Front and rear bumper to body gaps

[chargerdon]

Hi, what am I missing??   Why the gaps??   If you look at the two pictures you can see that on the front of the car, the filler strip behind the bumper is three pieces, but, there are gaps on BOTH sides.   Same thing in the rear of the car...   The middle pieces line up with the holes so there in the right places, and it looks like there are tabs to join to the end pieces.   So why the gaps?? 

[chargerdon]

And here is the picture for the front of car gap.

[brads70]

original of aftermarket bumpers?

[chargerdon]

Original rear bumper, aftermarket front.   

However, I do not think it is the bumpers as the filler strips attachment holes are in the front grill assembly and the rear body of the car and the holes line up perfectly front and back.   

[brads70]

could you slot the bumper bracket?

[burdar]

Those filler strips shrink over time.  Completely normal for 43 year old filler strips.  Mine are that way too...just not that bad. 

Most people don't like the look of the 73-74 bumper guards and do away with them.  At the same time, they move the bumpers in closer to the body like a 70-72.  Those filler strips can be removed if you move the bumpers in.

[YellowThumper]

Yes that is shrinkage. THere was a thread on another forum that the restorer actually streached them. Clamped them at both ends and over time kept resetting the pull tension. My 74 are short as well but not as much. I considered making a small filler cap that would cover over the gap. Simple route to go if you are not worried about being Mopar correct. I decided to move my bumpers inward the same as the 72 models.