I have a 67 ragtop and am considering cloning it to an RS body style. I know the front and rear valence need to be changed to accept RS reverse and parking lights. I know the tail lights need to be changed to RS tail lights along with painting the rear panel black. What is involved with swapping headlights and grill? Do the fenders need to have additional brackets? Anything else I'm not thinking of?

You will have to either change the fenders for the RS headlight assembly or modify yours with the "brackets" to set them back deeper into the fenders. Of course the whole headlight and grill assemblies have to be changed as well. Yes, the valances have to be changed, I wouldn't recommend trying to cut them out to accept the lights.

On the black back panel, I thought that was an SS option not RS, but I might be wrong on that.

-shoe

Front fender brackets are available to convert to RS through vendors.
Blacked out back panel was a big block only thing,even if RS...but looks cool on any car.
The rear Valance will have to be cut for the reverse lights,I believe even the replacment rear Valance available does not have the cutouts for the reverse lights as well.

You will also need a new wiring harness for the front and all the junk that goes with it. Relay panel etc. New tail lights, holes in the trunk for the back up lights, different hood release, it gets pricey. I have a buddy in the parts business that does this and he can help get a parts list you need together. Many of the "complete" kits aren't that complete.

rj

steves camaro offers the most complete kit that i found. mine is an "after the fact" RS. my tailpan was cut to accept the lights.

Classic carries a "made in USA" rear RS valance I see, but OUCH at $490. Then there's the inner rear panel which is another $75. The RS headlight brackets are only $28 a pair.

I did it on my 69. Not that tough. On your 67, if you don't care about factory correct, I'd consider one of the aftermarket headlight kits that does away with the problematic 67 electric system. No limit switches, all electronic. The actual install of the the grill, buckets, etc is pretty straightforward, but since it's likely all repro stuff, expect to tweak things a bit. Blacked out tail panel is for SS Big Block only, to be correct.

The tail panel will need to be cut for the backup lights. I seem to recall that the 67 needs to have the inner panel cut as well, but not sure. I bought a $20 HF body saw and a template kit from Ricks for the tail panel holes. Laid down some blue tape, marked it all out over the tape, drilled a pilot hole and cut away on a painted panel. Turned out great w/o damaging surrounding paint. Treated the bare edges w/touchup paint. Dimples already in the trunk pan to locate holes for the wires, soldered up a couple wires for the b/u lights. Pretty darn easy. Sold the template kit so the next guy could use it. Certain that the purists are cringing.

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