[1973Formula]

Are all 70-73 Endura noses the same? Will the support structure from a '73 fit in the earlier noses?

Thanks,

[Mr Twister]

Minor differences with the 70-72's (I can't tell them apart, but those in the know can) They interchange. 73's are 1 year only, and no, the support structure will not fit the earlier ones.

[cliffhanger]

the noses are in base the same from 70-72, however, the grills are different. 71 grills have a slightly more outward, or curve following chrome edge in the nose, while 70's for example are layed back in the nose just a tiny bit more....

73's are as mentioned above different. first of all in looks as the grills are positioned way deeper in the nose then 70-72 ones, and again, like mentioned, the structure is different due to 5mph regulations. 70-72's are interchangeable, 73's aren't, unless, you have the will for it. if you can put a 73 nose on a 78 bird, you sure can put a 73 nose on a 71 or reverse...but it's not like taking the old one off and mounting the 'new' one....

good luck

[WILD KAt]

Interesting. Did not know that yet.
Here is a picture of a nose that I have in my spare parts shack. Is it a '73? I thought so because of the grille. Is the '73 nose heavier than the olders?

[1973Formula]

Those are '73 grilles. Not sure if everything else is '73. I do not see the internal bracing that goes inside the '73 bumper, but that is easy to remove.

Later-

[WILD KAt]

I take a picture of the rear tomorrow, then it is clear. Thanks.

[Mr Twister]

Originally Posted by WILD KAt

Interesting. Did not know that yet.
Here is a picture of a nose that I have in my spare parts shack. Is it a '73? I thought so because of the grille. Is the '73 nose heavier than the olders?

That IS a 73. Notice the 5 holes along the bottom, that helps to ID it at a glance, It will also have 2 studs behind the center point, the others do not have them

[aronhk_md]

[SIZE="3"]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.



[SIZE]

[cliffhanger]

as you will notice, the grey nose pictured above is 'cut' exactly where the grille's end up.
on a 73, the nose is cut way deeper to follow the 'curve' until it ends where the 73 grille's start. in other words, it has way more depth.

I did not know before that 73 noses are a bit 'longer' in the center. it would be nice to see the difference. perhaps somebody can measure the top of the nose from where the centre meets the hood to the absolute farest point of the nose, both for a 70-72 as to 73?

it would be interesting to know the difference in numbers. I guess it would make a bit longer area for absorbing a collision due to the 5 MPH regulations, though it just as easily has to do with the need to extend the lenght due to the size of the inner bracing.....

I personally dig both noses, as the 73 nose shows more 'body' of the nose due to the deepness of the grills, on the other hand I like the 70-72 noses as the grills follow the entire shape of the nose resulting in a 'sharper' or 'more expressed' curve.

If I had a completely freehand resto body, I would love to put a 73 nose with a 70-72 metal lower valance panel, t/a front panels, base hood with 'ala' boss mustang air intake, t/a rear spoiler with a 77 rear bumper (not lights) in a 78 red paint with a white t/a center stripe and some old fashioned racing wheels with matte grey inserts. but I have way too much dreams, wishes etc. for fun......I'd be one of those 'peeps' having like 7 or 8 versions of 1 'model' in my garage (from every brand XD).

anyway, the red one definately IS a 73, and the grey one is I guess a 71 or 72, I'd guess its a 71 like mine as the 71 grille inserts (atleast the chrome part) 'bends' outward a bit following the curve alongside the center part of the nose. the 70 one does not have that minor outward curve at the center of the nose as it has a more straight shape (the grilles that is), IF i recall/observed correctly. I do NOT know however, if there are possibly even differences in a 70 nose and a 71-72 nose. perhaps somebody with experience can tell, but I haven't noticed/read about it before, so I assume not.

Grille 'mesh' has different designs through all years as well. the 73 has a 'eggcrate' shape, the 71 has a honeycomb-like design (dont remember the 72, i assume comparable), and the 70 has a 'rectangular' design if i'm right. So keep in mind that not only the nose itself, but the grilles are actually very different every year as well. then there are 2 different versions of the lower valance panel as one is in plastic and one in metal which have slightly different shapes. I believe the 73 lower valance panel is different to the 70-72 models as well. atleast I have noticed a difference on photographs. I even believe the lower t/a center spoiler of 73 is different then the 70-72's, but I could be wrong there.

I'm sure others on this board with actual experience on different model years can give input on this.

[bird72]

had 'em both, dig 'em both.....

slight tip of hat to earlier 70-72 with grille edge matching nose edge for a fuller lip on top especially...

73 has a bit even more agressive "open" look to it.....

of course, 72, with the one year only honeycomb grilles, when matched with honeycomb rims, is vastly better than all other years

particularly when coupled with a no spoiler look, wheeee...........

[aronhk_md]

Yes, its definitely the 72 grill with the honeycomb.I too would be interested in measurements, perhaps by placing something flat like a ruler on the front of the nose and measuring back to the center point by the hood opening........

I'll try to measure my grey nose and post it here in a few days.

Something mentioned in the other post that almost parallels this post....the 72 nose has cutouts/recesses (check out the other post for a pic with a blue nose) for the plastic valance they started that year! My guess is you cant use the plastic valance with a 70-71 nose and get as clean a look....might not even line up with the spoilers well!