here's my 76 conversion using the exsisting mounts....it places the bumper an inch & 1/2 higher than the correct mounts but i don't think it looks bad at all

i used a piece of heavy angle iron, attached those to the bumper brackets, slid them into the square bumper mounts, drilled holes and used the same bolts....the front was fast and friendly..the rear a bit more hassle


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IMHO, it would bother me to look at a profile shot and not have the impact strip not line up with the rest of the side impact strip. Again, this is just an opinion!

Cris
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The rides!


www.cardomain.com/ride/792851

www.cardomain.com/ride/792793

cj wrote:

IMHO, it would bother me to look at a profile shot and not have the impact strip not line up with the rest of the side impact strip. Again, this is just an opinion! Cris

cris...look at the pic below...when i taped the car for 2 tone...i laid the tape in a straight line, front to back or back to front...i don't recall...at the time, i didn't consider the euro bumper height

as you can see...there's little, if any visual distortion in the lines on the car with the bumper being a tad higher


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I wouldnt so much be bothered by the rubber strip lines, but the front and how it lines up with the grill - Its nearly covering the grill which IMHO is just far too high and takes away from the look of the front end of the car.

I think the bumper should be at the correct height if you do the conversion. Do it once, do it well.

Only my opinion of course...
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72tii - Whitey
74 - Blacky

Never mind Tom and Cris, Esty's way is right - we are all dick heads.

Do it right the first time and be happy with your outcome. You have to fill the gapping holes from the old ones, why not cut new holes for the bumper mounts.

I love the Mintgrun! I am a huge fan of both of those 70's greens on a 2002... A real piece of the 70's! This car will look superb when it is done!

Todd
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When my cousin Matt decided to have me help him convert his '74 tii to '73 US bumpers we decided that since he was going to have his car painted anyway that we should have the body guy/painter modify the nose for mounting of the '73 style bumper brackets. He chose '73 brackets so that he would have a little bit of protection, not alot but some.

It worked out very well, and looks correct as if it really was a euro car but with '73 US brackets. We borrowed a friends '73 tii to take measurements from for the slots in the front and all other holes including the holes in the front frame rails.

The front bumper on pre '74 '02s doesn't line up square with the lower molding but a bit below, where as the rear bumper lines up with the molding.

For some good insparation on fitting the front bumper check out Stella..

http://my2002tii.com/mar2003/marchpart2.htm

As for Matt's tii here's the progression...


Before


Delivering to the Body Guy


New Arktis Blau met. paint


Finished

He took about a year to make his final decision, attending many '02 gatherings, seeing many different varitions of bumper conversions. Finally he decided that since he was going to have the car painted anyway that he chose to go the FULL euro look, Italian turnsignals euro headlights, shaved sidemarkers and all, well except for the '73 bumper brackets.
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Tom Jones
BMWCCA Life 49246
Vacaville CA
a Wrench @ http://www.ipb-autosport.com/
& http://www.caseymotorsports.com
67 1600-2 Granada
+ 3 more 1600-2's
67 1800A stored
76 2002 F/S soon
86 528e 5sp Mine 369k
86 528eA Wife's
90 CRX HF 50mpg!

He certainly made the right decision. Very clean look. My congrats to him on a beautiful car
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72tii - Whitey
74 - Blacky

NICE!! Very nice... in Australia, that is how all 74> look, so we kinda take it for granted. A hot looking 2002 is a hot looking 2002 though!! You and your brother have excelled with your decisions.

Todd
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TMK-001 wrote:

Never mind Tom and Cris, Esty's way is right - we are all dick heads. Todd

this is a nice car...nothing wrong with it in my book but the rubber is obviously lower than the trim on the car...isn't that what we're talking about?









are the judgment rendering, posting police wearing their blinders this morning...we have someone starting crap and it ain't me
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Esty,

This is a beautiful car. I interested in the grille. Where did it come from? Did you add the chrome yourself?

otto wrote:

Hey all I'm planning on installing a front '73 bumper on my '74 tomorrow, and am debating between using the existing mounting holes (with a bracket adapter) vs. cutting sheet metal and going with the original mounts. What are the impacts to the bumper height/alignment in the front with either option?? As always, thanks for any comments! d

AWESOME! I have some early bumpers sitting in my e28. I was told you can make an adaptor with your square bumper shocks and an early bracket? I have to get some brackets first.

wohleb wrote:

Esty, This is a beautiful car. I interested in the grille. Where did it come from? Did you add the chrome yourself?

peel and stick plastic chrome wheel well trim...off the shelf from practically any corner auto store...it comes in, i think, 25 foot lengths is back'd with 3M heavy duty adhesive and sells for under $10 per roll





so you know how strong and lasting the stuff is, i had some around my wheelwell openings for more than 15 years and had trouble removing it when i did the testoration



it's also good for covering old door panel trim



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I ended up going with the original mount location. I used the old bumper shock covers to conceal the holes that still exist in the front valence. They angle upwards, which looks a little off, but I think it looks better than gaping holes. (no body work for me until such time deems I need to do it - knock on wood i don't;)

Pix attached of the euro conversion almost complete. Just need to secure the wings on the front, and plug the holes.
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otto - '76 mintgrun sunroof early bumpers
otto's lady friend - '71 fiat 124 1602
otto's man friend - '70 ford f100

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otto wrote:

I ended up going with the original mount location. I used the old bumper shock covers to conceal the holes that still exist in the front valence. They angle upwards, which looks a little off, but I think it looks better than gaping holes. (no body work for me until such time deems I need to do it - knock on wood i don't;)

that's a pretty slick way of making it work without welding....why didn't i think of that..
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