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Problem swapping '73 front bumper with a '72. Help?

1191 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  240ZZZAP, 
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The front bumper on my '73 doesn't fit correctly. The center filler metal piece doesn't have the same angle as the bumper center bar, the end pieces are about an inch too wide on each side, and I think there may have been some previous damage to the bumper to make it fit that way.

Reading on various forums said that a direct swap for a '72 bumper (if having original bumper mounts) would fit on a '73 because the mounting holes for the brackets were still in place on the frame, even though the '73 mounting brackets were totally unlike the earlier design.

I prefer the look of the '72 bumper, incidentally

The car is in the paint shop, so I found a clean '72 bumper (incl. brackets) and got it without first fitting it on the car. Going to the body shop today, I couldn't locate the correct mounting holes for the '72 brackets on the frame, only the '73 bracket holes.

Where are the correct holes for the '72 bumper mounts located?

Am I missing something? The car is a 1/73 vintage.
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The top, inside edge of the sides of the bumper (right at the curve) is about 1+ inches from the sugar scoops right? A rubber trim goes in between that bolts to the sugar scoop. I'll try to remember to take a picture tomorrow. I have a 73 and just took the bumper off.

Look at the tip of the left side of the bumper. See the extra bit off rubber poking out? Thats part of what I speak of. Its a "filler" for between the bumper and front end. This was the first revision for actual "bumper impact absorption" before the pontoon style 280 bumpers came to play. I'll try to remember to take a more specific picture tomorrow.



As far as the center steel filler piece, mine is relatively inline with the actual bumper top surface. It just bolts underneath the top lip of chrome bumper.
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This is how they are mounted on the 12-69, should be the same for the 72. They are on the inside, behind the headlight bucket, not on the outer frame of the 73, I have both. And a comparison of both showing the rubber filler. Note: the over-riders are larger and set closer to center on the 73.

Bonzi Lon

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Thanks Bonzi and ZZap!

Here's some shots of the angular mismatch of the '73 bumper and front metal filler strip. Since it's not on the car, I can't show the mismatch of the side rubber fillers, but it's a similar misfit.






Though I like the look of the '72 bumpers, I do prefer the mounting system of the 73 bumpers, for weight and impact absorption as you say. I guess I'll investigate getting the '73 bumper reshaped to fit the metal filler strip, which should provide the correct angle to the entire bumper.

Until then, I may use the '72 bumper, now that I know the mounting hole positions.
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heroe
from what I have seen the bumpers I have the 73 is unique front and rear. Youre going to have to position the bumper in place, where you like it, and get measurement of things in relation. Its not too difficult to make a bracket. i made adjustable brackets.
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herbsteiner-

Now I understand what you mean about incorrect angle of the center filler piece. For some reason I was thinking angle as it would apply in terms of up/down inclination. Looking at your picture, its hard to believe the bumpers were THAT different!
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Z
First time I liked slotted mags. The center spinner/knock offs are nice.
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Z said:
First time I liked slotted mags. The center spinner/knock offs are nice.
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Thanks Zero! The wheels have been on the car since 73/74. The knock offs were replaced sometime in the 80's when the PO drove through the Concord Mall parking lot. I guess he liked the ones that were on the 'Vette better. Swipe.
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