1973 front bumper
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Bakersfield California
1973 front bumper
I recently attempted to replace the front bumper on my 73. I ordered the flex fit from ecklers and am not pleased with the fit what so ever. It does not conform on the driver's side or on the bottom. Additionally, it was supposed to flex to almost the same degree as the original.
B.S.!
I realize I will most likely not find a true bolt on bumper due to manufacturing inconsistance. So, what is the recommended non-urethane front bumper?
B.S.!
I realize I will most likely not find a true bolt on bumper due to manufacturing inconsistance. So, what is the recommended non-urethane front bumper?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 1
From: Shore NJ
I recently attempted to replace the front bumper on my 73. I ordered the flex fit from ecklers and am not pleased with the fit what so ever. It does not conform on the driver's side or on the bottom. Additionally, it was supposed to flex to almost the same degree as the original.
B.S.!
I realize I will most likely not find a true bolt on bumper due to manufacturing inconsistance. So, what is the recommended non-urethane front bumper?
B.S.!
I realize I will most likely not find a true bolt on bumper due to manufacturing inconsistance. So, what is the recommended non-urethane front bumper?
It was worth the extra $$$ and less hassle. Use the sun to heat up the bumper and conform the bumper to your front end, tighten the bolts and let the bumper take a set for a week. Keep repeating the process until your happy with the fit......
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
From: Ventura California
I used the standard FG front bumper on mine. I believe it was from Ecklers as well but it has been awhile now and I've ordered so much shtuff now I can't remember exactly. Anyway, mine took a lot of massaging to get it correct. The end result looks great but lots of work was involved.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
Agree with the above. Go to:
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/
...and enter GM part number 6263597,..$475 plus ship.
This is muuuch easier to install than the others.
Good luck!
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/
...and enter GM part number 6263597,..$475 plus ship.
This is muuuch easier to install than the others.
Good luck!
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
73 Front Bumper
J and H
Like 73, Dark Blue 454.
Save your time and use the GM front bumper replacement at any cost, it will save you many hours of frustration.
I changed out mine some years ago and am very satisfied.
Maybe some one can outline a correct paint procedure for a new cover. I need to strip and repaint mine.
gm73vette
Like 73, Dark Blue 454.
Save your time and use the GM front bumper replacement at any cost, it will save you many hours of frustration.
I changed out mine some years ago and am very satisfied.
Maybe some one can outline a correct paint procedure for a new cover. I need to strip and repaint mine.
gm73vette
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 316
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
This topic seems to go both ways. If you don't want to hassel with fit, seems the OEM is the way to go.
If you don't mind having some labor hours of making it fit, the TruFlex offers the benefits of a fiberglass bumper. That being it will not crack like the OEM, it will take paint like the rest of the car unlike OEM and they can be repaired if damaged like regular fiberglass.
I was just about ready to order the OEM and decided to try my luck at the TruFlex. Just ordered from Willcox.
There are some that fit right out of the box, some that had to only work a corner and others that spent days working at the fit. But in the end, all these examples looked great and had all the benefits.
I'm going into the paint shop in 2 weeks. So if I can't get it to fit, I'll have some expert support to make it right.
Pictures and experience to follow.......
If you don't mind having some labor hours of making it fit, the TruFlex offers the benefits of a fiberglass bumper. That being it will not crack like the OEM, it will take paint like the rest of the car unlike OEM and they can be repaired if damaged like regular fiberglass.
I was just about ready to order the OEM and decided to try my luck at the TruFlex. Just ordered from Willcox.
There are some that fit right out of the box, some that had to only work a corner and others that spent days working at the fit. But in the end, all these examples looked great and had all the benefits.
I'm going into the paint shop in 2 weeks. So if I can't get it to fit, I'll have some expert support to make it right.
Pictures and experience to follow.......
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Instructor
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Enterprise Ut
ecklers bumper
I got an ecklers that came with a 74 vette I bought. (uninstalled) When I went to put it on the fit wasent even close. I bought a wilcox flexfit and it was a lot better, I had to adjust one corner 1/8 with a grinder.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 361
Likes: 0
From: Valley AL
Here is an ACI bumper that I am putting on someone else's '73. I have probably used most of the aftermarket panels out there and this one is typical. Overall, the fit is good, but it is short 1/4" on the left side, and has a 3/16" gap in front of the right headlight. The owner does not want to paint the car now, so we decided to go fiberglass rather than urethane because I can shape the fiberglass nose without damaging the paint on the fenders. If anyone is interested, I can post pics along the way, up through primer. I am only working on it a couple of hours a night, so it will take a week or so. Here is the new nose after one quick clean-up with a fine file to remove the parting line.The tongue depressors are hot-glued to the new nose to help with alignment. Excuse the brown chair, it's holding the nose up!
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 1
From: Shore NJ
Here is an ACI bumper that I am putting on someone else's '73. I have probably used most of the aftermarket panels out there and this one is typical. Overall, the fit is good, but it is short 1/4" on the left side, and has a 3/16" gap in front of the right headlight. The owner does not want to paint the car now, so we decided to go fiberglass rather than urethane because I can shape the fiberglass nose without damaging the paint on the fenders. If anyone is interested, I can post pics along the way, up through primer. I am only working on it a couple of hours a night, so it will take a week or so. Here is the new nose after one quick clean-up with a fine file to remove the parting line.The tongue depressors are hot-glued to the new nose to help with alignment. Excuse the brown chair, it's holding the nose up!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Bakersfield California
I ran into the same gap on the drivers side.....1/8 to 1/4" misalignment. Also the same on the bottom edges.....1/8 to 1/4".
I bit the bullet and ordered the stock GM urethane. I will advise when I get it and how it goes.
I bit the bullet and ordered the stock GM urethane. I will advise when I get it and how it goes.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: Brattleboro Vermont
fiber glass
my 73 came with eclers fiberglass bumper an was glassed right to the nose i think it looks grate was going to chainge back to get the gap but looks to good an much cleaner gust my liking an 10 friends and ease to fix i wont chainge back but its your car do what you like
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 201
From: Waterford Mi
73-74's did not have honey comb. In the picture above i only took off the steel bar so I would have more room to fit the bumper. Once it was fit and painted I put the bar back on.
Last edited by redwingvette; Feb 7, 2008 at 10:26 AM.