Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.

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    Author Topic: Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.  (Read 7935 times)

    Offline 4aThrill

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    Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.
    « on: April 05, 2008 - 04:49:43 PM »
    Changing a 73 grill to a 70 challenger grill style, just the grill of the 70 Challenger on to a 73 what’s all involved in this process?   :clueless:
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    Offline 73Chally

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    Re: Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.
    « Reply #1 on: April 05, 2008 - 05:38:32 PM »
    It might not seem like a whole lot but it really is.  Basically the entire front end has to be rebuilt, because none of the sheetmetal is interchangeable.  You also need to modify the hader panel, radiator support, etc.  I know it's been done before, but unless you're starting with a car that needs a complete front end to begin with, you're looking at a very tough job.
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    Offline 4aThrill

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    Re: Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.
    « Reply #2 on: April 05, 2008 - 06:38:27 PM »
    My buddy has a 73 and he likes the 70's grill and would like to switch the grills if possible. the car does need to be restored the only thing that I know that is done is the engine helped him with that  :burnout:  I will forward him the info and see if he would like to do all of that. seems like some fun though  :pullinghair:
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    Offline bb71challenger

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    Re: Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.
    « Reply #3 on: April 05, 2008 - 08:49:53 PM »
    IMO if you are going to go through that much trouble you might as well do it all the way and put in a 70 tail panel and the correct quarters. Using the correct 70 fenders would make it much easier too. That is a lot to bite off though.
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    1971 Challenger (OO==== ====OO) getting close!
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    Offline 4aThrill

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    Re: Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.
    « Reply #4 on: April 05, 2008 - 10:31:02 PM »
    thankx for the input, doing alot of research on his car, since my car is in the paint shop for now and polishing other things for it   :cheers:
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    Offline Chryco Psycho

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    Re: Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.
    « Reply #5 on: April 05, 2008 - 10:55:14 PM »
    you will either need headlight buckets for it or swap the front fenders as the fiberglass 72-74 grille holds the headlights , hood latches are different , you need a lot of the 70 only parts to do this right
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    Challenger - You`ll wish You Hadn`t

    Offline Challenger6pak

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    Re: Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.
    « Reply #6 on: April 06, 2008 - 07:13:51 AM »
     It is not too difficult at all.  I helped a buddy do one in a race car recently since the 70 grille is the lightest Challenger grille. You need the grille, headlight bezels, 1970 -1971 headlight buckets or fenders, and the 1970 hood latch or the inside release hood latch. The bumper will need to be moved back in the car or there will be a large gap between the grille and the bumper.  You will need 1970-1972 bumper brackets to do this. You can use your old bumper or a 1970-1972 bumper.  The 73 bumper will have extra holes.  You can weld them up and rechrome it or for a temporary fix you can just fill the holes with bumper bolts. When you mount the 70 grille to the grille support (the vertical part with the hood latch on top) the horns will be in the way.  You will have to relocated them. The lower valace will work wiith the 1970 grille.  You will have to remove the 1973 lower grille that mounts to the valance to get the 1970 look. The most difficult part is welding in the headlight buckets if you use the 73 fenders.  After that it is all bolt in.

     On the race car we went ahead and welded the side market lights closed.  We then swaped a Goodmark taillight panel in.  The rear bumper and bumper brackets had to be changed to a 1970-1972 style.  The tailights were also obviously changed.
    The car now has the appearance of a 1970.

     There are around 60 differences between a 1970 and a 1973 Challenger.  People have switched VINs in the past from a 1970 to a 1973, after grille and taillight work, thinking the the cars are the same.  It is illegal to do and they easily get caught. 
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    1969 Sport Satellite H code convertible, 1970 Cuda 440+6, 1970 Challenger R/T 440+6, 1970 Challenger 383 R/T auto, 1970 Challenger R/T 383 4 speed,1971 Challenger convertible.

    Offline Bullitt-

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    Re: Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.
    « Reply #7 on: April 06, 2008 - 08:41:53 AM »
    Why would anyone want to mess with the best looking Challey anyway  :clueless:................................ :poopoke:
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    Wade  73 Rallye 340..'77 Millennium Falcon...13 R/T Classic   Huntsville, AL
    Screwed by Photobucket!

    Offline 4aThrill

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    Re: Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.
    « Reply #8 on: April 06, 2008 - 10:31:20 AM »
    he picked up the car at least 5 yrs ago and well over time other things start to grow ya know. He likes the 70 front grill and just wanted too know if it was changable for his 73.  I myself enjoy both grills but it is his car. I know that at least some of us have changed little or big things on the cars to make them ours.   :cooldancing:  Challenger6pak thankx for all sweet info   :drunk:
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    Offline Challenger6pak

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    Re: Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.
    « Reply #9 on: April 06, 2008 - 11:08:46 AM »
    You are welcome.
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    1969 Sport Satellite H code convertible, 1970 Cuda 440+6, 1970 Challenger R/T 440+6, 1970 Challenger 383 R/T auto, 1970 Challenger R/T 383 4 speed,1971 Challenger convertible.

    Offline Super Blue 72

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    Re: Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.
    « Reply #10 on: April 06, 2008 - 11:39:28 AM »
    Here's a quick and dirty way to do it-fiberglass nose.

     :poopoke:  :stirpot: Didn't say it's the best way, just quick and dirty!  :bigsmile:  Plus you might save some weight!

    http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/pts/631209644.html



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    1972 Dodge Challenger Rallye 340, AT, Code TB3=Super Blue, SBD=8/17/1971.  Yes, a Rallye without the fender louvers from the factory because of the body side molding option.

    Pic #2 and 3 of my ARII 1/24 scale model car 

    Phil in New England-Massachusetts  Always thank God for what you have!

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    Offline Challenger6pak

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    Re: Changing a 73 to a 70 challenger grill style.
    « Reply #11 on: April 06, 2008 - 11:50:13 AM »
    That would actully take far more work than doing it the way I suggested.  You would have to fabricate mounts and brackets for everything.  I too thought it would be easy ...until I did one.  Getting it to tilt w/o hitting, cutting the fenders in the right place so it will tilt, and mounting it all was a real bear.
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    1969 Sport Satellite H code convertible, 1970 Cuda 440+6, 1970 Challenger R/T 440+6, 1970 Challenger 383 R/T auto, 1970 Challenger R/T 383 4 speed,1971 Challenger convertible.
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