1976 comet to 1973 bumper swap

I picked up a 76 comet that came with a 73 4 door parts car. I have seen all the advice online for bumper swaps but all are for 70-72. I know the 73 is a less desirable but it was included so I am going to use it. I need to replace the quarter extensions, the 4 door ones don't fit. Will the 70-72 2 door ones work, or do I need 73?

 

Yes the 1970-1972 rear upper extensions will work for the 1973 LOOK. The lower extensions off of the 1973 4-door will work for the 2-door.

 

The 73 rear bumper is the same as 70-72. If you get the earlier rear brackets, it will tuck that bumper in. You would also need the earlier lower extension pieces to match in order to tuck it.

I like 73 front bumpers, especially with a light tuck.

 

What is the best way to tuck the front bumper on a 73? I would imagine you have to modify the stone guard? Or just drill the holes in the frame another inch back from stock? I have not removed the bumpers from the 76 yet, but i made a template of the locations off the 73. It said in another post that you could use the bumper supports from a mustang for the rear, i was thinking of going that route rather then cutting out the old ones.

 

I used a 70-72 stone guard and cut the supports and rewelded them. Came out fine, eventually went to a small bumper.

 

Those parts are extremely rare around here. If i had my choice, i would most definitely go with a 70-72 style, but I have the 73 stuff, and it is way better then the 76 bumpers, so i want to use them and make them look as good as they can

 

There's nothing wrong with '73 bumpers if you remove at least the front bumper guards.

 

here is the tuck we did on Collin's 73...

 

That looks great! Curious what you did (what did you cut, move, etc) and what was the distance moved (2"?).

 

sorry...I see yours is a 73 Comet, his was a 73 Maverick.
we did do a tuck on a 74 Comet...this was on a newly painted car.
it was easy...
pic #1...the back of the stock filler panel was even with headlight.
pic #2...notched the (rubber) filler panel.
pic #3...notched filler panel installed.
pic #4...frame already had bolt holes for sliding the bumper brackets back.
pic #5...mount before.
pic #6...mount after moved.
pic #7...74 Comet bumper tucked...almost even with front of hood.

 

here it is at a cookout at my house...and they were invited for lunch...LOL

 

That looks great! the info on how you did the 73 tuck would be more appropriate as that is what I will be doing, the big bumpers are getting tossed

 

I don't know if the Maverick and Comet are the same...
if the 73 is a Comet, see if the 73 and 76 bumper mounts are the same.

 

I will, and I wil post what I find

 

Personal preference ... On that beige 73 I would have not moved it in quite that far.... maybe left it an inch further out. It is a super-subjective thing, but with the angle of the hood and grille when viewed from the side, I think it would be right on the money. You still want the bumper to be the furthest point forward from a design perspective. It gives it the illusion of speed while sitting still when looking at it from the side. It would get it just enough away from the marker light too, where it would not look like it is crowding them.

Mock the bumper up on jackstands or whatever and step back. Look at it from several angles. It is the same approach that I took in remounting my sport mirrors. That took several tries.

I REALLY like the tuck on the 74. That is right on. The back of the peak of the bumper picks up right below the peak of the hood. It is like they play off of each other.