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Old May 9, 2019 | 06:48 PM
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I have a 72 convertible I’m restoring with a 73 front fitted at some stage? To change back to chrome bumper front do I just remove plastic nose & fit chrome bumper? Or is it a complete front clip replacement? Can someone help
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Old May 9, 2019 | 06:58 PM
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Kinda different. Not impossible but you will need the front bumper section like from the headlights down.
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Old May 9, 2019 | 07:14 PM
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So in front of the headlights is same shape? Just need to modify slightly to fit the chrome bumper?
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Old May 9, 2019 | 10:23 PM
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https://www.ebay.com/i/132860565847?...waAqwxEALw_wcB
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Old May 9, 2019 | 10:33 PM
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https://www.ebay.com/i/290546013991?...AaAgEtEALw_wcB
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Old May 9, 2019 | 10:41 PM
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Ok, compare the 2 noses. There is a lip glassed in to the 70-72 nose the bumper sits over. The surface the 73 bumper bolts to is flat. The gap between headlight hole and bumper lip is shorter on chrome nose.than on the 73. The mouth opening, if you will is nonexistant when front bumper cover is removed. Here is a 73 chrome conversion.https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nt-bumper.html

Last edited by derekderek; May 9, 2019 at 10:51 PM.
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Old May 10, 2019 | 04:32 AM
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Thats awesome dude, thank you so much, exact info I was looking for. Cheers mate
darius

Originally Posted by derekderek
Ok, compare the 2 noses. There is a lip glassed in to the 70-72 nose the bumper sits over. The surface the 73 bumper bolts to is flat. The gap between headlight hole and bumper lip is shorter on chrome nose.than on the 73. The mouth opening, if you will is nonexistant when front bumper cover is removed. Here is a 73 chrome conversion.https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...nt-bumper.html
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Old May 10, 2019 | 06:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Darius Witecki
...Just need to modify slightly to fit the chrome bumper?...
FWIW: what you are wanting to do is not a "slight" modification.
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Old May 10, 2019 | 11:51 AM
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Warren from that other thread made a decent bolt-in version by altering a 73 bumper cover. I believe he wants to sell it as he did a new version that fits 72 grilles. But after making the nose accept the chrome bumper you still need bumper, bumperettes, hockey sticks, grilles, brackets, horseshoe, etc. Lots of stuff and not inexpensive.

Last edited by derekderek; May 10, 2019 at 11:55 AM.
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Old May 10, 2019 | 11:52 AM
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Don’t forget that the side vents by the wheel wells are completely different as well.

Is the hood right? ‘72 hood is the short hood with the wiper door assembly vs the ‘73 long hood.

I dont see how you get a ‘73 front end restored back to a ‘72 without replacing the entire front clip, unless you want to assemble it like a jigsaw puzzle with the seams to go with it.

EDIT, unless you are talking about the one off custom stuff referred to in the posts Derek mentioned.

Last edited by vettebuyer6369; May 10, 2019 at 11:57 AM.
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Old May 10, 2019 | 01:35 PM
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I agree with most....this is not a job for the faint of heart, the fiberglass is not compatible....Just to remind the poster that a lot of people including THE GUY WHO DESIGNED THE CAR...LARRY SHINODA has stated publicly that the 73 soft nose- chrome tail was his favorite as it was the closest to his original intent and in his eyes the most beautiful. .

Bit of sacrilege actually...unless the puppy was WRECKED. THIS IS AN ENTIRE FRONT CLIP JOB and frame modifications. $$$$$$ what? $7000??

my two cents. I'm actively looking for a 73...WITH THE SOFT NOSE! I already have the other two 'bookends'.

Unkahal

Last edited by L-46man; May 10, 2019 at 01:41 PM.
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Old May 10, 2019 | 01:52 PM
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Until about 80, people thought modernizing chrome bumper vettes was a good idea.
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Old May 10, 2019 | 02:18 PM
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Originally Posted by derekderek
Until about 80, people thought modernizing chrome bumper vettes was a good idea.
Derek is right. I remember the days when I was first buying Corvettes in the late 70s that people thought “modernizing” Corvettes was some sort of “upgrade.” Adding rubber nose front ends onto chrome bumper cars, adding big back windows to pre-78 cars, grafting 80 nose caps on earlier cars before the easy replacement parts came along. Heck, people were cutting out the splits in ‘63 coupes for the “modern” full glass at one point.

Corvette owners have never been known for their good choices over the years.
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