how much does it usually cost?
antoniov1
Depends on what you pay for the sheet metal.
Depends if the 1970 pieces are going to be installed piece by piece or if the front end is going to be installed as a single unit.
Then ofcourse there is the wire harness to consider. Are you planning to modify the 1971 harness to the 1970 necessities? The 1970 has a different lighting design up front.
Has the current harness been modified for HEI distributor and internally regulated alternator (these are basic mods that most Chevelles go thru.....if your 1971 is externally regulated and the 1970 has been modified for internal, there is a possibility that the 1970 regulator portion of the harness has been eliminated?
There are alot of factors to consider when estimating the cost of making a 71-72 look like a 70. If you are just talking about bolting the 1970 front sheetmetal onto the 1971 frame, and you've already got the parts. I would say get some buddies together on a Saturday afternoon, grab a few cases of beer and go at it.
If you're planning on just dropping the car off at a shop with a blank check and instructions telling them to make it look like a 1970........well, ....
Depends if the 1970 pieces are going to be installed piece by piece or if the front end is going to be installed as a single unit.
Then ofcourse there is the wire harness to consider. Are you planning to modify the 1971 harness to the 1970 necessities? The 1970 has a different lighting design up front.
Has the current harness been modified for HEI distributor and internally regulated alternator (these are basic mods that most Chevelles go thru.....if your 1971 is externally regulated and the 1970 has been modified for internal, there is a possibility that the 1970 regulator portion of the harness has been eliminated?
There are alot of factors to consider when estimating the cost of making a 71-72 look like a 70. If you are just talking about bolting the 1970 front sheetmetal onto the 1971 frame, and you've already got the parts. I would say get some buddies together on a Saturday afternoon, grab a few cases of beer and go at it.
If you're planning on just dropping the car off at a shop with a blank check and instructions telling them to make it look like a 1970........well, ....
I changed my 71 to a 70. If I can help ,,Just ask. I also used THREE -1970 wiring harnesses,
1--1970 SS Under Hood & Engine harness.
2--1970 SS dash harness
3--1970 A/C harness.
4--org. 1970 SS Dash.
Note: If you change EVERYTHING to 1970, " IF A/C equipped "--- You MUST also change to a 1970-A/C wiring harness-70s & 71-72 A/C harness is different. Trivia- 1971 A/C harness has relays ( under the glove box) to turn the A/C compressor " ON " after the key is OUT of the Ign. 1970s do not do this.
OR.......... After the car is running and driving and you CANNOT get the A/C to work, WHY ? A 1971 Stand alone A/C harness is different than the 1970 stand alone A/C harness. So,,, All I had to do after the car is finished and driving was ,,Pull the dash apart, REMOVE the 1971 A/C harness, This harness exits near the center of the dash by Dist. need a TALL FRIEND.
Looking back, It would have been toooo easy to change this A/C harness that goes across the firewall, WHEN the engine and front clip were not on the car, And the interior had no dash at all inside the car.
Anyhow, The A/C works just fine !
Bob
1--1970 SS Under Hood & Engine harness.
2--1970 SS dash harness
3--1970 A/C harness.
4--org. 1970 SS Dash.
Note: If you change EVERYTHING to 1970, " IF A/C equipped "--- You MUST also change to a 1970-A/C wiring harness-70s & 71-72 A/C harness is different. Trivia- 1971 A/C harness has relays ( under the glove box) to turn the A/C compressor " ON " after the key is OUT of the Ign. 1970s do not do this.
OR.......... After the car is running and driving and you CANNOT get the A/C to work, WHY ? A 1971 Stand alone A/C harness is different than the 1970 stand alone A/C harness. So,,, All I had to do after the car is finished and driving was ,,Pull the dash apart, REMOVE the 1971 A/C harness, This harness exits near the center of the dash by Dist. need a TALL FRIEND.
Looking back, It would have been toooo easy to change this A/C harness that goes across the firewall, WHEN the engine and front clip were not on the car, And the interior had no dash at all inside the car.
Anyhow, The A/C works just fine !
Bob
I find that too…but to me (and I'm talking for myself now) I have nothing against switching a '71-'72 front end for a '70 as long as you also change the rear bumper to match the '70 front end! :yes: If not, it makes a car that never existed or worse, it looks like a car which might have been involved in an accident which was fixed by mixing parts from wrong year donor cars!…:wacko:
Claude.
Claude.
I presently own a 1970 and a 1971. 10 years ago I also owned a 14,000 mile '72 SS hardtop as well. I do feel the 1971 is the better looking of the three year run..
GM did a phenomenal job cleaning up the hic cups in the changeover design when they moved into the '71 model year. No more bug eyed headlights and a refreshingly rolled top to bottom rear bumper. Nothing more says Chevrolet like 2 tail lights.
Chevy's customizing artists pulled the rabbit out of their hats on that one.
I realize a '70 is worth more money but the better bang for the buck is the '71 or possibly a '72.
The color choices for 1971 and 1972 were far broader and some were quite extreme. Yes, the engine lineup shrank put the still performed admirably . With some day TWO modifications everything lost was once again gained in a very stylish package.
Only my honest opinion so don't throw stones at me.
GM did a phenomenal job cleaning up the hic cups in the changeover design when they moved into the '71 model year. No more bug eyed headlights and a refreshingly rolled top to bottom rear bumper. Nothing more says Chevrolet like 2 tail lights.
Chevy's customizing artists pulled the rabbit out of their hats on that one.
I realize a '70 is worth more money but the better bang for the buck is the '71 or possibly a '72.
The color choices for 1971 and 1972 were far broader and some were quite extreme. Yes, the engine lineup shrank put the still performed admirably . With some day TWO modifications everything lost was once again gained in a very stylish package.
