Front end ID 71-73

Slobin3d · Feb 17, 2013

So I have my project car, and well I kinda feel like that song, 1 piece at a time by johnny cash, the car I know is/was a 73. but the PO told me that the guy he got it from had replaced the front end off a wrecked 72 onto it because there were some damaged parts that he couldn't get and he had the 72.

My biggest problem now is bumper alignment. it looks like to me that I have a early grill, bumper and valance but 73 fenders? thats why my bumper sits so low looking? the top of the bumper is flush with the flat shelf at the bottom of the grill assm. But I don't have another to compare to, I know that the 73's bumper reliefs were higher up on the 73 vs the 71-72 but the pictures I find don't seem to give me a good ID on how far above the marker lights they should be. professional opinions,

Or is it that something is screwy with my bumper and it just needs raised up?

horse sence · Feb 17, 2013

the fromt bumper is the wrong bumper ,the 73 has a rubber impact bumper. it is taller at the side where it meets the fender. the 73 is all by its self. the mounting brackets are specific to the bumper also. it is hard to find a good one

Platonic Solid · Feb 18, 2013

To change a 73 to a 71-72, the PO had to have replaced the bumper mounting brackets. Your bumper is too low because the bumper brackets are not properly located. FYI: Your fenders are 71-72.

Slobin3d · Feb 18, 2013

Platonic Solid said:
To change a 73 to a 71-72, the PO had to have replaced the bumper mounting brackets. Your bumper is too low because the bumper brackets are not properly located. FYI: Your fenders are 71-72.

How can you tell it's 71-2? what sells it for you? all the pics I've seen I still cant tell.

Platonic Solid · Feb 19, 2013

Fender Molding on 71-72 is shorter than 73. Molding mounting surface of fender matches molding. Your front Valance is also 71-72 (73 valance has no parking lights as they are in the grille)

Slobin3d · Feb 19, 2013

Platonic Solid said:
Fender Molding on 71-72 is shorter than 73. Molding mounting surface of fender matches molding. Your front Valance is also 71-72 (73 valance has no parking lights as they are in the grille)

Where should it be on a 73? Would you have a pic to reference so I might see to understand. Second question, I crawled under the car, nothing appears to be out of my place or bent, why would my bumper sit so low, from what Ive seen of the brackets they are he same 71-73?

Platonic Solid · Feb 20, 2013

Slobin3d said:
Where should it be on a 73? Would you have a pic to reference so I might see to understand. Second question, I crawled under the car, nothing appears to be out of my place or bent, why would my bumper sit so low, from what Ive seen of the brackets they are he same 71-73?

This is a 71-72 Bumper Bracket:

This is a 73 Bumper Bracket:

Compare these 73 Mustang pictures to yours:

Slobin3d · Feb 21, 2013

I def. have the 71-2 brackets. It almost looks as though the top of the bumper relief in the fender sits lower on the 73 vs the 71-2?

The whole reason I ask is the chrome bumper is tweeked and needs replaced, If my fenders are 73's I don't want to buy another chrome bumper and have it not work with my fenders when i can buy a used 73 bumper somewhere

Platonic Solid · Feb 23, 2013

Slobin3d said:
I def. have the 71-2 brackets. It almost looks as though the top of the bumper relief in the fender sits lower on the 73 vs the 71-2?

The whole reason I ask is the chrome bumper is tweeked and needs replaced, If my fenders are 73's I don't want to buy another chrome bumper and have it not work with my fenders when i can buy a used 73 bumper somewhere

You are correct: The bumper relief in the 73 fender is lower. The final proof that you have 71-72 fenders is the rubber pieces in that bumper relief area can not be installed on 73 fenders.

The front end parts that differ from 71-72 to 73 are:

1. Fenders
2. Valance
3. Grille
4. Bumper and mounting brackets
5. Hood latch

It's all or nothing. You can not mix and match without resulting in fit issues. That's not to say that many haven't tried, but it's not worth the resulting aggravation.

Slobin3d · Feb 23, 2013

So it looks like the pro has indeed swapped the entire front clip off a 71-2 then. I wonder if something is bent, do the 73's use the same mounting holes for their brackets as the 71-2? Could he have them in the wrong location? BTW thanks for the help. I've learned a lot

Platonic Solid · Feb 25, 2013

I suspect the bumper bracket mounting holes are identical (I'd check, but the 71-72's are buried in snow). The only reason the brackets and bumper changed was to meet new impact regulations. Looking at the 71-72 bracket image above, there appears to be quite a bit of adjustability in those obround holes. However, it wouldn't suprise me if your brackets are damaged = they're not capable of handling much, if any, impact (hence the regulation/design change).

Front end ID 71-73

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