[Guest]

I have a 71 chevelle and would like to make it a 70, without a complete change of radiator support and fenders. This isn't a show car and I have a limited budget. Does a 70 front bumper fit on a 71 at all? I could get a 70 radiator support cheap enough and change fender extensions I've been told that I could cut off the lower front part of a donor 70 fender and weld it to the 71, is this even necessary cause if the front bumpers would switch I might just cut holes for the clearance side lights in the 71 fender.. thanks

 

[Clark]

tyrfryr
The problem I see in addition to what you just mentioned is the front of the fender. The front of a 71 fender is built to accomodate one headlight bucket, the 70 fender has a larger "hole" that can handle dual lights. I have heard of people cutting out a larger area in a 71 fender so the 70 fender extensions will fit, keep that in mind.

The 70 bumper should bolt right up to a 71.

I dont think the 70 fender extensions will bolt up to a 71 radiator support without modification.

Your going to need to modify the wiring harness and acquire the light sockets. You will need a 70 grill assembly also.

Hot Rod magazine did this conversion to 71 not to long ago but I dont have that copy anymore.

Good Luck

Clark
TC #68
Korea

[This message has been edited by Clark (edited 02-02-2000).]

 

[Dean]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by tyrfryr:
I have a 71 chevelle and would like to make it a 70, without a complete change of radiator support and fenders. This isn't a show car and I have a limited budget. Does a 70 front bumper fit on a 71 at all? I could get a 70 radiator support cheap enough and change fender extensions I've been told that I could cut off the lower front part of a donor 70 fender and weld it to the 71, is this even necessary cause if the front bumpers would switch I might just cut holes for the clearance side lights in the 71 fender.. thanks<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

tryfryr, here's about all I know (rember) from experience;

I grafted the lower part of a 70 fender with the side marker light onto a 71 fender and installed it on a 70. I had to butcher out the 71 fender around the head light bucket area a little which was hidden, once the fender extension was installed.
I don't think just cutting holes for the marker lights would look too good since the area around the holes is recessed.
I don't know if you can do the same thing using a 71-72 core support or not but I doubt it since you need 4 head light buckets
I'm pretty sure the 70 and the 71-72 bumpers mount exactly the same so you should have no problem there.

I think the best looking Chevelle would be a 70 with a 71-72 rear bumper.

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Dean Call
Team Gold member #3
A.C.E.S. # 00235
N.C.O.A. # 4350
Mid America Chevelle Club #001
chevelles.net

 

[DG]

Other than the fact I own a 70 Malibu and prefer it over 71/72 front end why do you want to do it?

I do know it is common to swap the 71/72 rear bumper onto a 70 Chevelle.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>
This isn't a show car and I have a limited budget.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This conversion sounds like it would not be cheap or easy. But if you already have 70 parts, you might be better off selling them and buying 71 parts. Besides the 70 bumpers and fenders are 1 year only.

At least with 71/72 you have 2 years of production to find GM parts. Or yo ucan use the repop fenders.

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DG
Springfield, Ohio
70 Chevelle Malibu

www.genxspeed.com/dg/chevy.htm
[email protected]
TEAM Chevelle Member #0086
Genx member (Founder 4 Ohio)
eBay username: dg98adams

 

[Coppertop]

A lot of work

!

It would almost be easier to search for a 1970. You also have remember you'll be doing a lot of electrical wiring harness work, because you can't simply go from a 2 headlight car to a 4 headlight car.

 

[Shawn]

I agree with Dean about the best looking Chevelle being a '70 with a '71 rear bumper. That would look great. Another nice touch would be to stick a '70 El Camino's front bumper on there as well. I wonder if there's anyone out there that's actually done that?!

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1970 Chevy Custom El Camino aka Kaileigh
Green Mist & Silver w/Green Vinyl Top
350ci/300HP 4bbl & Factory Dual Exhaust
Non-SS with Factory Rallies!
TH-350 Automatic - 2.73 Posi Rear
My El Camino Home Page - www.dreamelectric.com

 

[Morris]

70 front end is a better looking design.I've thought about putting a 70 front clip on my 72 more than once.To try to modify your 71 clip could result in desroying what fenders you do have.Find a 70 front clip,even on a limited budget it can be found at a good price. Be patient and look hard and save some $$ .

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There is no replacement for displacement.
72 SS W/ls6,4-SPD. 68 Malibu 396,4-spd.

 

[RagTop70]

I had a 71 and wanted to do the same thing. Have you removed the 71 fender extensions and looked in there? You will definitely need the 70 core support, or 68-9, to hold the extra headlights. I would also wait for a pair of 70 fenders. You'll also need the 70 grill. The prices for the items: pair of fender ext. 75-100, new grille about 125, pair new fenders about 500, good used core support 75-100. You'll also need headlights, trim rings, and buckets, a wiring harness, the bumper, turn signal lenses, and the side marker lights. You might just do what I did: I figured that I wanted a 70 so I bought one and sold the 71. I'm not trying to discourage you, but you should be aware of what you're getting into.

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Mike
formerly known as gotapileof70Malibu
'70 Malibu
'70 Malibu convertible
see the ragtop at:
http://genxrodsandcustoms.8m.com/mike.html
North Vernon, IN

 

[Ima 71nut]

What are you guys, NUTS.......Be proud of your 71 heritage, and remember Dean you are 1/2 right.

 

[Dean]

No John, you are just two head lights short of a real nice looking Chevelle

--llllllll--

how did the tour go Saturday ? sorry I had to miss being with y'all
you do have a very pretty rear bumper (on your car)

John's 71 SS 454


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Dean Call
Team Gold member #3
A.C.E.S. # 00235
N.C.O.A. # 4350
Mid America Chevelle Club #001
chevelles.net



[This message has been edited by Dean (edited 02-03-2000).]

 

[Doug Garland]

If you use a ' 71 front end, and a ' 70 front bumper, you will have 2 sets of parking lights. You can use the parking light holes in the front bumper, and install some aftermarket fog lights.Check out Mike's convertible and you will see what lights I am talking about in the bumper.

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1972 Malibu (1 st. car) Project waiting to happen
Team Chevelle # 427
A.C.E.S. # 1282