The Dodge Challenger Message Board

Hey, I'm new to the boards and I just registered. My name's Dylan. Im 16 and i have a 1972 Dodge Challenger that I am currently restoring. My father owns a machine shop, so I've been fabricating some custom pieces for the car, like a new console. The only thing I dont like about my car is the front grille. I was going to fabricate a new design, but an actual earlier challenger grille would look even better. On the 72, its a single large fiberglass piece, with flares around the headlight buckets that extend the fenderlines another 3/4 of an inch. I am trying to find a 70 grille to purchase, maybe even a 71, and I would just swap out the grilles, since the cars stayed basically the same from 1970-74. The only thing I am unsure about is the fiberglass extensions that the 72 grille has built in. The headlight buckets are separate from the grille on 70 and 71, unlike 72-74, and I was wondering if any of you know if they have the same little ring that extends the fenderlines around the edge. You cant see that its not part of the fender on the 72 when the car is all together, because body filler covers up the gap and makes it seamless. Anyone know for sure if a 70 grille and headlight buckets are a bolt-on fit to the 72?

This has been covered in detail on here a few times. Use the "search" facility tab under the main board title to find the theads.

Basically it has been done many times. The light buckets are part of the fender assembly on 70-71 cars so it is not a simple bolt-on but if you have all the right parts it is not too hard.

Welcome! Here's an old thread on the subject that just about sums it up:

http://challenger.mpoli.fi/forum/viewto ... le+on+a+72

I'm just about to do the same swap, once I've restored my grille and buckets to a decent enough quality I'll just pop down to the garage and take a pic of the grille to answer your question...

Here they are:

Yeah, sorry about posting on this subject again, I didnt see the search tab at the top of the page, I was looking on the forum index for something, and I did search through and find a couple articles. Thanks again for helping out. Yeah, I grabbed a 70 grille off ebay yesterday for 105 bucks, I think a killer deal for what I've seen em going for. Headlight buckets are my only problem now, as on ebay they are going for as much as the grilles. Im going to search around local junkyards and stuff, try to find a pair.

Oh, and thanks for the picture Chuck Key

Moparman1972 wrote:Im going to search around local junkyards and stuff, try to find a pair.

Oh, and thanks for the picture Chuck Key

If only we could just go and do that over here!

And it's a pleasure old bean

Yeah, its a pretty good source.