front valance doesnt line up! • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **rookie** » 28 Mar 2006 19:24

hi i dont seem to get the front valance panel to line up correct it has been this way since i bougth the car! there is about one inch maybe more betwen the bumper and the panel! it doesnt look correct can someone pleas post som pictures of the front valance / bumper area??

thanks rookie

by **Bilko** » 28 Mar 2006 21:31

Rookie,
can you post a picture of your valence? It might help to see the problem.

by **rookie** » 29 Mar 2006 14:45

hi bilko here is some pictures! there is two screws on both sides to the fenders! i cant get it any more up as long as its fastned to the fenders! or do i have to use force and bend it up?

by **dave-r** » 29 Mar 2006 14:58

That panel does not meet the bumper. But there should be an even gap.

There should be two bolts each side. Plus two brackets that attach to the frame. Plus another bracket that attaches to the center rad support pillar thing.

I can take some photos tonight for you.

To be honest I think your bumper is twisted?

by **dave-r** » 29 Mar 2006 15:04

Just remembered. :oops:

My bumper is not on the car at the moment. I can photo the brackets and attachment points if you want.

Can someone else take a photo of the gap between bumper and vallance panel for us please??

by **Bilko** » 29 Mar 2006 17:56

These are the best I can manage as my car is quite near the wall.
Should the fenders be slackened off to fit the valance?

by **dave-r** » 29 Mar 2006 18:28

Thanks Bilko. On mine I think the gap is a little wider but I have a cheap plastic copy of a front bumper so I'm not that suprised.

Anyway. Looking at Rookie's last photo it looks to me as if several things might be going on.

The valance looks about right at each end. However it looks to be sagging in the middle which suggests to me it is not bolted in the middle.

The bumper looks twisted.

The bumper may be too far forward or somehow mounted too high. Are the bumper to chassis brackets on correctly?

Here is a photo of the brackets that should be supporting the vallance and making it rigid.
Forget about the row of bolts you see along the bottom edge. They are just holding the front spoilers on.

by **rookie** » 29 Mar 2006 18:45

ok thanks for the help there is something seriosly wrong!! beacause i dont have any of the brackets or the radiator support thing in the middel!!

and not the hood fastner! just hood pins!

this has been a strip car so it seems they cut it all out!!! great!???

but i can make som brackets to support the valance. but i will still not get it any more up in the middle!
and i know the fender is crokced! but i still think the distance betwen bumper an valance is to big!

o well !!i apriciate all close up pictures i can get on how it should be!!

thanks guys

by **Christer** » 02 Apr 2006 9:51

I borrowed this pic from http://www.mapleleafmopars.homestead.co ... l2006.html . Hope it helps.

by **Moparman1972** » 29 Apr 2006 20:52

Hey rookie, I know you're having problems with the valance but it looks like you've got another problem, too. In your pictures, you had the car up on jackstands. If you still have the motor in it, I would throw a jack back under it right away. You cant let the front end hang off the jackstands like that, or it will screw things up.

by **JackT** » 30 Apr 2006 2:43

It looks like the bumper brackets are in the way of the valence as well. The bumper looks correct.... bent, but correct and the inboard passenger side bolt seems to be missing.

Check all the part numbers on everything you have and make sure you have all 1970 Challenger parts. The outer brackets are 2962334-5 and the inner brackets are 2962330-1. Any Challenger front valence should bolt up correctly, but the bumper (2962348) and bracket combination has to be correct. If you want to get a core support and the hood latch supports, contact me and I will get you a source. Trust me, you need this on a unibody.