1971 Charger Front bumper conversion to 1973 Charger

[JonSellards84]

I have a 73 Charger and I like the way the 71 front bumper looks I have parts from both to do this conversion has any one done this would love to hear any hints thanks guys

[TK73]

Bumper should go straight on the '73 brackets  I'm currently cleaning up my '73 brackets to mount a '72 bumper. Will find out any issues soon...

If you take off the '73/74 plastic "filler" between the bumper and fenders then there is more work. We are taking out the front and back plastic filler pieces.

The front bumperettes most likely wont line up with existing bolt holes if you plan to use 'em. Took them off my car altogether.  My '73 rear bumperettes did not line up with the '72 rear bumper we used...

[Nacho-RT74]

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,87492.0.html

[greymag]

I have a 73 and tried moving it back to the fenders to get rid of the fillers and ran into interference with headlight buckets that are designed for the 73 grille. Thet are mounted to the core support & cant move back. Don't know if 71 grille will work with these buckets.

[Nacho-RT74]

greymag, it has been done... diff is how much deep into the body you want OR how much hardened are the headlight fillers to be able to get into the headlights assembly.

You still can TRY to find 71/72 headlight pedestals for hidden headlights assembly too, which are shorter, or even cut off a little bit the headlight fillers from your actuall grilles


for those interested THERE IS NOW a guy working on fillers:

http://wichargerguy.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=12843&page=1

on the last email I got from manufacturer is thinking now on get it deep into outers. I'm requesting also headlight fillers

[TK73]

I have a 73 and tried moving it back to the fenders to get rid of the fillers and ran into interference with headlight buckets that are designed for the 73 grille. Thet are mounted to the core support & cant move back. Don't know if 71 grille will work with these buckets.

We'll be cutting part of the buckets to fit the headlights... I'm using the '73/74 grills

[41husk]

If you have the 71-72 bumper brackets they will bolt in and work if not open up the bolt hole to allow for the bracket to slide back .  It will only move about 3/4 inch but that is all you need to make it look like the filler was never there.  I also blasted and painted my bumpers body color.

[Stretch]

Just a quick side not for you guys. The rubber-ish stuff used for the headlight to grill filler can be softened up by soaking them in warm water. I pulled mine apart to repaint them a few years ago. When I went to reasemble them they didn't come close to fitting the grills. The warm water bath made them soft and plyable again.

[JonSellards84]

The front bumper the 71 going on a 73 I can make work my making the holes bigger on the bracket the rear witch is a 71 goin on a 73 there still is a inch and a half gap pretty unslightly any tips on how to bring the rear bumper closer to the body

[Nacho-RT74]

If you have the 71-72 bumper brackets they will bolt in...

eeehm, not

[Nacho-RT74]

Just a quick side not for you guys. The rubber-ish stuff used for the headlight to grill filler can be softened up by soaking them in warm water. I pulled mine apart to repaint them a few years ago. When I went to reasemble them they didn't come close to fitting the grills. The warm water bath made them soft and plyable again.

[SG1022]

Just a quick side not for you guys. The rubber-ish stuff used for the headlight to grill filler can be softened up by soaking them in warm water. I pulled mine apart to repaint them a few years ago. When I went to reasemble them they didn't come close to fitting the grills. The warm water bath made them soft and plyable again.

Thanks for the tip! I need to get them to fit my headlights, and they have shrunk way too much. My front end just looks strange with out the headlight filler piece. I'll be sure to give it a try. I am painting them black, though. Maybe I shoudl cut sold circles(the same size as my headlight), and put them in there while they dry? Or will it stay stretched, if I stretch it?

[Stretch]

I soaked mine untill they were pliable. I stretched them to shape and screwed them in. (I think they use screws it's been a long time) and they still fit perfictly. I can try and snap a few pics if you want. I think it's been about 6 years since I did this.

[SG1022]

I soaked mine untill they were pliable. I stretched them to shape and screwed them in. (I think they use screws it's been a long time) and they still fit perfictly. I can try and snap a few pics if you want. I think it's been about 6 years since I did this.

Mine fit in the grill fine, they just don't fit around my headlights. Could you post a picture of the installed moulding, so I can see just how they fit around the headlights?

[Stretch]

Sure can. I'll grab a pic or two tomarrow.

[Stretch]

I soaked mine untill they were pliable. I stretched them to shape and screwed them in. (I think they use screws it's been a long time) and they still fit perfictly. I can try and snap a few pics if you want. I think it's been about 6 years since I did this.

Mine fit in the grill fine, they just don't fit around my headlights. Could you post a picture of the installed moulding, so I can see just how they fit around the headlights?

Here you go, I hope this helps.

