03 they actually looked agressive... like a truck again.

I was checking one out on the freeway today after I saw this post... it's not a gap, it's a black plastic filler panel, just like the OBS fillers.

Looks fine to me in black, but you could paint it.


Yes we know there is a piece of plastic in there but it looks just thrown in there to compensate. I like both, but the more i look at the chev i like the buldged hood, and we can always add our own styling ques to make it look mean when we want, same with gmc, i like both but bought the chev for other reasons.

Well Had A 2001 Gmc 2 Wheel Drive. But Traded For A 2003 Chevy 4x4 Because They Started Changing The Front Grill Of The Gmc.. Think They Look Like Crap..
But I Can Not Tell Any Differece In Quality Between The Two. They Are The Same..

Arm

Yes we know there is a piece of plastic in there but it looks just thrown in there to compensate.
Ya, there's a slight gap on the non-HD. The body lift (actually thicker frame) on the HD needs the spacer. I've seen a couple of HDs with body lifts and it looks really bad.

If you want to see "thrown in to compensate", look at the OBS HD trucks. It's a FLAT piece of plastic that really looks bad.

does anyone know if the bumper can be raised so that gap anf filler piece can be removed. if i could raise the bumper and remove that gap i would buy a GMC but tell then i will be looking at a CHEVY for my next truck.

I originally had ordered a 3500 gmc just to find out from the dealer 4 weeks later that the duramax had been put on restraint, so I purchased a chevy. The front end has grown on me some, but I still prefer the gmc.

I'm sure you could fabricate brackets to lift the bumper, and it will improve your tire clearance a bit, but there are a couple of issues.

1 - On the '06, the trans cooler was redesigned and moved. It is no longer in the center of the radiator (where there is no airflow from the fan when stopped). It was moved and is now directly behind the opening in the bumper. Relocating the bumper risks blocking airflow.
2 - Your tow hooks will not line up with the openings in the lower valance
3 - You risk exposing the bottom of the frame.

The HD truck frames are about 2" taller than the 1500s, so they have the appearance of having a 2" body lift.

Damn and i was hoping that someone would say that they have done it, and i was easy and didn't have to move anything. Looks like a chevy will be in my driveway instead of the GMC.

Does anyone know did the 02, 03 have that gap i know the 04's do but what about the other i cant remember what they look like.

New body style kicked in for '03. '03-'06 are identical on GMC... Chevy changed the HD in '05.

I really think it would be easier to just paint the filler strip. It's a nice looking molded strip and works well with the front end.

What year Diesel are you driving now and how is that area handled on it?

04 GMC with that gap i dont like, it doesn't bother me that much but the new 06 chevys are looking better and better IMO, so i think i will just get a Chavy in 4-5 months when i get my new truck.

This is turning into another GMC vs. Chevy thread.

There is something about the GMC front end....ohh yea...the grill...etc. that makes it more appealing to me over the chevy

i have always preferred the GMC over Chevy but like both!

06 chevys are a big improvement but still like the GMC better