73 Bumpers - Can you tuck the bumpers to a 70-71 appearance?

[KTO]

Hello,

We just hung the bumpers back on our 73 cuda and I am not liking the looks of the bumper spacers and bumperettes. The bumperettes are no problem but the filler panels are in rough shape and I dont like how far the front and rear bumper stick out on the car.

I would like the nice clean look on the earlier models.

My question is this... Are the outer bumpers the same on the 73 as on the earlier cars?

Would it be possible to drill new holes in the existing brackets so the bumper mounts will set the bumper more flush to the body?

Just wondering if any one has ever done this. I dont mind the rear, but the front bumper is rubbing me the wrong way

thank you in advance.

[4Cruizn]

I don't think you can just drill holes in the bumper and get away with that.     The brackets are just plain longer than the 70-71 sets.  Also the bumper will have different mounting hole locations so that is another problem to deal with.  I did the same thing on my 73 cause I hated the space you are currently dealing with!     Hope this helps you out! 

[torredcuda]

I don`t see why not as the front section of the frame rails are straight.Pushing the brackets back and drilling new holes shouldn`t otherwise affect the alignment.

[rusty dodge]

for the rear you will need everything from an earier year, brackets, bumper, and the 2 bumper guards. The brackets (ebay)and bumper (rechromed) you can find, but the only problem is that the 2 smaller bumper guards are not repo'ed anymore. The bumper guards on ebay are overpriced and pitted or bent. So if you leave off the bumper guards, you will need to fill in the 2 slots in the vallance. Thats what I did to my 74. Also in case you were wondering, the 73-74 bumper will not bolt up to the 70-72 bracket, with or without that reinforcing steel underplate. 70-72 don't use that underplate.


For the front, I havn't tried it yet, but I have read that others have sloted or drilled new holes in the bumper brackets for the frame rails screws, to slide it in closer.

[loc8tor]

I was wondering how that was done. I agree the rear doesnt bug me as much as the front. so basically slotting or redrilling and the bumper will slide back closer or am I missing something, I  have been considering a fiberglass bumper painted body color, so should I just buy the early or late bumper in FGlass?
Thanks in advance, Im slowly learning to speak cuda.........

[Chryco Psycho]

the front brackets are Y shaped on the 70 & 71 , the later brackets I believe form a Y also so sliding them back may be impossible as the innner y part will not sit flush against the flat frame rail   

[loc8tor]

So I need a 70/71 bumper and brackets, or just brackets? 

[rusty dodge]

I was looking at the front parts saturday, If you get the 70-72 front brackets, your 73-74 chrome bumper will bolt up to them. There is a 3rd bumper bolt hole on the top side of the bumper you now have (2 bolts on the front side, 3rd one is on top). This bolt hole will not be used, or needed when using the 70-72 brackets. Just put a bumper bolt there to fill the hole. Do not need to use the reinforcing underplate.
70-72 front bumper is different, only because it dose'nt need this 3rd bolt on the top side.
70-72 uses 2 frame rail bolts, and 2 bumper bolts each side.
73-74 uses 3 frame rail bolts, and 3 bumper bolts each side.



Looks like you cannot redrill the frame rail bolt holes, and slide the 73-74 bracket in closer. Like Chryco said, the Y shape is in the way of the front of the frame rail.

[loc8tor]

hmmm, in the trunk are what appears to be 2 more bumper brackets, maybe I can get lucky and the previous owner was going to do the same thing.....anyone have a side by side pic to show the differences. Sorry, I know Dang newbies, lol..

[KTO]

Side by side of the cars or the brackets?

Here are some shots of a 71





and a 73

[loc8tor]

pics of the brackets....sorry

[rusty dodge]

I can get you an overall length later, but look for the difference in the frame rail holes. 2 holes (slots) is the 70-72 type.

[loc8tor]

I still like the painted 70 style bumper the best.....will it fit my 73???

[rusty dodge]

That painted one in the pic. above is the rubber bumper that was an option then. There is a guy that repos that one but it costs much more than a new chrome bumper.

Front bracket overall length, aprox.

70-72 brackets=20"
73-74 brackets=25"

[GCC]

What's wrong with the '73's??  Keep it original!  Everything these days has to be cloned for some reason.  When all of the remaining 70-71 E-bodies have been cloned to hemi-4speed convertibles, the later '72-3-4 models will get the attention.