Howdy, folks! New to this forum, but it sure seems like the place to be for a Firebird gal like me!

I was wondering if anyone could help me with a perplexing question. We're in the process of restoring a 73 Formula 400 - the original nose of which is cracked and damaged basically beyond reasonable repairability. I thought (operative word here: "thought") that I'd solved the problem by purchasing a 70-73 SD455 endura bumper from a private seller. However, my body guy is now trying to match it up with our car, and he's now telling me that this new bumper won't fit correctly. Apparently the brackets that are on my won't line up properly (holes don't match, for starters), and the (undamaged) original grilles don't want to fit the new bumper either. I am trying to obtain the brackets that came with the replacement bumper in hopes that these might make a difference; can anyone tell me if I am wasting my energy?

I've searched the Net exhaustively for anything that says that these bumpers WON'T match up, and haven't found any evidence of a difference in the Endura bumpers between the SD455 and the Formula.  I'd just love to be able to go back to my guy with any wisdom that might help him/us put our beloved Bird back together again.

Anyone out there able to shed some light? I'm pulling my hair out here; I'd be so grateful. Thanks!    

Your 73 Formula isn't any different than a SD 73, but if you were sold a 70-72 bumper (there were no SD's in 70,71,72), they were different. Changes were made to meet changing crash test requirements and 73 is the year that was an oddball.  

Awesome, Barneyformula, thank you SO much! That was the exact info that I needed. I really appreciate you taking the time and trouble to reply. Here's raising my beer in your honor from sunny Southern California! Cheers!  

Hey look at it this way, in sunny So-Cal, it should be easy to find the right bumper. Not like way up here in Eastern Canada. Already our supply of late 2nd gen f-bodies is drying up in the wrecking yards!
Steve