Front bumper urethane to chrome swap
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 80
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From: Sunnyvale California
Front bumper urethane to chrome swap
Quick question I'm sure you more senior members know the answer to: I have a 73 coupe that's missing the front bumper, and I'd love to swap in a 68-72 front chrome one. I know there's a fair amount of brackets and grilles and the like I'd have to swap out on the front end, but do I have to do any mods to the fiberglass front clip? Thanks in advance for your help.
I'm finally fulfilling a twenty year old boyhood dream to rebuild an early C3. I picked up running California car (in surprisingly good shape for what I paid for it) and I'm going to start what I assume will be a long but rewarding journey!
I'm finally fulfilling a twenty year old boyhood dream to rebuild an early C3. I picked up running California car (in surprisingly good shape for what I paid for it) and I'm going to start what I assume will be a long but rewarding journey!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
Likes: 27
From: New Hill NC
Believe me, you dont want to do this. The front fenders are different, The lower valence is different, The Front nose upper panel is different. No bracket, park lamp, or grille is going to fit. There are a lot of expensive parts to be bought. Why mess up an interesting car, with this kind of modification. Just replace the bumper cover if it is bad and enjoy the car the way it is.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,312
Likes: 70
From: Clearwater FL
Originally Posted by Patience
Quick question I'm sure you more senior members know the answer to: I have a 73 coupe that's missing the front bumper, and I'd love to swap in a 68-72 front chrome one. I know there's a fair amount of brackets and grilles and the like I'd have to swap out on the front end, but do I have to do any mods to the fiberglass front clip? Thanks in advance for your help.
I'm finally fulfilling a twenty year old boyhood dream to rebuild an early C3. I picked up running California car (in surprisingly good shape for what I paid for it) and I'm going to start what I assume will be a long but rewarding journey!
I'm finally fulfilling a twenty year old boyhood dream to rebuild an early C3. I picked up running California car (in surprisingly good shape for what I paid for it) and I'm going to start what I assume will be a long but rewarding journey!
73 didn't have a front chrome bumper
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
73 is a uniqiue year,,no frt chrome ,, but chrome in rear, a 1 year only car,why change that??so many people approache me at chevy vette fest saying how its there favorate year,, that they had many vettes and loved there 73, i really would never change the one feature that made them so outstanding,,the hoods longer and in my opinon looks better,, no wiper tray,,,i think you should enjoy what you have,dont you like the way your 73's bumper make the headlight area look different than a 72's-(the headlights are closer to the chrome bumper ours are 3-4 ''father back)car is actually longer!
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Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Lots of nice 73's on board here. I don't think I would try to go the way you are asking about. Enjoy your new toy and have fun with it.
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From: Sometimes I wonder... why is that frisbee getting bigger? Then it hits me.
Cruise-In X Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
The swap is not impossible but VERY non cost effective. If you choose to go this route you will need an entire new nose, the bumpers, all brackets with custom welding to get them set up, grills, lights, etc.
You are looking at about 4 grand at minimum in parts alone, not including labor and prep/paint.
Do yourself a favor and just replace the urethane bumper and drive the car. Then "upgrade" to a 68-72 down the road.
You are looking at about 4 grand at minimum in parts alone, not including labor and prep/paint.
Do yourself a favor and just replace the urethane bumper and drive the car. Then "upgrade" to a 68-72 down the road.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Madmikeee
The swap is not impossible but VERY non cost effective. If you choose to go this route you will need an entire new nose, the bumpers, all brackets with custom welding to get them set up, grills, lights, etc.
You are looking at about 4 grand at minimum in parts alone, not including labor and prep/paint.
Do yourself a favor and just replace the urethane bumper and drive the car. Then "upgrade" to a 68-72 down the road.
You are looking at about 4 grand at minimum in parts alone, not including labor and prep/paint.
Do yourself a favor and just replace the urethane bumper and drive the car. Then "upgrade" to a 68-72 down the road.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,446
Likes: 2
From: Not Correctly Restored Stingray Fla.
Originally Posted by Eddie 70
Lots of nice 73's on board here. I don't think I would try to go the way you are asking about. Enjoy your new toy and have fun with it.
Correction ....LOTA nice '73s on board here.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
you should be very proud to own that year car. there are a lot of cherry 73's on this forum, i dont mean to take offense , but just because a car has 2 chrome bumpers doesnt make it worth its weight in gold,, i have seen 75 corvettes sell for over 25,000 ,, it really depends in what you have done to the car and what someone is willing to pay,for a cherry car,,,some of us have put a lot of hard earned cash and time into restoring these cars and they appraise very well,,,i have invested over 50,000 in mine and it has appraised over 32,000 so dont listen to these people who say-it tops out at 15,000to 18,000 cuz thats a line of crap
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,672
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From: Nevada City California
carl a:
I wish I knew where those buyers who like the '73 model were? I advertised on this forum as well as the Corvette Action Center forum, a '73 I had for sale.
An original low mileage, documented by original dealer invoice and factory tank sheet (still readable on top of tank), 15,687 mile L82, auto, Orange metallic, Black custom interior, all options coupe. Finally found a buyer at $18,500. This was an original California car, that still had all the chalk marks and stampings on the frame and trailing arms even!!!!!!!!!!
I wish I knew where those buyers who like the '73 model were? I advertised on this forum as well as the Corvette Action Center forum, a '73 I had for sale.
An original low mileage, documented by original dealer invoice and factory tank sheet (still readable on top of tank), 15,687 mile L82, auto, Orange metallic, Black custom interior, all options coupe. Finally found a buyer at $18,500. This was an original California car, that still had all the chalk marks and stampings on the frame and trailing arms even!!!!!!!!!!
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by 70vert
Hey, you guys convinced me; I'm going to change my '70 to a rubber front.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Smile, it's just the internet.
Hey, Carl... You've got a beautiful 73 and you should be beeming (which I'm sure you are!), but how does it make you feel when you sit down and consider that you're $20k upside-down on it?
Not being an ***. I'm upside-down, too. Just asking...
Not being an ***. I'm upside-down, too. Just asking...
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by CGGorman
Hey, Carl... You've got a beautiful 73 and you should be beeming (which I'm sure you are!), but how does it make you feel when you sit down and consider that you're $20k upside-down on it?
Not being an ***. I'm upside-down, too. Just asking...
Not being an ***. I'm upside-down, too. Just asking...
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by early shark
carl a:
I wish I knew where those buyers who like the '73 model were? I advertised on this forum as well as the Corvette Action Center forum, a '73 I had for sale.
An original low mileage, documented by original dealer invoice and factory tank sheet (still readable on top of tank), 15,687 mile L82, auto, Orange metallic, Black custom interior, all options coupe. Finally found a buyer at $18,500. This was an original California car, that still had all the chalk marks and stampings on the frame and trailing arms even!!!!!!!!!!
I wish I knew where those buyers who like the '73 model were? I advertised on this forum as well as the Corvette Action Center forum, a '73 I had for sale.
An original low mileage, documented by original dealer invoice and factory tank sheet (still readable on top of tank), 15,687 mile L82, auto, Orange metallic, Black custom interior, all options coupe. Finally found a buyer at $18,500. This was an original California car, that still had all the chalk marks and stampings on the frame and trailing arms even!!!!!!!!!!