71-73 owners... got a question.

[ratio411]

I want a 71 Mach.
I have a line on a 73 Mach.

I don't really care about keeping a run of the mill 73 Mach stock.
What would it take to install a 71 grille/bumper on a 73?
I want to turn the 73 Mach into a 71 Mach clone.
Anything else I need to consider?

Thanks
Dave

 

[Stanger007]

I had this same question because my '72 has a '73 front-end...

http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=687377&highlight=grill

Wes

 

[Gud T.B. Blown]

There is a difference of opinion on what needs to be done to achieve this. I have a '73 also and I bolted the '71 grille, lower valence, and a chrome bumper right on. I also got the rubber caps that go between the fender and chrome bumper. Some people say you will need the '71 fenders but I disagree.

 

[Platonic Solid]

There is a difference of opinion on what needs to be done to achieve this. I have a '73 also and I bolted the '71 grille, lower valence, and a chrome bumper right on. I also got the rubber caps that go between the fender and chrome bumper. Some people say you will need the '71 fenders but I disagree.

Have any pics? I'd like to see how the 71-2 rubber pieces look/fit on 73 fenders, and bumper - fender - grill allignment.

 

[Stanger007]

Yeah me too. I have a 72 fender in the shop and matching it up to the ones on the car, they are a good bit different around the grill area.

 

[Platonic Solid]

I want a 71 Mach.
I have a line on a 73 Mach.

I don't really care about keeping a run of the mill 73 Mach stock.
What would it take to install a 71 grille/bumper on a 73?
I want to turn the 73 Mach into a 71 Mach clone.
Anything else I need to consider?

Thanks
Dave

To answer your question directly: To do it "right" you'll need:
71-2 Fenders
71-2 Valance with Signal Lamp Inserts
71-2 Mach 1 Grill with Lamp inserts and Head Lamp Trim Rings
71-2 Hood Latch Mechanism w/support
71-2 Bumper Mounting Brackets
edit: Oh yeah, and the fender mounted black rubber filler pieces if using a chrome bumper. (not required if using the 71-2 Urethane Bumper).

edit 2: You'll also need the 71-2 reinforcement plate that ties the bumper and brackets together

 

[73nancy]

there must be a diffrence of opinion but why switch to a 71 clone? why go threw all the work of switching the front end and grill. because i got a 73 mach and the grill doesnt look that bad. what im planing on is just switching to the 71 strip kit on the side which looks great. but far as the front end goes not much diffrence besides the marker lights right? i got the rubber bumper up front which makes for a cleaner look than the chrome in my mind.

 

[Gud T.B. Blown]

Have any pics? I'd like to see how the 71-2 rubber pieces look/fit on 73 fenders, and bumper - fender - grill allignment.

Right now this is the best pic I have. The car is presently in the process of getting painted, once I have it back I'll take more pics and post them.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Right now this is the best pic I have. The car is presently in the process of getting painted, once I have it back I'll take more pics and post them.

Looks straight on. Did you use a 71-2 Latch or did you cut through the grill to permit the 73 Latch to work?

And what about the bumper mounting brackets? - they're completely different between 71-2 and 73.

 

[Gud T.B. Blown]

Looks straight on. Did you use a 71-2 Latch or did you cut through the grill to permit the 73 Latch to work?

And what about the bumper mounting brackets? - they're completely different between 71-2 and 73.

I did use a '71 hood latch. I also used the '73 bumper mounting brackets. From what I've read, and in experience, they are the same '71-'73.

 

[Gud T.B. Blown]

there must be a diffrence of opinion but why switch to a 71 clone? why go threw all the work of switching the front end and grill. because i got a 73 mach and the grill doesnt look that bad. what im planing on is just switching to the 71 strip kit on the side which looks great. but far as the front end goes not much diffrence besides the marker lights right? i got the rubber bumper up front which makes for a cleaner look than the chrome in my mind.

