Bumper guards

[eastcan]

Will 70-71 bumper guards fit a 1974 Challenger? 

[Jamiez]

They will not fit a stock 1974.   You can get a 1972 bumper and brackets and make it work.  This moparts thread discusses what several people have done.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=4780596&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1

[eastcan]

Thanks for the tip.

The other option I am exploring is to fill-in the bumper guard openings in the rear valence and stick with my existing 74 rear bumper, without any guards.  Any thoughts?

[Jamiez]

The rear springs go through the valance (I think how far they go through depends on challenger/cuda) so you can't just flush them, you need to make them bulges.  I think there are people who have done that as well.
I suppose you might be able to relocate the perch but that would be a lot of work (new springs, reinforcements, etc etc).

[burdar]

You can take the guards off the front and drill new holes in the brackets to push the bumper in closer to the body.  When you do this, make sure to remove the rubber filler pieces on the fenders and grill. For some reason, people like to leave those on.  It kind of defeats the purpose of pushing the bumpers in.

As for the rear, I don't think it looks right when the valance slots are filled but that's just me.  I'd push the rear bumper in as well and remove the filler strips there too.  There may be a mismatch between the 74 bumper and the 70-71 guards but it will still cover the valance slots.  When you get around to having the bumpers rechromed, you can take a grinder to the guards and make them fit the contour of your bumper.