Bumper conversion

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    Author Topic: Bumper conversion  (Read 1436 times)

    Offline TreeFrog

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      • TreeFrog
    Bumper conversion
    « on: May 20, 2004 - 11:19:32 AM »
    what is involved in putting a 72 bumper on a 73 Challenger, or converting a 73 to look like a 72?

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    Offline MEK-Dangerfield

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    Re:Bumper conversion
    « Reply #1 on: May 20, 2004 - 11:27:44 AM »
    Somewhere along the line, the brackets changed a little. I know a 73 won't fit a 70. If you have the brackets for both bumpers, then I think you'll be safe.

      Mike
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    Mike

    1970 Challenger - SOLD
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    Offline 360 'CUDA

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    Re:Bumper conversion
    « Reply #2 on: May 20, 2004 - 08:20:02 PM »
    Right.

    The brackets need to be from a '70-'72. The bumpers
    all fit but they don't look right if you use a later model
    bumper on an earlier car because of the hole that the
    black bumperettes bolt on to.

    I think the ultimate cool would be to use the early
    bracket with the later reinforcement under one of those
    fiberglass lookalike rubber bumpers.

    That is if you were going custom anyway

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    Offline TreeFrog

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    Re:Bumper conversion
    « Reply #3 on: May 21, 2004 - 03:55:34 PM »
    I suppose you could remove the bumper guards and "plug" the hole with a chrome bolt.

    Doubtfull most would pay attention to it.  inless there is more than one hole holding the guards on ...

    who carries the rubber bumper covers?
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    65 Satellite     361 Ruby Red Poly
    72 Challenger    360 Top Banana     
    73 Challenger    340 Triple Black
    87 Dodge Ram     318 Blue
    88 Dodge Ram     360 Grey (+)
    04 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L Pewter Met.

    Offline 360 'CUDA

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    Re:Bumper conversion
    « Reply #4 on: May 21, 2004 - 10:13:47 PM »
    The bumperettes leave telltale marks on the chrome
    after 30 years and that doesn't look cool ;)
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    Offline TreeFrog

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    Re:Bumper conversion
    « Reply #5 on: May 22, 2004 - 11:12:10 PM »
    This is true, ...short of rechroming, and then you might as well have the holes properly "plugged" ... along with those great bumper jack slots....
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    65 Satellite     361 Ruby Red Poly
    72 Challenger    360 Top Banana     
    73 Challenger    340 Triple Black
    87 Dodge Ram     318 Blue
    88 Dodge Ram     360 Grey (+)
    04 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L Pewter Met.

    Offline Wrencher

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    • 73 Plain Jane 318 Auto Project
    Re: Bumper conversion
    « Reply #6 on: April 13, 2005 - 11:30:14 AM »
    Removing the black rubber parts of the guards on my 73 Challenger is easy enough, but what do you do to fill the notches in the lower valence?  Originally, there was a flexible rubber extension hanging down from the bumper guard that covers this notch and one of mine is broken. I'd like to remove the guards completely and have the bumper rechromed, but don't want to leave the notches exposed.  Does anyone make reproductions of the rubber extensions?  I've checked the board and all the posts I find about this subject are for Cudas.   :dontknow:
    « Last Edit: April 13, 2005 - 11:32:28 AM by wrencher »
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    Offline TreeFrog

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    Re: Bumper conversion
    « Reply #7 on: June 20, 2005 - 06:57:36 AM »
    could just fill in the valance as well, a body man that can do good metal work would help
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    65 Satellite     361 Ruby Red Poly
    72 Challenger    360 Top Banana     
    73 Challenger    340 Triple Black
    87 Dodge Ram     318 Blue
    88 Dodge Ram     360 Grey (+)
    04 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4.7L Pewter Met.

    Offline Wrencher

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    • 73 Plain Jane 318 Auto Project
    Re: Bumper conversion
    « Reply #8 on: June 20, 2005 - 07:06:07 AM »
    I think I've decided to use the all-chrome bumper guards from a 70-72 Challenger and make whatever brace I need for them.  That way I can use a standard valence without having to customize it.
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    Offline mjk289

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    Re: Bumper conversion
    « Reply #9 on: July 28, 2005 - 11:05:58 PM »
    Hey everyone this is my first post on this board.  I'm did a similar thing with changing my 74 cuda to 72 bumpers.  I assumed you have to get rid of the big reinforcement piece in order to move the bumpers closer. On the cuda I found out you can't use the 74 bumpers with the earlier brackets because the bolt holes don't line up.  I thought I could just change brackets, but the bolt holes in the bumper are in different spots for 72 and 74 even though the overall shape of the bumper is the same.  So I couldn't just use my bumper with different brackets and without the guards. So I got 72 bumpers off eBay and early style brackets.  Also the front brackets do not bolt to the same holes in the frame but luckly the holes for the early brackets were there and threaded too.  I don't know about the challenger or if its the same for 73, but I thought this might help someone.
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