Front bumper conversion, can 97+ front bumper be used with 95-96 grille?
 

I was in an accident a while ago as some of you know, and I am changing my 96 front bumper to a 97+ OEM bumper. My grille however is fine. I like the 95-96 grille better anyways. It was brought to my attention that the 95-96 grille may not work with the 97+ front bumper. Does anyone know definitively whether or not you can use the 95-96 grille with a 97+ front bumper? Minor work is fine, but if its major work to make it fit, I'm in trouble...

97 bumper fits 95 grill.

No, it doesn't. One grill is taller than the other, I believe the 97-99 is taller than the 95-96. You can shave the 97-99 grill to fit on a 96-96 bumper (emax did this) but I don't think it works the other way, look at the pic the last guy posted and you can clearly see a gap under the grill.

I like the orignal 95, 96.

its not major work... tho.

:o)
 

It will work but you will have a gap below your outer grill "legs" of exactly 1". (I measured when I test-fitted my '97/'99 bumper the other day). I took a pic if you want. I even took a pic with a ruler held up to it. A real good example is yellowbrother. Check out his setup. I am going to look into having my body shop extend my legs one inch. I too, like the '95/'96 grill better but the '97/'99 bumper cover better. Good luck. :)

Do you have the pics you took online? The picture of yellowbrothers car is kinda small and its hard for me to see the gap. I can envision it, but I can't really see it in his pic. I'm thinking of removing the plastick mesh from inside the grille, I'd like it to be just a kindof gaping scoop type of look, sortof like the 94-98 mustang is (minus the emblem, and not that I'm trying to imitate a mustang. I'll have to look at it closer to decide.

:o)
 

Right, I was going to kill my honey comb as well. I was going to put in diamond shaped grille material painted body color.

No pics on-line. I guess I could stick them on my cardomain site if you really want neal but if it's just for one person, e-mail is probably best. Just e-mail me if you want to see them. :)