1972 Firebird Valance to rad support
 

Hi: Figure I'd post here, more views. Looking for pics or a video on how the 72 front valance piece mounts to the Rad support.


The one I have that came with the car is damaged, so I need a new one. but still trying to figure out how it mounts. I've seen how it mounts to the fenders, and how it butts up against the bumper, or close to the bumper, but that's where I'm puzzled.


Thanks for any help.

the I believe that the 1970, 1972, and 1973 assembly manuals should show it - incase you have access to one of those.

feel free to email me, and I can send you a picture of it from the 1970 assembly manual if you like.

Thank you . I have a 72 assembly manual. I have the 72 maintenance manual, but still from what I know it seems like the panel I have is damaged. I had a friend he yesterday, and we both tried fitting the panel and came to the same conclusion, it is just damaged too much to fit properly. I just need to find a pic from one of these cars showing the way the panel connects to the radiator support. I'm gonna have to put the nose on the car and then see how it fit. Thanks again Johnny.

Wasn't there 2 different valance panels in 72?
A plastic and a metal one?


Which one are you trying to fit?
Seems like the plastic one took different way to mount?
(could be CRS also :eek:)


:confused:

Try this link from another thread:


Plastic Valance


:)

Thanks for the reply. I have the metal valance. I did some bending on the valance yesterday and know understand how it mounts to the rad support. The valance is twisted and was damaged, so that really threw me off when looking at how it mounts. I'm gonna have to install the inner wheel wells, then the fenders, and work my way forward to the front end bumper. I'll have to post a few pics, as the valance to the bumper doesn't look correct or finished properly when installed. I looked on YouTube for actual videos on mounting the radiator support to bumper and valance, but there isn't much. Thank again for the input guys.

Here is what I find strange with the front ends. Both cars are 72. The open area of the valance to bumper areas. The blue car looks finished. The white one show bolt holes on the bumper just above the lower valance. Is this normal? Looks unfinished. My valance is the same as the white car. Pic of reproduction valance. So is the Blue car the plastic version? Thanks

Yes. No bolt hole in center.

The blue car has the plastic valance that was only available for a short time, then they went to the metal ones like the white car. They do look more unfinished than the plastic but are much stronger and will last longer.

My 72 has the metal one which I dont mind... something strange I found when I was repainting my car was regarding that open area showing bolt heads, from what I read & saw on original cars, that area should be painted flat black regardless of body color, helps to hide that area a little.

Ok, Thanks for the info. Yes seems really weird it's like that. I have the new metal one ordered. I will probably make something to cover the bottom of the bumper. Thanks all of you again.

Some steel valance cars had the lower lip of the endura bumper blacked out, so the lip isn't super visible in the lower valance openings. I blacked this area on my 70, and it makes it look much more finished imo

GM had service bulletin for the dealers to replace all the late 72 and 73 broken plastic valances with the metal one and to paint the uncovered area of the lower nose flat black

When I built my 73 drag car out of a plain 70 orange ,Esprit. I tried buying the plastic valance,couldnt. A good friend who worked a PMD showed me his 72 TA that had the plastic valance. I really liked the look,covering lower part of bumper, he said better off with the steel. So I painted lower part of bumper with black dull paint. Its ok!