Author Topic: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?  (Read 15680 times)

Offline moparclown

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4335
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #15 on: February 24, 2008 - 06:25:45 PM »
Maybe they will make a sticker that you could put on it to keep the cost of the 71 parts down :roflsmiley:
The grille can be bought off the shelf,but price some of the other stuff and you will have to re-mortgage the house.Stainless trim,frt.valance and signal lights and housings




Offline Carlwalski

  • C-C.com Expert
  • ********
  • Posts: 20672
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #16 on: February 24, 2008 - 07:42:34 PM »



This link may come in handy. :dunno: :cheers: http://www.bkauto.net/1971%20HEMICUDA.htm
1970 Dodge Challenger R/T
White, License Plate, 0A-5599
540ci Aluminium Hemi, F.A.S.T EFI
TF-727 Gear Vendor OD, Dana 60

Offline R/T hedkace

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2619
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #17 on: February 25, 2008 - 05:20:05 PM »
Maybe they will make a sticker that you could put on it to keep the cost of the 71 parts down :roflsmiley:
The grille can be bought off the shelf,but price some of the other stuff and you will have to re-mortgage the house.Stainless trim,frt.valance and signal lights and housings
Hey Clown, did you actually go through with it? Or is that a photoshop?
 It does look bad@ss either way........like I said in the first place  :ylsuper:





Jeff     
    Defending the Earth from "uptight" mods!!   an endless crusade..........

1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 4speed Dana
1970 Dodge Super Bee
1969 Barracuda
 Massachusetts

Offline moparclown

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 4335
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #18 on: February 25, 2008 - 05:49:14 PM »
I bought the sticker gills and then went to a craft shop and got some magnetic sheets.Kinda like the sign magnets used on work trucks,but thinner and sticky on one side.I am gonna have some fun with these :roflsmiley:

Offline R/T hedkace

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2619
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #19 on: February 25, 2008 - 05:52:40 PM »
I bought the sticker gills and then went to a craft shop and got some magnetic sheets.Kinda like the sign magnets used on work trucks,but thinner and sticky on one side.I am gonna have some fun with these :roflsmiley:
That's too cool  :thumbsup:
 You should really F with people, and put some on the quarters too  :roflsmiley: .................. :22yikes: :clueless:





Jeff     
    Defending the Earth from "uptight" mods!!   an endless crusade..........

1970 Dodge Challenger R/T 440 4speed Dana
1970 Dodge Super Bee
1969 Barracuda
 Massachusetts

Offline bentpshrods

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 698
  • Almost there, Boise Id.
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #20 on: February 25, 2008 - 08:22:06 PM »
  I got to admit that those dont look to bad on the 69---I like it. Being a  stick on like that you need to take some pics with the gills on all kinds of different  vehicles.  See what the new Chargers would look like with gills. Even better put them on the new Camero concept or Fords (mopar wannabee's)       :smilielol:    :roflsmiley:

Offline hotrod98

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 825
    • Maniac Musclecars
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #21 on: February 27, 2008 - 10:45:56 PM »
I want to replace the grill in my 73 with something else. I was looking at the 70 grill from BEA Parts, but I've been told that the 70 grill won't work because the valance on the 70 is different.

So, will the 71 grill work in a 73? I know the wiring will be a little different, but that's ok.

If it will fit, does anyone make a high quality repro, because I don't want to deprive someone that really needs a 71 grill?

Actually, the 70 and 72-74 valances are identical. Only the 71 valance is different. Here's the cool part. The headlamp mounts that are welded into the 72-74 fenders are identical to the 71's. Most people don't realize that they continued using this part through 74. You can buy the bolt in headlamp mounts from BEA or PG Classics. You will need the 71 style turn signals, the 71 style valance, the complete 71 grille (of course), the 4 headlamp rings, the smaller headlamp retainer rings, the grille mounts and the headlamp bulbs. You're looking at around 3 grand for everything. Or, you could buy the 70 grille and headlamp bezels, the 70 style valance insert, the 70 turn signals, a used 70 header panel and pretty much bolt everything together. You'll have to paint the header panel to match your car. Total cost would be around 2 grand.
My wife's 73 still has the original style grille, but we painted it to match, tucked in the front and rear bumpers, recessed the side markers and put gills in the fenders. Looks okay to me.
It's your car, do what you want. It's not like you couldn't put it back to stock later.
1971 Cuda, Tor-red, Bench seat
1971 Cuda Drag Car
1973 Cuda Clone, EFI/OD Limelight
1970 Superbird (Yes, it's real) Black Ice
1971 Barracuda Sassy Grass Green (sold)
1970 Challenger RT SE 383 Plum Crazy
1969 Road Runner Hardtop
1968 Road Runner Coupe (sold)

www.maniacmusclecars.com


Offline plumbeeper

  • Sponsor
  • Jr. Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 233
    • WOODGRAINWHEELS.COM
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #22 on: February 27, 2008 - 11:03:59 PM »
I want to replace the grill in my 73 with something else. I was looking at the 70 grill from BEA Parts, but I've been told that the 70 grill won't work because the valance on the 70 is different.

