Removing 1973 Bumper Blocks & Adding 72 Rear Bumperettes

[Road_Runner]

I've asked this before but still don't think I know exactly what is needed to remove the large rubber bumpers off of 73 & 74 Barracudas and go back with the smaller chrome down bumperettes from a 72 on the back.  I know the 73 & 74 have more bumper bracing which moves out both bumpers by an inch or two and I'm OK with leaving that the way it is in order not to permanently modify the car more than I have to. 

So my questions are: On the front, I should be able to just put a bumper bolt into the hole(s) vacated by the big chrome  bracket correct?  And on the back what do I need to replace the chrome bracket & rubber block?  I know there are steel or plastic (not sure which) filler plugs that the chrome bumperettes bolt through(?) where they extend below the rear bumper filling the gaps in the back valance.  Does my 1973 already have these and I can just add the 72 chrome parts or do I need to get 72 parts?  Does it matter that I'm leaving the bumpers extended from the bumpers like they came in 73/74?  I've seen the look I'm after in magazine cars but I don't know the exact parts to get me there.

Thanks in advance, Jim

[IMNCARN82]

 Most take the fillers off.  I slid both of mine in.Had to cut/reweld the rear brackets to get it where i wanted.If you take the rear filler out you will need 70-72 brackets.or cut em. Then I got some smaller (72) rear bumperettes and just drilled holes in the bumper...   

[4Cruizn]

If you have a 72 bumper and brackets, you will need the fillers and chrome bumperettes and they bolt right on

[Road_Runner]

Thanks for the feedback guys.  There was a blue 1973 Cuda on the cover of Mopar Performance magazine a while back and although the article didn't discuss bumpers, it looked like both bumpers were kept extended like 1973's came, but he added the 72 style bumperettes.  That makes me think the owner didn't modify the 73's bumper brackets, but again I have no details to prove it.  If I have to do much more than remove the bumper blocks & swap out parts I'm leaning towards keeping them the way they are as I'm 'slowly' getting used to the look.

Thanks again, Jim

[dodj]

On the front, a bumper bolt will fill the hole just fine. On the rear, the bumper sticks out too far. You will need to move the bumper in tighter (like imncarn82 said) to make the smaller chrome 70-72 bumperettes look the way you want.

[burdar]

Doing a little more work now will make the end procuct look 10X better.

Remove both the front and back fillers.  The front bumper can be moved in to the 72 location very easily.  Look at the front bumper brackets that attach to the frame.  You will notice some square holes just forward of the factory bumper attaching points.  These square holes need to be drilled out to 5/8".  They now become the new attaching points.  That will pull the bumper in to where it was in 72.

Like what was said earlier, the rear brackets need to be cut and rewelded.  If you don't want to go that route, buy new 72 bumper brackets.  If you leave the bumper pushed out, the new smaller bumperettes will not extend to the rear valence.  There will be a large gap there and it will look like a mistake.

If you move the rear bumper in, make sure to remove the triangular braket that holds the license plate onto the car.  That bracket was used to space the plate out farther from the body on the 73-74 cars.  If your bumper is in the 72 location, the bracket isn't needed. 

I can post a link to a Moparts thread on this subject if you want to read it.  There are a few pictures that may help.  Good luck.     

[Road_Runner]

Doing a little more work now will make the end procuct look 10X better.

Remove both the front and back fillers.  The front bumper can be moved in to the 72 location very easily.  Look at the front bumper brackets that attach to the frame.  You will notice some square holes just forward of the factory bumper attaching points.  These square holes need to be drilled out to 5/8".  They now become the new attaching points.  That will pull the bumper in to where it was in 72.

Like what was said earlier, the rear brackets need to be cut and rewelded.  If you don't want to go that route, buy new 72 bumper brackets.  If you leave the bumper pushed out, the new smaller bumperettes will not extend to the rear valence.  There will be a large gap there and it will look like a mistake.

If you move the rear bumper in, make sure to remove the triangular braket that holds the license plate onto the car.  That bracket was used to space the plate out farther from the body on the 73-74 cars.  If your bumper is in the 72 location, the bracket isn't needed. 

I can post a link to a Moparts thread on this subject if you want to read it.  There are a few pictures that may help.  Good luck.   

Thanks, this is great information and if you have the link handy to the other thread I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks again, Jim

[burdar]

Here's the link.  Read the whole thing.  There is some bad information earlier on in the post reguarding 70-72 verse later style rear bumper brackets.  It turns out that 70-72 brackets are the same...73 and 74 each have 1 year only style brackets.

 http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=4780596&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1

[Road_Runner]

Here's the link.  Read the whole thing.  There is some bad information earlier on in the post reguarding 70-72 verse later style rear bumper brackets.  It turns out that 70-72 brackets are the same...73 and 74 each have 1 year only style brackets.

 http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=4780596&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1

Awesome, thanks so much.  Ive already purchased 72 bumpers so I guess I'm heading down this path after going back & forth with leaving it stock or not.  The fact that this is a bolt-on works with me as I'm starting with a very original but worn out 73 Barracuda.  Depending on how soon I get some body work done, I may wait until after that before installing the new bumpers, but I can gather all the parts now and be ready.

Thanks again, Jim

[4Cruizn]

My black car shown above is a 73 that I moved the bumper in and added the 72 bumperettes.  If you don't move the bumper in before adding the chrome bumperettes, there will be a gap between the valance that won't look that good IMO.  Careful as some of the bumpers have extra holes and jack slotts that may not be wanted.  If I remember right, I think I went with a 72 bumper as you are doing.   

[Road_Runner]

My black car shown above is a 73 that I moved the bumper in and added the 72 bumperettes.  If you don't move the bumper in before adding the chrome bumperettes, there will be a gap between the valance that won't look that good IMO.  Careful as some of the bumpers have extra holes and jack slotts that may not be wanted.  If I remember right, I think I went with a 72 bumper as you are doing.   

That's exactly the look I'm going for.  Did you use a 70-72 filler strip or just do without?  The Moparts thread Burdar sent me the link to ended with the owner saying the strip was unnecessary as far as he could tell.

Thanks, Jim

[4Cruizn]

I have no filler strip as the bumper moved in flush with the rear of the tail panel and it was not necessary as the link said.   I had a tough time finding the bumper brackets when I did the car as there was no computers at that time and I had to search for them at shows.  Once I got all the parts, it was an easy swap and turned out great!   

[Road_Runner]

I have no filler strip as the bumper moved in flush with the rear of the tail panel and it was not necessary as the link said.   I had a tough time finding the bumper brackets when I did the car as there was no computers at that time and I had to search for them at shows.  Once I got all the parts, it was an easy swap and turned out great!   

I found these on Ebay, did you use these?

[4Cruizn]

No I didn't use anything like that.  The bolt into the bumper was enough to hold the bumperette with no issues. 

[Road_Runner]

No I didn't use anything like that.  The bolt into the bumper was enough to hold the bumperette with no issues.

  Hmmm, interesting.  Thanks again.