Rubber to hide the gap?

[pabster]

Hey all,

Months of looking at all the beautiful Chargers on this board has made me realize that mine has a quirk. There are strips of grey rubber around both the front and rear chrome where it meets the panel... looks as though the pieces don't fit together as snugly as they should and the factory put a band aid on it. Or are the gaps hidden better on other Chargers?

Has anyone else seen this? If so, did you tackle the problem and get rid of the gap though hours of cutting metal, or paint the strips?

Thanks for the help in this latest mystery...

 

[WileE]

You don't have a quirk. When the 70's federally mandated 5 mph bumper standards were enforced, all the mfr's used "fillers" for the gaps from the existing body to the bumpers. Actually, Chrysler was probably the better asthetically. Look at any mid 70's Ford ! Most of these fillers have deteriorated away since then.

 

[fla 66 cuda]

Is there anyone repoping these parts ours are pretty bad.

 

[pabster]

Aha! So the gap was added to keep the body panels from getting damaged in the 5mph crash test? And that's why earlier 3rd gen's don't have the gap, because the impact standards hadn't been passed yet... right?

It all makes sense now. Except that the damn gaps still bug the hell outta me. One more thing I can blame the Federal government for. Ha.

 

[jaak]

Though I have never done it, I have read several threads about folks using '71/'72 bumper brackets so the bumpers will sit closer to the body, thus eliminating the need for filler strips.

Jason

 

[SureGrip]

I would suggest soaking them in a strong mixture of Simple Green and water...throw them in there over night, pull them out and see how they look. It should re-hydrate them. as for paint, most any real good plastic/rubber paint/primer would be good.

 

[jimbob101]

Charger bumper

That's what we did with our '73 Charger, we went with the '71 brackets for the front and rear I think.(also added the '72 front bumper actually, has jack slots, and and a '71 rear bumper w/o slots) We also installed the "pot metal/chrome" filler pieces where your plastic pieces are, it looks a lot sharper. Take a look!
-Jim

 

[WileE]

Aha! So the gap was added to keep the body panels from getting damaged in the 5mph crash test? And that's why earlier 3rd gen's don't have the gap, because the impact standards hadn't been passed yet... right?

It all makes sense now. Except that the damn gaps still bug the hell outta me. One more thing I can blame the Federal government for. Ha.

If I recall correctly, it was to prevent damage to 'safety' equipment: headlamps, markerlamps, taillamps,etc. When all they did was "uglyize" cars. I remember the fat treestump pistons on Chrysler cars in the later 70's & the squareblock isolators on Ford cars... esp. the Ford cars looked like they had benches stuck onto the front & rear. At least Chrysler cars had a better looking design in my opinion.

 

[mopwrd340]

Those things were put on to hide the big gaps from the bumper to the body . my dads 73 charger had them and they dried up this was around 1979 he took them off and painted them black . he told me they were for aerodynamics

 

[MarPar]

I would suggest soaking them in a strong mixture of Simple Green and water...throw them in there over night, pull them out and see how they look. It should re-hydrate them. as for paint, most any real good plastic/rubber paint/primer would be good.

is there anything simple green can't do??? :headbang:

Pabst, if you're thinking of painting them, def. invest in a good primer. if the paint don't stick, then it's all for nothing!!

good luck!!

 

[blackblazer717]

To add, if you want to paint them. Use Adhesion Promoter. First. Best thing to keep the paint on, and use vinyl and plastic specific paint. That way no flaking. and will look awesome. Forever

 

[pabster]

Thanks, folks! Appreciate the input, always learning new stuff around here!

 

[scotts74birds]

is there anything simple green can't do??? :headbang

MarPar, I use Simple Green and water in an electric roasting pan as a heated parts washer! It de-carboned pistons overnight!

 

[MarPar]

MarPar, I use Simple Green and water in an electric roasting pan as a heated parts washer! It de-carboned pistons overnight!

That's a great idea Scotty! guna have to steal it! :blob1:

i use it in my reg parts washer and it works great too! 50/50 mix