Anyone have pics of an original front bumper and how it lines up w/the grill?

[Mfr426]

Hello all, I've learned that reproduced valences and bumpers are not accurate. The fit is pretty crappy actually. A such I am NOT happy with the way the bumper looks and how it hangs in front of the grill. I'm not sure if it the bumper or the way it should look? It looks like the bumper sits too far off of the grill and has too large of a gap between the grill and the front lower lip of the grill.

Anyone have any shots of the ends of the bumper and/or any shots that show how it sits in comparison to the grill, etc.

Thanks for any help.

Mike R in Reading PA
69 Charger SE

[Charger_Fan]

I don't know if these pics are what you're looking for, but thought I'd post anyway, in case they help.






Here's a couple low angles of a '68, in case they help too.

[bill440rt]

Hey Mike,
Do you have any pics of the way the repro bumper fit on your car? Do you think it was more of the bumper not fitting properly, or just the valence? I thought the rear bumper fit very nice on my '69 actually. I have yet to try the front.
I held up the repro bumper to the original one on my '68, it looked exact. I'm using the original valance on my '69, too.

Does anyone else have repro FRONT bumpers on their cars?? Any problems with fit??

Mike, here's a shot of my '68 front end. The bumper is original, rechromed.

[Mfr426]

Hey Bill, I'd have to say that the bumper is fine and the issue was with the bumperetts not being "bent" at the tab ends. As soon as I "manually adjusted" the mounting tabs they fit pretty well. Overall I'd say the bumper is OK but the front valence is marginal.

Here are some hard to see shots in my garage with the thing on and finally installed.

I'll post better pics of my car when I have it out this weekend.

[bill440rt]

Wow Mike, I'd have to say the bumper looks like it fits pretty well on your car. I know what you mean about the bumperettes having that "step" bend at the bottom tab. I still have my originals, I'll probably hold on to them & bend the tabs to match.
Your car looks great!

[Mfr426]

Hey, thanks Bill. My wife says I'm too picky and need meds...perhaps she's right? 

I think it will do for now. I guess if I want perfection I'm in the wrong hobby...

Mike

[Arigmaster]

Hey Mike,

Looks like you had the same problem I did with the re-pro front valance... My drivers side parking lamp fit perfect and flush but on the passenger side the inner side of the parking lamp was flush and the outer jets almost 1/2 inch out. I ended up shaving and polishing the lense edge to make it flush...

AL

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Looks great Mike!   
My repro parking lamps didnt fit too well either in my original valance.

My rechromed front bumper is a bit tweeked so it doesnt fit perfect as well........you'd loose it if you saw the fit on my car!   Need extra meds! v;)

[Mfr426]

Hey Arig, I looked at that lense and can see how to shave it to better match the valence profile. My only concern was that the edge looks painted? Did you repaint the lense with the gray paint to make the new edge blend? Or, is that plastic gray all the way thru?

Thanks!

Mike R

[Arigmaster]

Hi Mike,

The repro lense I have had paint on the inside portion only. Otherwise it was clear.

I put tape on both inner and outer sides of the lense and marked it where it was flush. I used a dremmel and ground it down slowly to keep it from over heating the plastic. (will cause it to fog) I followed up when I got closer to my mark with the Dremmel stones working through various grits and once I reached my mark, I pulled the tape off and used 2000 g sand paper on the edge and followed up with polishing compounds on the edge.

I did end up taping off the lense and touching up the inner portion with the argent silver. It didn't turn out perfect but it does look much better being flush with the valance.

AL

[Dennis K]

I think the way your repro bumper and Bill440rt's original bumper look like they are supposed to look. That's the way my original 68 bumper fits, too. I think most of the pics you see of Chargers have the bumpers pushed up too high. Maybe from using bumper jacks on the flimsy front bumpers over the years.