Timog156

Surely someone has done this. I have a 73 & really want the steel bumper on front also. Who has done it? What is the easiest way to do it? Can I use the front clip I have already? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

doorgunner

Several members are in the process of converting rear rubber bumpers to chrome bumpers. I have started converting the 1976 rubber bumperbumper on my prject car to a chrome bumper with the help-advice of other members. You have a "one-year-only" car.....think carefully about doing extreme modifications to it.

vettebuyer6369

The easiest way is to trade/sell the car and buy a 68-72, rather than spend a lot of money and effort to devalue your car.

The13Bats

Here you go,

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...onversion.html

Alan 71

Hi T,
To actually convert the front of a 73 takes a LOT of work and a large outlay of cash.
There will need to be considerable changes to the fiberglass, the purchase of bumpers, bumper-ettes and mounting brackets, and grills and brackets, plus the painting of probably the whole car.
To top it off as VB mentions, you will have decreased the value of your car.
So unless your car presently needs a new front clip, (and you have ready access to a front clip with bumper/grill parts) and paint job, think carefully about starting this modification.
Since it sounds like you're doing, or thinking of doing, a removable rear window perhaps you should think about a 68-72 wiper door too.
Regards,
Alan

The13Bats

She will also be doing the front end,

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...project-9.html

540 vette

Why do people here tell them the easiest way would be to sell their car and buy the one they are trying to make it look like.

It's his car let him do as he wants. And it isn't going to cost him a ton of money. If he does the work himself it won't be alot.

Easy Mike

I don't disagree 540, but the OP asked for advice. Advice has been offered.

540 vette

Yes he asked for advice...on how to do the job. He didn't ask if he should sell his car and get a chrome bumper one. He doesn't seem to be concerned of the value of his car. The swap isn't that hard and isn't that expensive. There seems to be a trend on here sometimes when someone asks for help or some advice it is either sell your car and buy the one you want. In most cases it is a small block to big block swap, 4 speed swap or chrome bumper conversion.
Also if someone here asked a question on how something fits it is always look at the AIM. Sometimes the AIM isn't clear on something.
Not everyone has an AIM. In the time it takes to write look it up in the AIM, they could have answered the question or pointed the person in the right direction.

car junkie

There is an air of don't do it on many topics here on the forum no doubt. People get excited and enthusiastic over projects like this and that's what makes the old car hobby fun. I say direct the person to the other threads that address the issue and let them decide if it's wisdom or folly. No better source for these conversions than right here.

My opinion on the harming the value of a run of the mill 73 doing this would be if the job was done badly. Done well I think it would increase the value but not enough to pay for the labor time if you're concerned about that.

vettebuyer6369

"Let him do as he wants?" He's an adult, free to do anything he likes to his own property. Nobody is keeping him from making any choices.

He made a post asking a question- what's the easiest way? The fact is my opinion is the easiest way is to just buy the car he wants, rather than making the car he owns look like one.

If others believe the easiest way is another route, they have every right to post that opinion, including their personal opinion on resulting values and costs.

Timog156

This is my 1st Corvette. I traded my Ducati 848 for it. I always wanted a Vette. I guess when my parents got married my dad had a 57!! When I traded it was a great 10 footer car. The plan has always been to repaint it. It is not a numbers matching car. I decided to rebuild the motor & tranny to start with. Rear end & brakes were next. My 2 best friends surprised me when I got the car back by paying the difference & switching the motor from a 350 to a 454!! My plan is simple---I'm building a car I can drive the **** out of. I want my kids to enjoy it. I really want my wife to enjoy it. I plan on painting it "Watkins Glen Grey" I plan on taking all the chrome & stainless off & powder coating it black. I'm not building a car to impress anybody. It's not a trailer queen car. I like what I like. It's that simple.
Thanks for all ideas to help me finish my product.

Alan 71

Hi,

"My plan is simple---I'm building a car I can drive the **** out of."

Now I understand!

Regards,
Alan

c3_dk

If I was the OP, then I would be happy to all kind of input, so I could make the right decision based on that.

Just my 2 cents.......

Priya

I disagree that this change will necessarily devalue the 73. Some people will prefer a rubber bumpered 73 over a chrome front bumper 73 but we see people asking about doing this conversion on their 73s all the time. Clearly for those people they are willing to spend more for a 73 with a chrome front bumper than for a 73 with the factory rubber front bumper. So, for many people converting a 73 to a chrome front bumper raises the value of the car at least a little even if it won't raise the value enough to cover the cost of the conversion. I'm confident that the majority of potential C3 buyers aren't particularly concerned about vehicle originality, they're more concerned about overall condition and that it has the appearance and options that appeal to them.



To the OP's question, I think it will be easier to replace your 73 front clip altogether than it will be to try to modify it to look like the chrome bumper car's front clip. If the OP was planning a colour change anyway that pleases him I don't think it necessarily will be easier/cheaper/better idea for him to sell this car and buy a 68-72 than it is for him to do the conversion on his 73.

mardyn

I love the stock front (replacement) bumper cover treatment on my '73... one of the cool attributes of the one year offering.

mardyn

540 vette

I agree it's his choice and your opinion. But the easiest part isn't selling the car and buying another.

540 vette

I think the only ones thinking the value would go down is a purist. It wouldn't make a difference to me. I was going to do the conversion on my 80. And if I had a 73 I would be changing the nose as we speak. But got a good deal on a 72.

Timog156

Not abusing it at all!! I'm talking about taking trips, driving it everyday, more or less enjoying the hell out of it! There will never be a day that I'd wished I'd drove it more!!

carriljc