73 -vs- 74 Challenger Rear Bumpers

[quapman]

FYI

I found out the hard way today that 73-74 Chally bumpers are NOT the same and do NOT interchange. I will post pics later this week.

Both have super-heavy inner bumpers, but those are different and the bumper-to-body brackets are also different. (If someone has pics of the 74 brkts., please post.)

The worst part is that the bracket bolt spacing is also DIFFERENT. The 74's holes are farther apart.

Yep, found out the last detail after I had taken two bumper/bracket assemblies entirely apart today. 

Why? Well, the 74 bumper I had was a little more shiny than the 73 and I can't see paying huge $$$ for rechroming.

Do we have a part interchange section on the board?

[wagesofsin]

wow steve, that stinks.
to bad i remade my brackets and sucked em in, or id shoot a pic for you.

[coupman35]

Hi that funny that what i was doig today playing whit the bumper of my car am doing a 73 challenger and have a parts car 74 .Got the bumper of today an saw they are not the same but dint try them on my car il get some pic tommorow .Il ne a passenget side braket mind rusted .I saw that they not the same but was shure they fit the two cars humm.Ilhave to look at that .will get back to you .

[e-tek]

Sorry man - cut and sucked mine in too!!

[quapman]

I'm pretty sure the complete assemblies will interchange from car to car, but the bumpers and individual pieces/parts won't mix/match.

I was originally going to do 72 bumpers front & rear, but decided to keep the 73 setup on the backside.

[burdar]

Yep, 73 rear bumper brackets are different from any other year.  70-72 are the same...73 has its own bracket...74 has its own bracket.  I know the inner structure behind the bumper is different to accept the one year only bracket.  Your saying the bumper bolt hole spacing is different too?  If there is an extra hole in the bumper you can just fill it with another bumper bolt.   

[e-tek]

This is a 74 rear. I have since added the last bumber bolts....

[quapman]

You're saying the bumper bolt hole spacing is different too? 

Yes, the 74's are farther apart. I think the outside holes are the same, but the 4 center ones are closer to the center.

If there is an extra hole in the bumper you can just fill it with another bumper bolt.

I wish it were that easy...LOL

I found new bumpers on fleebay and am considering one for the rear now. Roughly $255 delivered. They are imported, but plated here in the U.S. the seller is "tamraz".

Old, faded, peppered bumpers against fresh paint just looks like a$$.

[wagesofsin]

Yes, the 74's are farther apart. I think the outside holes are the same, but the 4 center ones are closer to the center.

I wish it were that easy...LOL

I found new bumpers on fleebay and am considering one for the rear now. Roughly $255 delivered. They are imported, but plated here in the U.S. the seller is "tamraz".

Old, faded, peppered bumpers against fresh paint just looks like a$$.

tamraz is ok, i havent had any problems with them.

[coupman35]

I try to upload the pic of the 2 bracket and my file a to big send me a email if you like to see them .  rpoitras@ntl.sympatico.ca 
Id like to get new bumper from ebay but shipping will kill me LOL

[30below]

Just wondering,is this a Challenger only thing or applys to Cudas also?

[Moparal]

I think I have a 74 rear bumper inner and maybe the brackets if you need them. Where you live?   let me know if so. Oh, im not in the USA right now, so it will be around 10 days

[burdar]

Can we get a side by side comparison of the 73 and 74 rear bumpers?  Maybe even with a tape measure showing the different hole spacing?

[coupman35]

Ok got the pic the 73 and 74 are not the same they will not interchange .In the pic the big fat bracket is 73 and the small one is 74 .Theone whit the two bumpers the top one is 73 the first end bolt has about 1 1/2 inch diference .  the two center one has about 3 inch deference you can see in the pic

[Slotts]

Just wondering,is this a Challenger only thing or applys to Cudas also?

Yes, thank the "Gobment" for that. In 73 the front bumpers on all cars from the big four at that time had to withstand a five mile an hour impact on the front and two and a half on the rear. In 74 both the front and rear had to withstand five mile an hour impacts. The rear bumper guard chrome mounts are the same for both years, but the rubber inserts were different. The 74 models were longer by almost two inches. Same thing on the B body Chargers and Road Runners for those years.

Slotts