Author Topic: 1970 Challenger grill on a 73.  (Read 13004 times)

Offline Kelly B.A.

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1970 Challenger grill on a 73.
« on: January 20, 2010 - 09:23:05 PM »
What must be changed/done to put a 70 grill on a 73?
Head light buckets,and grill,I know,do I also need the front bumper/brackets?
Sorry if this topic has already been done.
"If it was easy,then women and children would be doing it"




Offline 72bluNblu

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Re: 1970 Challenger grill on a 73.
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2010 - 11:00:11 PM »
This topic has been covered several times already, but as someone that has collected about 95% of the parts for the swap (mine will be a 72 to a 71) I'll give you a quick run down.

Headlight buckets- these have to be added to the later fenders, you'll have to find a set somewhere and spot weld them in. BE&A sells plates, but they're not cheap. $317 for the pair, and they won't look stock. But originals are hard to find (trust me, I know)! http://beaparts.com/list_items.aspx?body=E&cat=E&subcat=37 Its probably easier (although more expensive) to just get a set of 70-71 fenders.

Grille- Not cheap, even in driver condition.

Headlight bezels- hard to find in good condition, used ones usually have dents around the edges.

Hood latch support- Not sure if the later one can be made to work. They look pretty similar, but I haven't tried it. I bought one from an earlier car at a swap meet.

Hood latch- at the very least, the release arm will have to be changed, as it won't be in the right place on the earlier grille, the arms are bent differently for each type of grille. Worst case you may need an earlier latch and may have to move the catch on the hood.

Bumper brackets- for a '73 car you'll need the earlier ones, otherwise the bumper will stick out too far. I dodged this problem with my early '72 car.

Hood trim- The headlight bezels for the earlier cars matches the earlier hood trim, which your car doesn't have. You'll either have to paint the headlight bezels to match your body-color hood trim, or match your hood trim to the headlight bezels.

And if you're looking for the whole "clone" package, you'll also need to change the side marker lights, the tail light panel and tail lights, both bumpers, and quite a few of the interior pieces.

Here's a link to some other threads...

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=43678.0

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=49721.0[/url
« Last Edit: January 20, 2010 - 11:13:54 PM by 72bluNblu »

Offline Jimmy

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Re: 1970 Challenger grill on a 73.
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2010 - 11:13:36 PM »
Yeah, I was going to do this conversion on my 73 Challenger too, until I saw the prices on a 70 grill. See the link below:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOPAR-NOS-1970-DODGE-CHALLENGER-GRILL-ASSEMBLY_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2eaa790451QQitemZ200428553297QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

After that, I'm going with my second option, to build a custom grill, similar to the one below.

Jimmy
1973 Challenger w/440
1967 Camaro RS w/502
1967 Mustang w/302
1965 Ford F100 w/429

Offline 72bluNblu

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Re: 1970 Challenger grill on a 73.
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2010 - 11:26:15 PM »
Yeah, I was going to do this conversion on my 73 Challenger too, until I saw the prices on a 70 grill. See the link below:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOPAR-NOS-1970-DODGE-CHALLENGER-GRILL-ASSEMBLY_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2eaa790451QQitemZ200428553297QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

After that, I'm going with my second option, to build a custom grill, similar to the one below.

Jimmy


Thats an insane price on a NOS grille. People always get stupid when it comes to NOS. '70 grille's can usually be had in good used condition around the $500 mark, restored pieces usually go around $1k to $1.5k. Could be worse, '71 Challenger grilles are usually much pricier, and since they're plastic they're really hard to find in good condition.

Like this one, $147  now but sure to go up before it ends in a day
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-Dodge-Challenger-grille-assembly-Argent-RT-T-A-SE_W0QQitemZ120518564304QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item1c0f7759d0

$99, but 5 days left

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-Dodge-Challenger-Grille-70-Challenger-TA-E-Body_W0QQitemZ110483895214QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item19b95a73ae

And as for that custom grille above, I'd be really concerned about air flow to the radiator.


Offline E-Body Products

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Re: 1970 Challenger grill on a 73.
« Reply #4 on: January 21, 2010 - 10:07:51 PM »
I agree with Bryan, I typically see 70 Challenger grilles going for around 250.00 in driver condition.  This is without the headlight bezels though.  I saw several grilles at the nationals last year for around this price.  We bought one grille from a guy two years ago for $50.00.  You just gotta get out there and "dig" for the parts.  They will not come to you.

I do have a theory though...  Buy when you find, not when you need.  If you are truly needing a part and need to buy it, you will not be able to find it.  Anybody got a set of 1970 cuda front side marker lights in really good condition?  Case and point made.

Offline Kelly B.A.

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Re: 1970 Challenger grill on a 73.
« Reply #5 on: January 21, 2010 - 11:04:54 PM »
Have grill,and head light buckets and bezels.My car was almost ready for paint,when I worked out a trade for the grill,front and rear seats and headlight buckets for a 70 challenger. He has the nose(hood,bumper,fenders)I was just wondering what other parts I may need.
I am not going to change the tailpanal or rear 1/4's,but,if I could sell my brand new goodmark 73 front fenders and buy his fenders(where the buckets will be removed from)I could be into that.
So as I stand I need 70 hood latch,and bumper brackets,but not bumper. Thanks for the info I will also look at the links you posted to gain more knowlage before I get into it to much.
"If it was easy,then women and children would be doing it"

Offline 72bluNblu

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Re: 1970 Challenger grill on a 73.
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2010 - 01:57:59 AM »
Have grill,and head light buckets and bezels.My car was almost ready for paint,when I worked out a trade for the grill,front and rear seats and headlight buckets for a 70 challenger. He has the nose(hood,bumper,fenders)I was just wondering what other parts I may need.
I am not going to change the tailpanal or rear 1/4's,but,if I could sell my brand new goodmark 73 front fenders and buy his fenders(where the buckets will be removed from)I could be into that.
So as I stand I need 70 hood latch,and bumper brackets,but not bumper. Thanks for the info I will also look at the links you posted to gain more knowlage before I get into it to much.

Sounds like you've got a good start. You don't need the bumper unless you want it to look like a stock '70, since the '73's have those 5mph rubber crash protectors on them. You can remove them and most do, but you'll have some extra holes.

Offline femtnmax

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Re: 1970 Challenger grill on a 73.
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2010 - 09:04:57 PM »
I'm going with my second option, to build a custom grill, similar to the one below.
Take a look at a 68 dodge coronet.  Has the same eggcrate style center section as a 70 challenger.  Could be made to work maybe.   The local parts yard here has one in decent condition.
Phil

Offline 72rtchallenger

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Re: 1970 Challenger grill on a 73.
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2010 - 09:15:29 PM »
Sounds like you've got a good start. You don't need the bumper unless you want it to look like a stock '70, since the '73's have those 5mph rubber crash protectors on them. You can remove them and most do, but you'll have some extra holes.
I would change the bumper for the look..I converted my whole exterior to the 70 look,,but my 72 bumpers are the same,,also the fender turn signals are different that mount on top the fender
72rtchallenger
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Offline Jimmy

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Re: 1970 Challenger grill on a 73.
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2010 - 10:35:50 PM »
Take a look at a 68 dodge coronet.  Has the same eggcrate style center section as a 70 challenger.  Could be made to work maybe.   The local parts yard here has one in decent condition.

What would they be asking for it?

1973 Challenger w/440
1967 Camaro RS w/502
1967 Mustang w/302
1965 Ford F100 w/429