'74 Bumper swap to earlier model

[beegle55]

Is it possible to swap out bumpers on a '74 with bumpers from an earlier model that didn't have the extended, bulkier 5 mph bumpers? I really like the look of the Super Bee/Rallye era '71-'74 Chargers and am tossing around ideas for my bare bones '74 and whether or not I want to do it or sell the Charger and find something else that I like better. Thanks for the input in advance!

-beegle55

[Nacho-RT74]

Are you talking about BUMPERS ? or BUMPER GUARDS ?

bumper guards... I think yes you can fit the earlier ones. in front just need to get an extra bracket used to link both together. You can also in fact remove them and simply fill the holes with bumper bolts.

Talking about the bumpers gap and rubber filler ? the problem is not on bumpers, is on brackets. In front you need to elongate the brackets to frame rails holes to fit closer to body the complete bumper assembly. No, earliers bumper brackets won't fit on your 74.

Rears however yes, need to get 71/72 bumper brackets since they are not adjustable. They are interchangeable and that the only way to save the gap/filler

[Deleted]

Oct 12, 2009 16:34:46 GMT -5 @beegle55 said:

Is it possible to swap out bumpers on a '74 with bumpers from an earlier model that didn't have the extended, bulkier 5 mph bumpers? I really like the look of the Super Bee/Rallye era '71-'74 Chargers and am tossing around ideas for my bare bones '74 and whether or not I want to do it or sell the Charger and find something else that I like better. Thanks for the input in advance!

-beegle55

This is a 74 with 72 rear bumper brackets to pull it in closer so you don't need the fillers. I also got rid of the big boobies.


Like Nacho stated, you need to remove the front bumper and mounting brackets where it connects to the frame. Elongate the holes so you can move it in closer to the body. You may have to adjust the upper brackets from the rad frame to the upper bumper brackets. I also have that on my to do list to get rid of the filler.

[DynoDave]

Oct 13, 2009 12:34:40 GMT -5 Bob said:

I also got rid of the big boobies.

[hippyjed]

not sure if i should start a new thread, or ask in this one, but here goes.
have a 74, not too fond of the tail lights, but loved the ones from my 71 base model. need a new rear bumper anyway for the 74, and would like to have it closer to the body(don't like the filler on the 74), so my question is, can i get a whole 71 rear bumper and put it on the 74? i saw something metioned about brackets and whatnot, but am a little confused about it. can someone clarify for me a little? or would it be possible to just put the taillight sections from a 71 into the 74 bumper if i decide i can live with the filler between bumper and body?

thanks

[Nacho-RT74]

on rear you can build whatever you want.

use 71/72 brackets to get it closer and remove bumper filler.

you can use either 71/72 or 73/74 bumper. only "issue" is 71 doesn't have the cut or slot provission for the jack, being 71s use the C clamp. If you want to use the 71 bumper, will need just to make a small cut below the bumper lip to get the jack location. If you want to use the 73/74 and remove fillers, you'll find small holes on top at the corners to the corner filler studs... you can fill them with chromed bolts if you want. They will be just slightly visible. That is if you care about.

to use the 71 tail lights my advice is use also the 71 lower license plate bracket. Is smaller than the 73/74 one. You can fit all of those parts on a 74 Bumper without problems.

71/72 tail lights use big screws on the pot metal housing. 73/74 being plastic housing uses fasteners and smaller screws. ( well my car really got fasteners clipped on, directly, without any screw, throught bumper tail light locations ). Not a prob really.

71/72 bumper assembly is lighter than 73/74

an advice is also use the 71/72 gas tank tube filler. a 73/74 with shorter 71 brackets will make gas filler tube fit tighter behind the license plate. Not saying won't fit, just tight.

[hippyjed]

thanks a bunch for the info. as for the jack notch, no need as I use floor jacks and whatnot, never liked those old school ratchet jacks, always freaked me out. as for the bumper brackets, I am a little confused. never had the bumper off before so would need to know, are they welded on, or just bolt on to the body/frame?

as for the tank filler tube, might go for that too, the previous owner had the tank "undercoated", so not too sure of its real condition, but the neck gasket looks bad and it is real loose, so at least going to get a new neck gasket. last thing I need is a fuel leak if I park on an uphill...laughing out loud (speak from experience). my 71 I had, the filler neck was tight in the tank, but the gas cap seal wasn't too good, so when tank was 3/4 or more full, it would leak, thus I started backing it into the parking spots alot....(laughing out loud).

[beegle55]

Thanks for the help!

-beegle55

[sinatra]

1971 bumpers (at both ends) are one-year-only, as they don't have the slot for the bumper jack. As previously mentioned, those cars used a hook on the bumper jack.

1972 front bumper is one-year-only, as it uses the slots for the bumper jack, but still has the center "arrowhead" emblem. The rear bumper is the same as the '73-'74, but the mounts are different as it's closer to the body.

1973-'74 bumpers are the same at both ends, as they have the slots for the bumper jack and do not have the "arrowhead" emblem at the center up front. '73 was the year The Fed mandated 5MPH bumpers (later lowered by half) so the bumpers sit further out, requiring the hard-to-find bumper/fender elastomeric bumper fillers that are almost always shot.

Pulling in the bumpers on '73-'74 cars requires only the bumper mounts from a '71-'72... and don't forget the front upper reinforcement rods!

The 5MPH law simply read that the bumpers must withstand a 5MPH hit without damaging any other body panels, which is why they used the fillers, longer mount brackets, and those hideous buck teeth starting in '73.

[Jer]

Jun 6, 2010 11:01:23 GMT -5 sinatra said:

...and those hideous buck teeth starting in '73....