Converting 73 charger to 71-72 style bumpers.

[AlexTheMachinist]

What is all required to convert the 73 charger bumpers to the earlier style that fit close to the body. The bumper fillers for the 73 are impossible to find, and the earlier cars just look a lot better with the close fitting bumpers.

 

[moparmarks]

Find some 71/2 bumper mounts.

 

[AlexTheMachinist]

Find some 71/2 bumper mounts.

I know that works for the back, but for the front i know there is a bunch of stuff you need, like headlight brackets and stuff. Just curious what parts exactly.

 

[YY1]

The 73-74 mounts sit lower on the frame.
If you try to use 71/72 mounts on a 73/74 car, the holes do not line up, and you can't push the mount back far enough for the bumper to fit up into the fenders where it needs to be in order to eliminate the fillers.

My 73 was missing the bumper and the mounts.
I bought the missing parts from a 71, but ran into what I described above.
I just received a set of 73/74 mounts from a member here, but have not had a chance to put them on. I have heard that you can simply "slot" the holes in the 73/74 mounts in order to push the bumper into the 71/72 "flush" location

 

[AlexTheMachinist]

The 73-74 mounts sit lower on the frame.
If you try to use 71/72 mounts on a 73/74 car, the holes do not line up, and you can't push the mount back far enough for the bumper to fit up into the fenders where it needs to be in order to eliminate the fillers.

My 73 was missing the bumper and the mounts.
I bought the missing parts from a 71, but ran into what I described above.
I just received a set of 73/74 mounts from a member here, but have not had a chance to put them on. I have heard that you can simply "slot" the holes in the 73/74 mounts in order to push the bumper into the 71/72 "flush" location

Are you talking about the front or back? Or both?

 

[racedodge]

he is talking about the front brackets so you can move the bumper "backwards". the 71/72 rear bumper brackets are a bolt-in and forget type of thing.

 

[YY1]

Yes, front.

It's a good inch plus difference between the bolt hole horizontal centerlines, which is a lot on a 3.5 inch tall frame horn.


From what I understand, the actual bumper is a direct interchange.

 

[AlexTheMachinist]

Ok, I am getting mixed answers here. Are 71-72 brackets a direct bolt on for front and rear, or just for the rear? Also, are the 73-74 bumpers notched for the fillers?

 

[YY1]

71/72 front bumper brackets DO NOT work on a 73/74 car without substantial modification.

 

[AlexTheMachinist]

Ok cool. Now it's time to start hunting parts. Anyone got a set of rear 71-72 bumper brackets? And a set of 71-72 headlight brackets?

 

[Moparparts]

I have a complete 71 or 72 rear bumper and i have a 71 or 72 front bumper which has brackets on it. PM me

 

[AlexTheMachinist]

For now, I think all I need is the brackets for the rear. I'll be taking the bumpers off tonight to see what I need. Just out of curiosity, how much do you want for each of them?

 

[moparmarks]

A customer of mine just did this. As YYI stated the rears are a bolt and go thing using the 71/2 mounts. On the front you can slot the holes of the 73/4 mounts to slide them back.
Sorry I thought the 71/2 front mounts would work.

 

[YY1]

I did too

 

[AlexTheMachinist]

Do you need different headlight brackets?