73 to 72 frt bumper swap..doable?

[59ghia]

Hello fellow Zers

I've got an opportunity to pick up a clean late '72 early'73 bumper. Although they look the same except for the larger overiders, the mounting point inside the bumper is different. The early bumpers have the studs permanently mounted to the bumper itself, were the late 72, June or July has the mounting bracket studs mounted thru the overiders on an adaptor. Has any one tried to mount these late '72-73 bumpers to an earlier car? I'm getting close to desperate to find a clean early bumper, and thinking I may need to do some mods to get this to work.

Thanks in advance,

Dave

[dk240z]

Yes!

Did mine about a month ago. Had an extra set of '72 bumper brackets, and a rechromed '72 bumper laying around, so I went after it. Just unbolt the '73 assembly at the two mounting points inside the front fender wells. Don't forget to unbolt the bumper end to fender bolts, also inside the fender well.

Remove the two filler pieces, and bolt up the '70-'72 front bumper assembly. The '70-'72 backets fit inside the grill-underhood area. Nissan was nice enough to leave these threaded holes in the '73. Wish I had some pics, but I feel confident that you can do it.

[hls30.com]

DK240Z is dead on!

Will

[dk240z]

By the way:

I used my extra '70-'72 front bumper guards since the '73 guards were gone when I bought the car. '73's should work though.

[59ghia]

Ok,

But how about putting a '73 bumper on a '72 ? Get rid of the big overiders, and the bumper is basically the same, except the attachment method (bumper side)

Dave

[dk240z]

Forget it!

Unless you have a mig welder and air tools, you'll have to cut off the bumper end brackets, and flip them. Then remove the '73 front mounts, and fab some kinda mount for the '72 brackets. It can be done if your patient, and have the right tools. Hell, just buy a nice used '72 bumper off Ebay. Life is too short! See ya.

[59ghia]

I hear ya!

I'm just getting kinda desperate for a bumper! Oh well, patience is a virtue

[dk240z]

I tell ya;

Put that '73 bumper on Ebay! That thing's worth more than a nice '70-'72 bumper. It was only made for one year model, so there are purists out there looking for it. Sell it, take the money and buy a nice'70-'72 on ebay and your all set. See ya.