1973 bumper question? which one?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
1973 bumper question? which one?
I am finaly about to get my car painted. ran into a little snag. the front bumper on mine was destroyed so i had to replace it. i got an ecklers fiberglass replacement for it. My body guy tells me that it's off about 3/4 of inch on each side. is this normal? not sure how much work is involved to install one or if it requires a bunch of bodywork to make it fit perfect? should i have got another type like the flex fit model? wondering if there is a trick to get the fiberglass one to fit just right.
thanks
thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 14
From: Lancaster PA
When I bought my 73 project in pieces it came with a new fiberglass bumper. I spent at least 10 hours doing bodywork to the bumper as well as the fenders to get it to line up. I have heard that the truflex are slightly better. You may want to trade yours back in for one.
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 229
Likes: 0
From: Oreland PA
I Installed True Flex on my 76 (front & rear) The front one fit right on, the rear was 1/2 inch to narrow. I built it out with Marglass. Do not use the long strand use the short. I guess it's better to narrow than too wide. I had read an article that said the bodies on the cars con vary up to 1/2 inche fron car to car due to the assembly methods.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by mgerhold
I am finaly about to get my car painted. ran into a little snag. the front bumper on mine was destroyed so i had to replace it. i got an ecklers fiberglass replacement for it. My body guy tells me that it's off about 3/4 of inch on each side. is this normal? not sure how much work is involved to install one or if it requires a bunch of bodywork to make it fit perfect? should i have got another type like the flex fit model? wondering if there is a trick to get the fiberglass one to fit just right.
thanks
thanks
I've done many 'glass bumpers, never seen one off 3/4 inch. Did they show you the fit problems? Even the best 'glass bumpers require some fitting to the body.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
i haven't seen it yet. i'll be going to the shop this week to take a look. just wanted to make sure that these bumpers needed bodywork on them in order to make a good fit. sounds like everyone has seen this so i'll see if i can get the fiberglass one to work. everyone on this forum is GREAT! i appreciate all the advice and info i get here. i'll be posting pics once i get the paint done. gonna be 73 metallic yellow when it's all done.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Even the Felx-glass bumpers are not all that easy fitting.
I installed one on the rear of my '75 last fall and it fit perfect, got hit with a low speed bump and it shattered. Now in the process of replacing it with another - same brand, same source, etc. But I can see by the label inside that it was made from a later production run.
This one hangs over by 3/8" on one side, don't see how that will ever fit with out some kind of body fender work. Not enough flex in the bumper cover to make up 3/8".
Even the same brand, etc. does not seem to have the same tolerances across the line. So from now on when I read that someone has a perfect fit with a certain brand, I'll chuckle and wait for the next poster to say exactly the opposite.
So lots of luck on whatever you decide to install.
I installed one on the rear of my '75 last fall and it fit perfect, got hit with a low speed bump and it shattered. Now in the process of replacing it with another - same brand, same source, etc. But I can see by the label inside that it was made from a later production run.
This one hangs over by 3/8" on one side, don't see how that will ever fit with out some kind of body fender work. Not enough flex in the bumper cover to make up 3/8".
Even the same brand, etc. does not seem to have the same tolerances across the line. So from now on when I read that someone has a perfect fit with a certain brand, I'll chuckle and wait for the next poster to say exactly the opposite.
So lots of luck on whatever you decide to install.
