'73 bumper brackets on a '76 ?

[318willrun]

As much as folks want to get rid of the impact shocks/braces behind the '74-76 A-bodies, you'd think somebody would be selling aluminum brackets that go from frame to the actual bumper. You know, for racing purposes only

 

[dirty white boy]

As much as folks want to get rid of the impact shocks/braces behind the '74-76 A-bodies, you'd think somebody would be selling aluminum brackets that go from frame to the actual bumper. You know, for racing purposes only

thought there was some body on here that did that,...use to see post bout it...DWB

 

[318willrun]

thought there was some body on here that did that,...use to see post bout it...DWB

yeah, I remember something about that too.... I don't remember what year(s) he focused on. I think I can fabricate something. I'll just have to remove it and use what's there as a pattern.

 

[Tim Bergin]

I know the bolt pattern is different. Has anyone used these? Looking to get rid of the impact bumper shocks/brackets. Somebody done something else to eliminate?? Or am I left to create my own brackets? I've already cut the brace out behind the bumper. I want to keep the factory chrome bumper, just shed the weight behind it.

I have a 76 Dart Swinger and I removed the bumper pistons and cut them down a couple of inches. This moved the mounting brackets back and pulled the bumper in about 1.75". I also cut sections out of the steel support in the bumper to reduce weight. The bumpers are now pulled in nice and tight to the body and it looks 100% better.

 

[Tim Bergin]

I removed the pistons from the bumper shocks on my 76 Dart and cut them down about 2". This pulled the bumper back into the body and reduced the big gap. I also removed all the excess steel from inside the bumper to reduce weight.
The car looks much better.

 

[DionR]

If it had all 3 mounting holes it probably came from the factory with a non-shock mount bumper. I kind of assumed that the factory had planned on returning to the shock mounted bumpers at some point, which is why the mid to late '74 cars got all 3 holes, so whenever the production on the shock mount bumpers picked back up they could just add them back in without a frame rail production line change.

Mine was a June build, and it had a non-shock front bumper but all 3 mounting locations as I showed above.

I converted the rear bumper over to standard bumper brackets too, first with some home made brackets and later by welding up the rear pan and using the earlier brackets.



Glad to help! But yeah, if you want to swap to a non-shock mounted bumper it would be best to get the bumper and brackets as a set. Because the '73 bumper was also different from both of the '74's. So it would be really easy to end up with a mismatch and have to fab some mounting locations on the brackets

I'll add my Duster to the data points. Build date of 11/22/73, shock mount bumpers front and rear, all three holes but no threads on the bracket holes.

 

[DionR]

thought there was some body on here that did that,...use to see post bout it...DWB

This one?

Aluminum bumper brackets, a new offering

Someone asked @motorhead446 end of last year if he had brackets for cars with the shock mount and he didn't have anything then.

 

[72bluNblu]

I'll add my Duster to the data points. Build date of 11/22/73, shock mount bumpers front and rear, all three holes but no threads on the bracket holes.

Well that’s interesting!

So it still goes along with most of the other stuff I’ve heard, since it still had shock mount bumpers. But I haven’t heard of one that had all
3 mounting locations that had a front shock mount bumper. But not threaded! So like they had started the frame rail modifications but hadn’t run out of shock mount bumpers yet.

Not that I’m any expert on it, but it’s definitely interesting. I’m just happy it went that way, would have been harder to swap on my ‘71 front clip if my car hadn’t had all 3 mounting locations.

 

[DionR]

Well that’s interesting!

So it still goes along with most of the other stuff I’ve heard, since it still had shock mount bumpers. But I haven’t heard of one that had all
3 mounting locations that had a front shock mount bumper. But not threaded! So like they had started the frame rail modifications but hadn’t run out of shock mount bumpers yet.

Not that I’m any expert on it, but it’s definitely interesting. I’m just happy it went that way, would have been harder to swap on my ‘71 front clip if my car hadn’t had all 3 mounting locations.

Wish mine had the threaded inserts in it. Oh well.

 

[72bluNblu]

Wish mine had the threaded inserts in it. Oh well.

Well you have the holes located already. They're pretty close to the end of the rail, you can open the end up and access the back of the holes.

 

[DionR]

Well you have the holes located already. They're pretty close to the end of the rail, you can open the end up and access the back of the holes.

Years ago that was my plan, or something like that.

Maybe someday I will get back to it. For now it is on the back burner.

 

[oldkimmer]

I put 71 valiant bumpers on my 74 duster. It bolted right on with the 71 brackets. I also put on the 71 front end. And the rear bumper. Kim

 

[72bluNblu]

I put 71 valiant bumpers on my 74 duster. It bolted right on with the 71 brackets. I also put on the 71 front end. And the rear bumper. Kim

If the '71 brackets bolted right on it must be a mid to late '74 that had all 3 bumper bracket mounting locations like mine does.

 

[oldkimmer]

If the '71 brackets bolted right on it must be a mid to late '74 that had all 3 bumper bracket mounting locations like mine does.

That could be.

 

[72bluNblu]

That could be.

Also, I kinda like the '71 Valiant rear bumper! Those were backup lights in the bumper originally right?

 

[oldkimmer]

Yes they were. I took them out. It may look better with them in it. Kim