73/74 bumper fillers home made reproductions, someone interested ?

[Nacho-RT74]

yeap, like we did sometime ago, the guy who took care to repro by himself some of the bumper fillers is back with some sets available. Unfortunatelly not everyone, but at least all 4 corners and the most important and easy to loose or damage center front one ( rear center has being imposible to repro correctly yet ).

if someone is interested let me know HERE ( please no PM )

just 10 sets available at this moment

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-1974-Charger-New-Front-Bumper-Center-Filler-73-74-/291090014419?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43c65120d3&vxp=mtr




corners are a softer material than the original rubber material ( I got a set around a year and a half ago ). Need to reuse your original metal brackets. Rears got studs attached.

Center front is practically close to the perfection matching the original piece

remember they are not an INDUSTRIAL process, a home process really.

[tfdub]

I just received the front center long piece yesterday and compared it to my originals. The center clip for the front piece needs to be reused. It looks good despite some differences and will definitely work. I'm interested in the corner pieces. I did not know they were available when I bought the front center piece. Price on the corners?
Terry

[ODZKing]

I just received the front center long piece yesterday and compared it to my originals. The center clip for the front piece needs to be reused. It looks good despite some differences and will definitely work. I'm interested in the corner pieces. I did not know they were available when I bought the front center piece. Price on the corners?
Terry

Hey TF, could you snap a pic of that clip.  I believe mine was gone.
If remember correctly it really doesn't help much but I wouldn't mind finding one.   

[Nacho-RT74]

I just received the front center long piece yesterday and compared it to my originals. The center clip for the front piece needs to be reused. It looks good despite some differences and will definitely work. I'm interested in the corner pieces. I did not know they were available when I bought the front center piece. Price on the corners?
Terry

what clip? I can't recall any clip for the center filler

[tfdub]

Its a clip that goes in the center of the front filler strip to help hold the strip into the point of the bumper. Both of my unrestored 74 Chargers have the clip. I've taken a pic and will try to get it posted soon. It really helps to clamp the filler to the top edge of the bumper. I've thought about trying to get a few more to use on the ends of the front center filler. They seem to loosen up with time
Terry

[ODZKing]

Yep, my first 73 did as well.  I just don't remember what they look like.
If you have issues posting it, send it tome and I'll post it up.

[tfdub]

Here's a couple of pics of the clip. The one shows it with the clip installed on both Chargers center filler strip. The other pic shows it with the clip off one filler. It makes it harder to remove the fillers from the bumper but maybe that's why both chargers have them still.

[tfdub]

The clip is not easy to remove as the little tooth on the one side really bites in to the black rubber strip. I hope this helps.
Terry

[ODZKing]

Perfect Terry, thank you.  Now to figure out how to make one. 

[tfdub]

You can see the holes in the second pic where the 2 teeth cut into the rubber strip. The side of the clip without the teeth goes on the other side of the rubber strip towards the gray filler strip.
They are spring steel.
Terry

[tfdub]

I've seen those clips used elsewhere but can't remember where. I've thought about finding these clips and installing several along the filler to help hold it in place.
Terry

[ODZKing]

I believe the headliner

[tfdub]

I'm in the process of removing the headliner. Those clips are maybe half the size of the filler strip clip. Nacho, I apologize for hijacking the thread. You have some of the new corner pieces you've used? Are the available corner pieces a good fit? Are they the same color as the originals? This new front center filler looks a slightly different color of gray from my originals. Did you have to color them with a flex paint like SEM? What is the price of a set of the corner pieces?
Thanks
Terry

[ODZKing]

I got some from one of the first batches he did.  I had to paint them with the SEM and I'll tell ya, it is a b***h getting it to stick.
I believe the color was warm gray recomended by him. #15183 page 26 in the SEM catalog.
You have GOT to use the adhesive.

[68killerbee]

I would be interested. I'm guessing that link is an old one or are these still available?
Thanks
Devin

[tfdub]

The link he posted was the front filler piece I bought last week. Apparently, the individual is making some again. The profile of the filler piece is slightly different from the original. I'll also need to cut it to length
Terry

[Nacho-RT74]

. Nacho, I apologize for hijacking the thread.

not a prob

I have a full set of those but haven't tried to install them yet ( my car is on a deep body job at this moment ) Gray shade looks really close to the original, but glossy, due the material used to be reproed... it feels like a kind of silicone. Very flexible. Yes He adviced me to paint them and match. Will be soon on that. Will need to be treated/primered to hold the paint though, It seems a job to be made for a profesional paint guy.

