Bumpers I think I know the answer...

[rebelgtp]

Ok my Cutlass is missing its bumpers (its an 80 with the metal bumpers). I have been walking past a 81 or 82 Regal in the yard for months now without ever thinking if the bumpers would fit just assuming they would not. I had thought about a front clip swap but that idea went out the window.

I then got looking at the pictures and the bumpers do look VERY similar. Is it possible that the Regal bumpers would fit? I was going to yank the bumper supports from it anyway so if I can might as well grab the full bumpers. I think the Regal bumpers are not quite as deep as the stock Olds bumpers, would they possibly fit but not stick out as far? I would be just fine with that.

 

[Oldsmoletick]

Physically they should bolt right on, cosmetically will not look right, you would pretty much have to make filler panels to make up for the huge gaps you would have, I doubt the buick fillers would fit right either. But if you did it, and did it well, I think it would look good, since the buick bumpers are less bulbous.

 

[Blake442]

If you manage to get them to bolt up, it's gonna look retarded...

 

[rebelgtp]

Well I decided to go for it and give it a try because I do not really care for the huge bumpers that would have been stock on this car. However I am going to shorten the bumper supports to pull the bumpers in quite a bit. This should give it more of the look of a 60's muscle car bumper wise before we got the huge rubber bits and later on huge bumpers.

Besides I can try it out and if I can't make it look right just sell those and keep looking for bumpers. Heck I can always go back to my idea of grafting on the full Buick front end but that would be weirder.

 

[rebelgtp]

Well plans have changed again looks like I might be going with the full Regal front swap after all and a few other differences, girl friend likes the idea as well.

 

[86Limited]

Post some pics when your all good to go and finished, I'm curious how Its all going to look when its together. Good luck and maybe everything will bolt right up for ya.

 

[rebelgtp]

I'm fairly set on doing the full swap now, had the idea before let others talk me out of it but as someone said in another thread I need to build my car for me not the "purists" They are already going to be upset that I will have a Chevy engine in the Olds so why not make it a complete hatred by putting the Buick front on the car as well?

That being said I may still do a test fitting of the bumpers on the car in case someone else wants to go that route in the future. One thing that will need to be done to pull the bumper in close to the front end you will more than likely need to notch the top of the bumper to allow for the header grill section. Also the supports will have to be shortened I'm sure. Small filler panels may have to be made but those should not be to difficult.