Only my honest opinion so don't throw stones at me.
According to the "supply and demand" rule the 71-72's can be had cheaper because more folks do prefer 70's but still, it would probably be cheaper to just sell the 71-72 and buy a 70 by the time you bought everything needed to change the front clip.
For me it was not a problem. WHY? My 71 is a Nomad Wagon that was wrecked. I needed a complete 71 front clip. I had a 70 El Camino SS front clip.
I am building a driver, So I went with the 70 front end. I just sold my other 71 wagon. Dang it !
If it was not hit in the front, It would still have the 71 front end. I see nothing wrong with a 71-72. Just to change a front clip so it looks like a different year is nuts, Unless you have a wreck or building something odd.
To make a 71 look like a 70, You need other things like a GREEN DASH, 1970 interior, Seat covers front & rear, Rear end trim & bumper. All 1970 wiring harness. 70-72 wagons have the same looking rear.
I used 1970 El Camino tailight housings and 1970 red lens & 69 backup lens. Its about DETAILS, NOT just a front clip. My conversion has TWO - 1971 items to give it away. 71 master Cyl has no bleeders, And the Ser. number says its a 71. On my information sheet, I state.... I started with a ugly green 71 Nomad Wagon. :yes:
Bob
I am building a driver, So I went with the 70 front end. I just sold my other 71 wagon. Dang it !
If it was not hit in the front, It would still have the 71 front end. I see nothing wrong with a 71-72. Just to change a front clip so it looks like a different year is nuts, Unless you have a wreck or building something odd.
To make a 71 look like a 70, You need other things like a GREEN DASH, 1970 interior, Seat covers front & rear, Rear end trim & bumper. All 1970 wiring harness. 70-72 wagons have the same looking rear.
I used 1970 El Camino tailight housings and 1970 red lens & 69 backup lens. Its about DETAILS, NOT just a front clip. My conversion has TWO - 1971 items to give it away. 71 master Cyl has no bleeders, And the Ser. number says its a 71. On my information sheet, I state.... I started with a ugly green 71 Nomad Wagon. :yes:
Bob
Coupe,wagon or El Camino ? I looked and couldn't find which one you're converting.
4 door front end won't fit a coupe but it will fit wagon & El Camino
Actually I think the old sage is right
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/566/MVC-011S.JPG
good call Dean but we still don't know what model the op's working on.
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/566/MVC-011S.JPG
good call Dean but we still don't know what model the op's working on.
I think maybe we are saying the same thing but 70-72 4 door cars, coupes, sedans, convertibles all take the same fenders.
70-72 station wagon and El Camino take the same fenders which are different than the above models.
![Image]()
70-72 station wagon and El Camino take the same fenders which are different than the above models.
Some are in denial, but the 71-72 body style now dominates popular culture!
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_324704-Chevrolet-Chevelle-Malibu-1971.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGLx4zzMdRA
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_810837-Chevrolet-Chevelle-Malibu-1972.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtJypNcyNsA
and don't give me this "its cheaper to wreck". In 3/4 examples above the car is not even scratched.
Those 4 rear tailights embedded in the chrome bumper are iconic.
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_324704-Chevrolet-Chevelle-Malibu-1971.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGLx4zzMdRA
http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_810837-Chevrolet-Chevelle-Malibu-1972.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtJypNcyNsA
and don't give me this "its cheaper to wreck". In 3/4 examples above the car is not even scratched.
Those 4 rear tailights embedded in the chrome bumper are iconic.
I have a 71 but would much prefer a 70.
I like the 4 headlight look and how smooth it is around the lights. More sleek. The 71-72 front end has points that remind me more of that era Cadillac than anything.
I also love the 70 rear SS bumper. That big black pad helps break up the excessive chrome and is a classy way to get the SS logo out back. The tacked on emblem on the 71-72 SS looks terrible to me (hence why my SS clone doesn't have a badge back there).
If my car were ever to be wrecked I would replace it with a 70. The style is worth the extra purchase price to me.
I like the 4 headlight look and how smooth it is around the lights. More sleek. The 71-72 front end has points that remind me more of that era Cadillac than anything.
I also love the 70 rear SS bumper. That big black pad helps break up the excessive chrome and is a classy way to get the SS logo out back. The tacked on emblem on the 71-72 SS looks terrible to me (hence why my SS clone doesn't have a badge back there).
If my car were ever to be wrecked I would replace it with a 70. The style is worth the extra purchase price to me.
I don't find the differences between 71 and 72 significant enough to care either way. But I will say I cannot stand 72s which have fully chrome headlight bezels...they need to be painted black since the are made to look like they flow into the grill. I ended up painting my 71 headlight bezels because it looks better on them too IMO.
Like this:
![Image]()
Not this (even though this is a nice looking car):
![Image]()
I prefer the 71 marker lights but only because I HATE amber lenses on anything. Clear lenses are much less of a distraction. The bottom picture above seems to have clear 72 markers which I've never seen before but I like them a lot better.
Like this:
Not this (even though this is a nice looking car):
I prefer the 71 marker lights but only because I HATE amber lenses on anything. Clear lenses are much less of a distraction. The bottom picture above seems to have clear 72 markers which I've never seen before but I like them a lot better.
Most likely all of us here really like them all, we just like some a little more that the others.
But according to the polls on here the 70's were definitely the most liked.
But then how may thousands of folks didn't take part in those polls or even know about them?
But according to the polls on here the 70's were definitely the most liked.
But then how may thousands of folks didn't take part in those polls or even know about them?
Something I saw in another thread "They are like boobies, I like them all, some just a little more than others. :thumbsup:
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