small bumper convert

how hard/long is it to switch big bumpers to small bumpers

 

It's a super easy swap.

The big challenge is finding all the parts!
Good small bumpers are nearly impossible to find anymore unless you want to pay a small fortune.
You need all the brackets, the front and rear valances ($$$$), the 4 quarter extentions, 2 bumpers, one grille gaurd... Then you must either notch the fenders for the grille gaurd OR notch the grille gaurd for the fenders. (if you don't want to have to buy the 69-72 fenders)
The brackets, quarter extentions, and rock gaurd seem fairly easy to find.
Bumpers and valances are either beat to heck, or cost a mint.

You DO have the option of using fiberglass bumpers and valances...
However, if you know fiberglass parts, they are never perfect when you buy them. You have to trim and fit them before paint. You also must settle for either body color bumpers or silver paint. They cannot be chromed... at least not cheaply.

Good luck on the conversion!
Dave

 

the 76' i'm buying already has fiberglass fenders that my friends dad fitted so if i can't find the valances It shouldn't be that hard to get the fiberglass ones fitted I just got to get the other parts

 

yup piece O cake

 

The most economical and easiest way is to find a small bumper parts car. That way you have all the parts and the early car will be a nice reference on how and where everything should be attached. To do it right will you need a welder for the rear mounts. Missing from the list above is the front hood latch support brace that bolts to the radiator support.

 

aside from the actual fiberglass bumper is any of that avaliable on the aftermarket?

 

Just about everything needed is available on the aftermarket except the front bumper brackets, however what is available is all fiberglass.
The rear bumper brackets were used on early Stangs, so they are available for retrofit.
The latch assembly that Dan mentioned is not available either, but is not a must either. The latch supports can be modified without too much trouble to support the front valance.

Now that it is apparent that the front of the car is already fiberglass, personally I would use fiberglass for all the stuff anyway. I would be uncomfortable using the fiberglass fenders to support the steel valance. Just my opinion.
If fiberglass bumpers were used as well, you could use very thin flat steel to fashion the bumper brackets youself... since the glass bumpers are super lightweight.
Dave