[SG1022]

Thanks, I should be trying to put those on later this week. Problem is, I want them painted black. I Will have to stretch them to fit the lights, then put them in the grill housing(the fit now, but might shrink if I soak them).

[TK73]

We're running onto the same questions... used '73/74 headlight mounts but don't know what will have to be modified when we put the recessed bumper/grilles on...

Still have some other work to do before getting to those.

Modifying first then painting black.

[FunnyLion]

TK73, I just found this old discussion and wondered how your work turned out when getting rid of the front bumper filler. I am also trying on my 73 charger to get rid of those. For the rear I used the same bumper and brackets but cut about 1 1/2 inch from those to get the bumper near the body. Not an easy job but doable. Now for the front bumper I am not sure how to proceed; 2 issues I see : I think it's not possible to enlarge the Y bracket holes and shift the front bumper closer to the body; there is a curve around the front chassis that would prevent that. Second problem are the  buckets that fit the headlights. I have read that you planned to cut those; wonder how that turned out ?
THX

[Daytona R/T SE]

TK73, I just found this old discussion and wondered how your work turned out when getting rid of the front bumper filler. I am also trying on my 73 charger to get rid of those. For the rear I used the same bumper and brackets but cut about 1 1/2 inch from those to get the bumper near the body. Not an easy job but doable. Now for the front bumper I am not sure how to proceed; 2 issues I see : I think it's not possible to enlarge the Y bracket holes and shift the front bumper closer to the body; there is a curve around the front chassis that would prevent that. Second problem are the  buckets that fit the headlights. I have read that you planned to cut those; wonder how that turned out ?
THX

TK73 passed away a few years ago.

[RallyeMike]

TK is gone but the car lives on. It's in my garage and it turned out very well. Below is a photo of how much you need to slot the holes in the front bumper brackets to slide them back. You also need to cut a 45 degree angle on the frame rails about 1/2"deep to get it back far enough. Just trim the plastic a little on the headlight bezels and they fit fine - not even sure they needed it.

[Nacho-RT74]

the cut on frame rail is not REALLY necesary, just optional for a even more closed gap. That would make holes for bolt a bit shorter too.

[FunnyLion]

Thanks RallyeMike !
@Nacho, I think RalleyMike is right about the cuts. I can't show you the real fit as my car is currently in the paint shop but here is a picture of the Ybracket. You can see the edge of the frame rail is really close to the curb on the bracket; there is maybe only 1/4 inch of margin left. Cutting the frame rail however does not seem easy to do, so I'll have another look at that when my car is back. Another option would be to cut a piece of 3/4 inch from the Y-brackets; I've had the same approach on the rear brackets, folowing these instructions here; worked out fine, though it's tricky :
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/fix-disco-era-bumpers/
I am still not convinced about the room left to slide the lights further into the buckets; as far as I can see there is also maybe 1/2 inch left there. Might be enough.

@RallyeMike : it's a nice car ! Quite an Original stripping on it; I like it !

[Nacho-RT74]

Once again, is not really necesary. It has being done for years without cut the frame rail. That is just an extra, for even a smoother look

About rear. You can get 71/72 rear bumper brackets and they work as a champ, no need for the job on the disco era bumpers link ALTHOUGHT, that's nice too because ads a bit of more smooth look at the outer sides. That can be done with the 71/72 brackets too, saving half of the job

I have a pair that could be available for sale but there is a detail, I'm from Venezuela and I'm in Spain at this moment ( probably will be back at home by sept/oct )

If making the disco bumpers era job on rear, I think front will need the same on outer sides! To match both! But will be a bit hard, because the fronts get less side surface after the grilles

[FunnyLion]

Thanks Nacho. 71/72 brackets are hard to find and since I am in Europe (Belgium), even harder  I'll take your offer to sell yours in consideration when I get my car back from the paintshop and find my work is crap and doesn't fit 
By the way, I did not do the adjustment on the outer sides of the rear bumper;I did not want to cut into the bumper and make a re-chrome. So I only shortened the 73 brackets to bring the bumper closer to the body and to get rid of the filler. It should look ok without cutting for the outer sides. When finished, I'll post some pictures.

[RallyeMike]

I agree you don't HAVE to cut an angle on the frame tip, but if you want the bumper tight and easy to adjust I advise doing it. My opinion is that the bumper sticks out too far if you don't give it this little extra.

How much to cut is pretty straight forward - there is a bolt there and you can't cut any farther than that.

Also below is what the final fit looks like.

[FunnyLion]

 

[Nacho-RT74]

yes that definitelly makes a even smother look and smaller gap. It looks in fact GREAT! But I can't recall the 71/72 went that close either LOL