I just bought a '74 Nova and I'm not crazy about the front and rear bumpers that they changed due to the regulations at the time. I'd like to put '71-'72 bumpers. Has anyone done this or anything else to change the look of the bumpers? If so, can you post some pics? I'm looking for inspiration! Thanks!!

If you swap all of the sheet metal (don't have to swap the fenders but it is easier to swap the whole dog house) it will fit. Of course you have to go out and find a cherry 1969-'72 Nova to get the needed parts which kind of negates swaping everything over with a whole car already to go sitting there waiting to be taken apart.

Big Dave

Hm, that does sound like a hassle. I guess I'll have to explore my options further. Thanks for the advice!

i don't have the pictures handy but there's been lots of folks who've tucked the bumpers closer to the body... without changing sheet metal.

Yeah, that's what I've been looking into also. It seems much simpler to do. Thanks!

Hey Alice, my 74 has a fiberglass front bumper and I believe a rear bumper from an earlier nova. There are some pics in my profile.

Look at it this way. You have 3 more inches of insurance between your motor/sheet metal that these 68-722 guys. I bet if any of them ever tag anything from the from or rear, they will wish they had that 3"

The safety bumper has never bothered me, because that's where I set all of my tools when I work under the hood :D

Hi Neil, although the pics are really small, I like the look of your bumpers. I'll definitely look into fiberglass.

Clay, I never thought about that! My safety bumper is all, well, bumpy so even if I decide to keep it "as is/was", it will still require some work.

You guys are so inspiring!! Thanks for all the tips!

My safety bumper is all, well, bumpy

I preferred "Slightly Modified" :thumbsup:

The 68-72 brackets bolt up to a 73/74 body with no major issues.

BUT!!!>>> The license plate frame is in the body on a 73/74 and on the bumper on a 68-72....Now, hows your body work skills?

Body work skills = zero to none. I have the whole winter to figure it out so thanks everyone for your input! I'll be bugging you more in the spring time once the car is out of the storage!

here ya go man. looks kinda funky, but each to there own


http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottash/526630943/

Which bumper is "bumpy"? Front or rear?

Which bumper is "bumpy"? Front or rear?

The rear one. It's not really the bumper itself, it's the extension.

here ya go man. looks kinda funky, but each to there own


http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottash/526630943/

I like that! Thanks for the pic!

anytime man!
good luck, keep us on the before and after pics!

One more thing...the filler piece would be different, but it also swaps over from a 68-72!

So I decided to order new fiberglass bumper fillers for a '74 model (mine are really warped, especially in the back). It seems to be the less complicated and cheapest solution. After all, I bought a '74 so why not keep the original look?! Thanks again everyone for your advice!

Atta girl :hurray:

Keep the style alive :thumbsup:

Hey, if you switch out your bumper...let me know I need a rear bumper for my 74