I switched to the '71 front end because I've never liked the looks of the '73 front end-or stripes for that matter. And the reason I got a '73 instead of a'71 is because I got a great deal on it.

 

[Platonic Solid]

... I also used the '73 bumper mounting brackets. From what I've read, and in experience, they are the same '71-'73.

Nope, sorry, that's just plain wrong. All 73's use a different mounting bracket as shown in my pics here: 73-Inner-Bumper-Bkt.htm

71-2 Mounting brackets have horizontal mounting holes that line up with the horizontal reinforcement plate.
73 Mounting brackets have vertical mounting holes that line up with the vertical holes on the Bumper Support channel.

Maybe someone started the conversion on your car prior to you purchasing it - highly probable since urethane bumpers aren't available as repros.
Did your car have a 73 Urethane bumper when you purchased it?

 

[Gud T.B. Blown]

Nope, sorry, that's just plain wrong. All 73's use a different mounting bracket as shown in my pics here: 73-Inner-Bumper-Bkt.htm

71-2 Mounting brackets have horizontal mounting holes that line up with the horizontal reinforcement plate.
73 Mounting brackets have vertical mounting holes that line up with the vertical holes on the Bumper Support channel.

Maybe someone started the conversion on your car prior to you purchasing it - highly probable since urethane bumpers aren't available as repros.
Did your car have a 73 Urethane bumper when you purchased it?

My car came with the complete '73 front end including the 100lb urethane front bumper. I also did the complete front end conversion myself.

 

[Platonic Solid]

My car came with the complete '73 front end including the 100lb urethane front bumper. I also did the complete front end conversion myself.

Well your 73 Urethane bumper certainly wasn't mounted with 71-2 mounting brackets. And your current 71-2 bumper could only be mounted to 73 mounting brackets with some serious (unrealistic) modifications. The only thing I can figure is maybe your chassis is actually 71-2

 

[Gud T.B. Blown]

Well your 73 Urethane bumper certainly wasn't mounted with 71-2 mounting brackets. And your current 71-2 bumper could only be mounted to 73 mounting brackets with some serious (unrealistic) modifications. The only thing I can figure is maybe your chassis is actually 71-2

I do know for a fact the car is a '73 by the vin. When I get the car back from paint I will take some detailed pics of the brackets and post them up.

 

[73nancy]

how much you think the old urethane bu,pers worth. theres one in local junkyard in great shape that i was going to get just to hold on to.

 

[Gud T.B. Blown]

how much you think the old urethane bu,pers worth. theres one in local junkyard in great shape that i was going to get just to hold on to.

If it's a '71-'72 probably is worth some money since they are being repopped and people still want them. I have no clue if there is a market for the '73 bumper or not.

 

[ratio411]

...why switch to a 71 clone? why go threw all the
work of switching the front end and grill.

I just personally like the 71-72 better.
I think they look best with the urethane bumper,
but it sounds like they are hard to find.
The chrome would be my second choice,
but still better than the EXTREMELY heavy 73 bumper.
I also like the grille and all better too.
Then I believe the 73 rear bumper sticks off a little further,
but not sure.
Then there is the honeycomb rear panel and
flip down gas cap of the 71 that I really like too.
So there is why.
Or simpler put, we had a 71 a long time ago,
and would like another for sentimental purposes.

The 73 I found is disassembled and fairly rough.
The body has been worked on heavily.
The seller claims to have 10k invested, but is asking 3500.
From the pics, it still looks a bit too much.

 

[73nancy]

ya i understand. whats the diffrence in weight between the 71-72 and the 73 in the front bumper? i really never known. the honeycomb on the back is diffrent from the 71-72 to the 73. i always thought it was just stripping was diffrent. but of course where i live i dont see to many 71-73 anyways if i do there not mach1's. but ya if you got to do bodywork i guess while your there it woludnt be to bad of a swap.

 

[Gud T.B. Blown]

The difference in bumper weight has got to be at least 50lbs.