burrpenick
'69 Barracuda
Looking at a '73 but like the 70-72 grills better- especially the Sharkstooth. Will they bolt in a 73 or is the bumper area different. Can that be altered w/out too much trouble?
Duster front grill swaps.......
- Thread starter burrpenick
- Start date
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I am removing the grille from a 74 duster front end...and putting a 72 duster grille on it...I got the upper and lower grille supports with the 72 grille which makes it simple. The 73+ fender do not have one of the brackets from the fender to hold the upper support but it looks like a simple fix. So yes it can be done...
GeorgeH
Well-Known Member
The lower filler is different also
Correct. There's a peak in the lower filler to match the one in the bumper. Not sure how obvious it would be or if it would interfere with the installation of the grille.
GeorgeH
Well-Known Member
It would stick out farther then the grill. Look like a monkeys' but.
Thought I saw in one of your threads where you did the whole front end
Well, I dunno about that but it definitely wouldn't look stock.
Here are the issues, helps to put them side by side. The '73+ grille, hood, lower filler, and bumper are all peaked in the middle. In addition to that, the hood has sections that are raised, as well as sections that are lowered, compared to the earlier style. You can see on this '72 (bottom) that the hood and grille surround are flat, same with the filler and the bumper. So if you installed the earlier grille on the '73 up car there would be a vertical gap between the grille and the hood in the middle, as well as a very narrow gap or even contact between the hood and grille surround in the lowered section on either side of the headlight bezels. And then there's the peak, so, the hood and lower filler would stick out past the grille.
The nice thing about a '73 is that you have a non-shock mount bumper. So, if you wanted to keep it a Duster but switch to the earlier style front end you would only need the hood, hood latch panel, grille, lower filler panel, bumper and brackets. Yeah, that sounds like a lot, but you can keep your fenders which is more than I could keep when I did my swap. And all of it will bolt on. Well, you may have to add a grille bracket or two to the fenders. But all the big stuff will bolt on, and then your car would resemble a '72 from the outside except for the taillights.
Correct. I swapped my Duster over to a Demon. That requires everything though- hood, fenders, hood latch support, grille, bumper, bumper brackets, and lower valance. The works as they say. All of that bolts on though, I was able to buy an entire front clip from a guy that was parting a '71 Dart.
Wait till you get prices on that "Sharkstooth" grille. It may sway your decision!
I had a 74 Plymouth I called the FrankenDuster. I swapped the parts to make the front appear like a 70-72 AND welded in taillight pockets like a 70-71.
I had a 74 Plymouth I called the FrankenDuster. I swapped the parts to make the front appear like a 70-72 AND welded in taillight pockets like a 70-71.
duster2
Well-Known Member
I swapped a 73 Duster to a 68 Valiant grill. It has a 68 Valiant hood grill and front valance. Had to drill two holes to make it work. Will upload a pic if I can get it done.
duster2
Well-Known Member
Also saw this car online...... Not my car.
Mopar-Man
Big Block Better Burnout
Cool! Looks like something they would build in Australia.
burrpenick
'69 Barracuda
used to be crazy expensive, saw one recently for $600 reproed..............
So the only difference in the 73 up fenders is a missing mounting hole? Anyone have a picture of that? I purchased a 1973 Duster Twister for my son to build and we are planning to make it look like a 71 Twister.
diymirage
HP@idle > hondaHP@redline
Plus headlight buckets
plus trim rings
Plus parking light assemblies
Plus headlight leveling kit
Plus mounting hardware
What I don't get is why no one repopping the 69 valiant grille, now that's a good looking piece
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People do, I've seen quite a few dusters with the '69 Valiant grille. I actually considered doing that with my Duster, looked for those grille's for awhile. The metal grille is nice too, no cracking to deal with like all the plastic grilles. Problem is it's a 1 year only deal and the parking light lenses are hard to come by.
Here's a couple
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The 70-72 fenders have a small metal tab that is a mounting point for that long flat steel part that supports the top of the grille. These tabs are welded into the structure but can be added quite easily. I did this for my 74 Duster.
diymirage
HP@idle > hondaHP@redline
People do, I've seen quite a few dusters with the '69 Valiant grille. I actually considered doing that with my Duster, looked for those grille's for awhile. The metal grille is nice too, no cracking to deal with like all the plastic grilles. Problem is it's a 1 year only deal and the parking light lenses are hard to come by.
Here's a couple
my phones autocorrect changed "repopping" to "repossing"
quite annoying
i was simply trying to say i think there would be a bigger market for the 69 valiant grille then for the shark toot grille
(i run one in my 71 duster myself, WITHOUT the parking light assemblies, which you were spot on about...hensteeth)
View attachment 1715026548
Mopar-Man
Big Block Better Burnout
duster2
Well-Known Member
I did that grill set up probably 10 to 15 years ago , so I don't remember exactly where the holes were that I had to drill , I do remember it was easy to see once I started to put the grill in.... ( Here is a pic of both my Dusters a few years ago , they look the same now )
Frank
Frank
duster2
Well-Known Member
Really like that orange Duster with the black hood and shaker , cool color coded wheels...
Frank
Frank
2nd photo...having problems uploading
View attachment 20170415_135758_1492295303408_resized.jpg
I give up...lol
View attachment 20170415_135758_1492295303408_resized.jpg
I give up...lol
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