73 Challenger - Rear Bumper, What am I doing Wrong?

[Marty73]

Where the brackets mount to the body - off about 1/2 an inch. These are the same brackets & bumper that came off the car many years ago when I started the project. Not sure what i have wrong...any ideas?

[Burdar]

Those don't look like 73 brackets.  They look like 74's.  Those brackets don't mount directly to the bumper.  74 has a thick bumper support that mounts behind the bumper.  The brackets then mount to that reinforcement.

73 uses a different style bumper bracket and a thick bumper support as well.  For what it's worth, it looks like the brackets are mounted on the wrong side anyway.  Switch them side to side and see how they fit.

[Marty73]

To clarify, where the brackets mount to the body - they are about 1/2 inch off horizontally  - I would need to grind about 1/2 an inch to move the bumper to bolt the whole assembly onto the body

[Marty73]

Interesting, there was no bumper support when it came off the car - just directly mounted like I have done. Maybe the previous owner removed it to tighten up the fitment?

[Burdar]

I modified my original response.  Switch the brackets side to side(or flip them around) and see if it fits then.

The reinforcement is shown in the factory drawing you posted.

[Marty73]

I'll give it a whirl tomorrow, if they still don't fit guess I'm going back to ebay for a reinforcement.

Thank you!

[Burdar]

If that's how it was mounted on the car when you got it, it should fit now.  I think the brackets are just on the wrong side or you need to flip them around.

[Cudajason]

I modified my original response.  Switch the brackets side to side(or flip them around) and see if it fits then.

The reinforcement is shown in the factory drawing you posted.

Agreed.  they looks like they are upside down to me.

Jason

[RUNCHARGER]

Yep: Switch them side to side.

[Marty73]

So when I flip them, the 90 degree still goes on the outside correct?

[Burdar]

That's what the diagram seems to show.

[Marty73]

FWIW The brackets were on right, but the right side was bent (didn't sit flat) bumper is on with two bolts. I'm not happy about it, but it's on...