So, will the 71 grill work in a 73? I know the wiring will be a little different, but that's ok.

If it will fit, does anyone make a high quality repro, because I don't want to deprive someone that really needs a 71 grill?

 Whatever grille you decide to use (70 or 71) will involve a lot of work to the entire front end of your Cuda. The main body is pretty much identicle for all 5 years.
 If you go with a 70 grille, you will have to change the headlight buckets in the front of the fenders, the upper and lower valance, the grille, the bumper, maybe wiring for the turn signals. Don't know if they're long enough.
 If you go with the 71 grille, there will be a lot more expense and modifications involved. The front fenders will have to be converted to accept the headlight bucket brackets and if you prefer, stamped for gills. You will need to purchase 71 Cuda headlight mounting bracket bucket assemblies, gills assemblies, lower valance, turn signal assemblies. All of those items available from Mike Ross at www.beaparts.com You will also need to change or modify the wiring harness for the 4 headlight system, the grille and all of the trimmings, the bumper. The upper valance is the same for 71-74.
 Personally I like all of the Cuda grilles and would not go through this much work. If you want a 70 or 71, trade yours or sell it and buy one.  :2cents:

Dave



Offline jeryst

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2032
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #23 on: February 27, 2008 - 11:07:30 PM »
Might be a little too much to put a 70 or 71 grill in since the car is already painted, so maybe doing something a little different with the 73 grill might be the way to go.

Hotrod98, I like what you did with your wifes 73.

Has anyone completely blacked out a 73 grill, or have pics of one?

Offline hotrod98

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 825
    • Maniac Musclecars
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #24 on: February 28, 2008 - 12:00:37 AM »
As mentioned before, the 70 and 72-74 valances are the same. Only the inserts are different. The headlamp buckets that are welded into the fenders are the same from 71 through 74. They're actually the 4 headlamp style buckets. You just have to install the bolt-in (4 H/L style) mounts.
Been there, done that many times.
The best thing that you can do to a 72-74 Cuda is recess those gawd-awful corporate side markers. Looks like someone stuck them on with double sided tape. Recessing them cleans up the looks of the car completely.
1971 Cuda, Tor-red, Bench seat
1971 Cuda Drag Car
1973 Cuda Clone, EFI/OD Limelight
1970 Superbird (Yes, it's real) Black Ice
1971 Barracuda Sassy Grass Green (sold)
1970 Challenger RT SE 383 Plum Crazy
1969 Road Runner Hardtop
1968 Road Runner Coupe (sold)

www.maniacmusclecars.com


Offline jeryst

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 2032
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #25 on: February 28, 2008 - 12:41:00 AM »
I wish I wuld have done that with the side lights, but now its too late.

Could Challenger headlight buckets be used for a 71 Cuda grill?

BTW, I'm going to start a new thread on different 73 grill treatments.

Offline kamstra

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 102
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #26 on: March 07, 2008 - 11:30:03 AM »
You would require the 70 Grill surrond to fit the 1970 grill in place.  It has a lower portion that surronds and supports the grill 71-74 do not have this lower section.  I don't beleiev it would be very difficult

1970 Barracuda Convertible
1968 Road Runner

Offline nakita7

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 348
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #27 on: April 02, 2008 - 01:33:58 AM »
I think the 73 grills rock.  :dogpile:

I personally think they are nicer than the 70 grilles...
72 Charger Rallye (440 auto)
72 Charger Rallye (318 auto)
71 Charger RT

Offline IMNCARN82

  • Resident
  • *****
  • Posts: 3547
  • LeDZeP
Re: Will a 71 Cuda grill fit a 73?
« Reply #28 on: April 02, 2008 - 09:20:08 AM »
First pic is 'Stainless steel"     I'm headed black. So the grille may follow.  Second is "the dream"  I like the frenched marker lights!! I may do that. :grinyes:   
'73 340 5 speed,RMS,BAER,... "Supercuda" (O[   ]||||[   ]O)  
'69 Dodge Charger 383,Auto                  (OiiiiiiiiiiIiiiiiiiiiiO)
13' Challenger R/T BlacktoP  6spd. (OO________OO)
71' Demon
75' Duster
87' Conquest TSI
56' Plaza
Boulder CO
Robert    "cuda bob"