He made cast from their own car pieces. Some ones can get some air bubbles on the process. Remember is practically a home made job.

Center front filler even MAYBE with some slight profile difference, is a GREAT repro product and perfect substitute for the original. I hope lot of the repro market was so nice like this center filler. Actually only diff I could find was the size... original seems to be a hair wider, than the repro. Gray Shade? considering our pieces are faded by the years I won't consider they are really diff color. Yes he makes them a bit longer ( couple of inches I think ) due the original corners could got contracted 'cause the heat. If you consider its longer simply cut it. Corners should overlap the center piece though

He did once the rear center too, and came out nice really but without the lower lip to attach the bracket to the bumper, so he decided not continue to make those by the moments...

Interesting about the clip... I can't recall my car having that one ( I got my car unrestored and with filler still in decent conditions back in 97 )

I can't talk about the price LOL... forgot to ask

I'm dreaming someday with headlight fillers!

[ODZKing]

I parked next to him last year at a show in addition to him coming to our Mopar show.  Nice guy.
He made the center pieces longer because the originals shrink from the sun. Mine fit perfectly with the two original side pieces until I broke one.  That is why I had to purchase new ones.

[ACUDANUT]

 Question: does it look better with or without them. ? Most cars I see have removed them.

[tfdub]

The Chargers I've seen with the filler pieces removed have the chromed pot metal pieces installed at the corners, the bumpers tucked in closer to the body and the hood and trunk edge lip stainless moldings installed.  Others have just tucked the bumpers in closer to the body and painted the bumpers body color with a very small gap between the body and bumpers. I'll probably do that to my 74 non Rallye Charger.

[ODZKing]

Question: does it look better with or without them. ? Most cars I see have removed them.

Depends. My belief is that they have removed them because they couldn't find them and that was easier.
Like Chip Fooze filling in the side marker holes on a 71 Roadrunner because he SAID "they weren't available". Hack!
I have no problem with them. I wouldn't install them on a car that didn't come with them, but they do fill in gaps nicely when allignment may not be perfect, otherwise covering some sins so to speak.
I think WITH the chrome pieces, leaving them off looks funny. Without, they look OK except for the HUGE gap between the bumper and hood
.

[ACUDANUT]

Well, if that is your 73/74 Charger, I think it looks nice. I don't see any fillers either. 

[ODZKing]

Well, if that is your 73/74 Charger, I think it looks nice. I don't see any fillers either. 

Nope, this is mine

[68killerbee]

. Nacho, I apologize for hijacking the thread.

not a prob

I have a full set of those but haven't tried to install them yet ( my car is on a deep body job at this moment ) Gray shade looks really close to the original, but glossy, due the material used to be reproed... it feels like a kind of silicone. Very flexible. Yes He adviced me to paint them and match. Will be soon on that. Will need to be treated/primered to hold the paint though, It seems a job to be made for a profesional paint guy.

He made cast from their own car pieces. Some ones can get some air bubbles on the process. Remember is practically a home made job.

Center front filler even MAYBE with some slight profile difference, is a GREAT repro product and perfect substitute for the original. I hope lot of the repro market was so nice like this center filler. Actually only diff I could find was the size... original seems to be a hair wider, than the repro. Gray Shade? considering our pieces are faded by the years I won't consider they are really diff color. Yes he makes them a bit longer ( couple of inches I think ) due the original corners could got contracted 'cause the heat. If you consider its longer simply cut it. Corners should overlap the center piece though

He did once the rear center too, and came out nice really but without the lower lip to attach the bracket to the bumper, so he decided not continue to make those by the moments...

Interesting about the clip... I can't recall my car having that one ( I got my car unrestored and with filler still in decent conditions back in 97 )

I can't talk about the price LOL... forgot to ask

I'm dreaming someday with headlight fillers!

You say if people are interested, tell you in here.  Then you come up with no other info.....?

[Nacho-RT74]

my bad... I'm juts one email far away from him, LOL... not a problem