73 Duster bumper swap ?

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AdamR

AdamR

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Will a 72 bumper bolt up to my 73s brackets if I loose the big heavy reinforcement or do I need to swap brackets also ?
 
I have heard you have to do so to swap on the rear bumper, but I have never done this so I am not sure. Staying tuned to learn something!!
 
hope someone replies to this. I'd love to lose that heavy rear bumper. We've looked at it before and looks like it could be accomplished. The body still has the indentions for the bumper.
 
Are you talking about the front or rear bumper? You mentioned about the heavy reinforcement, they didn't come out with the shock absorbing "5 mph" bumper on the rear until 1974. I did see a 1974 Duster with shock absorbing front bumper but it was a "one off" which I never saw again. Are you sure you have a 1973 and not 1974-76?

I've taken apart one of those shock absorbing bumpers and they weigh over 100#'s each front or back. The rear didn't have the holes to mount the 1973 bumper brackets that I had so you'd have to be creative with it.

If I remember right the 1970-72 were different from the later models. The 1971-72 had the slot for the bumper jack while the 1970 didn't. That makes the 1973 a "one off" year. 1974-76 are the same. I'm talking about the rear bumper here.
 
hawaiiandart said:
Are you talking about the front or rear bumper? You mentioned about the heavy reinforcement, they didn't come out with the shock absorbing "5 mph" bumper on the rear until 1974. I did see a 1974 Duster with shock absorbing front bumper but it was a "one off" which I never saw again. Are you sure you have a 1973 and not 1974-76?

I've taken apart one of those shock absorbing bumpers and they weigh over 100#'s each front or back. The rear didn't have the holes to mount the 1973 bumper brackets that I had so you'd have to be creative with it.

If I remember right the 1970-72 were different from the later models. The 1971-72 had the slot for the bumper jack while the 1970 didn't. That makes the 1973 a "one off" year. 1974-76 are the same. I'm talking about the rear bumper here.
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1973 did in fact have the 5mph Spoonbill bumpers. I JUST pulled the rear on a 1973. I have it for sale if that makes life easier for anyone.
 
..............I needed all the 72 stuff, bumpers and brackets on my 74,front and rear... but some 73s didnt have the 5 mph shock bumpers...too bad as my 74 bumpers are perfect.......kim........
 
I've never saw a 73 with the shock bumpers, all the cars I've ever saw with the shock bumpers had the filler also on the rear, my 74 has the shock bumper on the rear and not on the front but my 73 doesn't, but there's a lot of cars out there I haven't saw
 
jos51700 said:
1973 did in fact have the 5mph Spoonbill bumpers. I JUST pulled the rear on a 1973. I have it for sale if that makes life easier for anyone.
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Goes to show weird things happen from the factory. I don't think the foctory was required to meet the 5 mph standards until 1974. The car you mentioned may have been produced right at the end of the 1973 model year. Like I mentioned I've only seen one 1974 Duster with shock absorbing bumpers in the front. Same thing could have happened to it. But then I've seen many 1974 Swingers with shock absorbing bumpers in both the front and rear.
 
now eery 73 340 car i have had did not have them, but all the other 73 dusters with 318 or /6 had them........?????
 
my 73 duster does not have those big *** 5 mph bumper brackets front or rear. bone stock, never been touched. the bumpers tuck nicely to the body, with no fillers .... car was built in september 72.
 

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Swingers, Scamps, etc. seem to be a year ahead of the Dusters and Sports when it comes to bumpers with "regular" brackets and bumpers with the "shock absorber brackets". All of the '73 Dusters and Sports I've seen have regular brackets front & rear. All the '74 Dusters and Sports I've seen had the "shock absorber brackets" in the rear only. '75 and later had them front and rear and I've seen a lot!

It may be possible that some very early cars had previous year bumpers/brackets and/or very late model year cars had the following year's bumpers/brackets. But I've also seen the years get mixed up many times in ads. As old as these cars are, some may have been converted and/or been in wrecks and repaired!

The contours between '72 and '73 bumpers and brackets appear too different to interchange. But the whole assembly may bolt-up. May not look right though.

I think some people are also mixing up the exterior rubber bumpers/guards/whatever with the shock absorber brackets that go between the bumper and fram .in this discussion.
 
Im more worried about the front bumper which seems to be to wide and doesnt tuck in nicely. Im sure if I used the earlier brackets its a bolt on deal for the front. It doesnt have the shocks, Just a big guard rail behind the bumper.
 
Locomotion said:
All the '74 Dusters and Sports I've seen had the "shock absorber brackets" in the rear only. '75 and later had them front and rear and I've seen a lot!
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I have a 74 Dart Sport that has the shock bumpers front and rear. I believe it came that way. Couldn't swear to it though.
 
I am pretty sure to make 1972 style bumpers fit you would have to change fenders and hood so it would look right. I am not sure about the rear bumper though.
 
I eliminated the big steel bar support that goes behind the front bumper and just bolted the bumper to the "Y" looking brackets that bolts to the frame. I also elongated the bracket slots so I could slide them back in closer and have the bumper sit closer to the car. I have a 74 sport with no shocks and no more filler. Mine also had a 73 style bumper originally. I think... The only difference I can tell is the bolt holes behind the bumper guards. On the 73 the top hole is round, 74 both are square.
 
oldkimmer said:
..............I needed all the 72 stuff, bumpers and brackets on my 74,front and rear... but some 73s didnt have the 5 mph shock bumpers...too bad as my 74 bumpers are perfect.......kim........
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The 74 Dusters came with a shock absorbing rear bumper and a non-shock absorbing front bumper. I believe all 4 doors in 74 came with shocks on both bumpers. BTW, I have a shock absorbing front in excellent condition if anyone is interested.
 
hawaiiandart said:
Are you talking about the front or rear bumper? You mentioned about the heavy reinforcement, they didn't come out with the shock absorbing "5 mph" bumper on the rear until 1974. I did see a 1974 Duster with shock absorbing front bumper but it was a "one off" which I never saw again. Are you sure you have a 1973 and not 1974-76?

I've taken apart one of those shock absorbing bumpers and they weigh over 100#'s each front or back. The rear didn't have the holes to mount the 1973 bumper brackets that I had so you'd have to be creative with it.

If I remember right the 1970-72 were different from the later models. The 1971-72 had the slot for the bumper jack while the 1970 didn't. That makes the 1973 a "one off" year. 1974-76 are the same. I'm talking about the rear bumper here.
Click to expand...
I have a 74 .has the junk on both..
 
I changed my 74 to a 70/71 front and rear. Kim

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