[mlubahn]

Hello. Could someone tell me what the difference is between 70-72 nose, and 73? THANKS!

[Sharkbait40]

73 bumpers are much heavier due the minium imposed Federal 5mph crash standards for bumpers. I think it adds about 35 lbs more then the earlier bumbers. The 73 bumper uses both internal and external braces to achomplish this. The internal brace on the 73 forces the nose tip to extend ablut an 1.5 inches forward of the earlier noses. That also means that the 73 grille inserts are a one year only design and not interchangeable with earlier years. The 73 year bumpers and some late 72's have the bottom of the bumpers notched out at the bottom in 4 places where the plastic type(not metal) valance would attach to. I'll let someone else elaborate on the 70, 71-72 bumbers are I am not as familar with those.

[bird72]

I didn't know the 73 nose was longer to the point.... learned something... but the structural framework backing it up is beefier. The grille openings are different depths than 70-72 with 73 grilles being inset versus 70-72 grilles going to the front edge of opening.

[aronhk_md]

Some good info here, but can anybody be more specific? Measurements, pics of differences, etc? My body guy just called and said he isn't too sure about repairing my 72 nose.....the many cracks in the surface keep extending with pressure...so my guess is that even if repaired it would just happen again.

So....he is an hr away, and I don't have the nose in front of me, but I'd like to look for a replacement. I don't want to end up getting a 73.......Can anyone help?

P.S. If anyone has one they don't need...

[BobC]

One of the easiest ways for me to tell is the headlight mounting bracket. The '70-'72 is straight on the sides and the '73 is angled. If a '73 owner doesn't send a pic I can drive to where I have some stuff stored and take a pic of a '73 bumper. Check out ebay auction 250458331922 that's currently on ebay. Look at the bracket over the headlight opening in the bumper and compare that to the one on a '70-'72.

[aronhk_md]

Thanks Bob. If I am to understand correctly, when looking at the bumper from behind there is a large bracket sticking straight out (facing rearward) from the top of the headlight opening on the nose. It is molded in and shows clearly in the right hand column of photos in that auction....5th photo down. You are saying that bracket on a 70-72 does NOT have angled sides as the one in the auction does...it would be more of a rectangular shape?

[BobC]

Here's a pic of a '71 Formula. The Endura headlight bracket is rectangular in shape. You can see the difference between this one and the one in the ebay auction.

[aronhk_md]

I sure do Bob. Thanks very much!

Aron

[Exil]

you can use any 70'-72' grill in any/all 70'-73' noses,
but you can't use a 73' gill in a 70'-72' nose.
There will be a gap in the 70'-72' nose because of the shorter 73' grills. So 73' grills fit 73' noses only.

& yes the cracks will most likely come back. Its one of those things that you must remember not to lean over or put your hand there for suport while working on you motor.

[aronhk_md]

Thanks, thats good info too. But I was told a 73 nose won't bolt to the supports for a 70-72 car....so a 73 nose wont work for me. And I know in general not to lean on the nose to prevent cracking of the paint, but the old nose in this case must have the skin of the endura material hardened, and it too is easily cracking. I'd rather start with a better one.

[68bird400HO]

Another easy way I tell them apart is by the bottom lip. On the '70-'72 the bottom edge of the lip is straight. On the '73s, the edge of the bottom lip is not straight. It cuts up in one spot and cuts down to go around each of the bolt holes.

[webrunner]

An earlier post refers to the lower 5 holes as being on a 73 only. I take it now that is incorrect?: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...highlight=nose

[68bird400HO]

Originally Posted by webrunner

An earlier post refers to the lower 5 holes as being on a 73 only. I take it now that is incorrect?: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...highlight=nose

It looks like he is referring to my comment in the previous post. The bottom lip of that red nose in your linked thread is not straight. It dips down to go around the bolt holes. That is '73 only. The lip on the '70 to '72s has the bolt holes but is cut straight across the whole bottom.

[aronhk_md]

Here are pics of the 70-72 nose I just bought. Headlight bracket, bottom lip, and even lack of support behind center of nose are quite visible to me now.

[165th]

Aron, congrates on getting a nice front bumper. Another distinguishing characteristic of the '72 bumper is the recesses along the bottom lip to accommodate the plastic lower front valance. I'm not sure if this detail is on the '70, '71 but it is on the '72, '73. In these photos you can still see remnants of a plastic lower front valance bolted to the bumper that were painted over.

If using a metal lower front valance this detail will not be as important.

[aronhk_md]

Good info....was not aware of that. I'm going to have to use the one I have, even though mine is a 72. I'd like to go back to the plastic valance eventually, but I guess I'll have to change the nose again at that time to do it and get a real 72 bumper? Uggghhh!!!.....lol