Angle grinder will fix it. I cut mine off. It was a lot of work but I like it. Angle grinder takes the beak off, no problem. Angle grinder right down the center of the hood takes out that tall ridge too. I got a 71 bumper and had to use my angle grinder to shorten the corners to fit. I went on to make the grill, head light bezels, trim, scoops and front valance. Lots of careful welding & grinding, little body filler, lots of sanding, paint, polish and you're done! Oh, and she's HEMI-swapped too but that was HARD!
Reducing the Beak?
- Thread starter standup303
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standup303
Well-Known Member
Uhhh....
I don't see that as an improvement over stock. The bumper curves at the end to match the valance and fender extensions of a 70-72 but looks out of place here. If you're happy, that is fine but it looks strange to me. It reminds me of some of the weird changes you'd see in the Australian and South American A bodies.
I don't see that as an improvement over stock. The bumper curves at the end to match the valance and fender extensions of a 70-72 but looks out of place here. If you're happy, that is fine but it looks strange to me. It reminds me of some of the weird changes you'd see in the Australian and South American A bodies.
Scamp Rhonda
Well-Known Member
BillGrissom
Well-Known Member
Wait another few decades and beaks may return to popularity. I like a clean look, like the early Ford Falcon, Nova II, and pretty much all 1965 cars. Ditto for paint colors. The funky 2015 colors fell out of favor already, with dull grey the must-have color in new cars. Wait long enough and Al Bundy's Gold Duster may be popular again.
No offense but Standup 303 posted if anyone had tried to remove the beak nose. He's got his canvas and I respect it. I respect every's car that they like/love. I never stated that it was "an improvement" but in my opinion, it is. I had a 73 Dart Sport back in the day and I tolerated the beak nose but vowed never to own another one. I bought this as a budget scrap heat
and fully intended on removing it. I got $100 tied up in the beak removal. Can you do that?Best I can do here buddy. The mission was focused and I didn't take many in-process pics :-( I left the weld seam visible, for those that don't think it really happened.
'74 Dart Swinger
100% Rust Free, original paint car at that.
100% Rust Free, original paint car at that.
Nice car
340six
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I like that alot. Been wanting one of the 73 up.
Red383
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I wasn’t a huge fan of the beak on my 73 Dart, but it grew on me and I really don’t mind the beak. I really think it is the big front bumper that I dislike. I tried swapping to a 69 bumper for a cleaner look, but the grill and break didn’t look right with it. I ended up getting a new AMD 69 Dart Hood in a trade and decided to swap the 69 front end on the car. I am going to keep the 73 fenders though, which means the headlight buckets need swapped or modified to fit the 69 grille. It is not a bolt on deal unless you get the whole 69 Dart front end.
340six
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The thing that sold me on my 1973 Dart Sport 340-727 8.1/4 321:1 Sure Grip was it cost me 800 bucks and I worked the 800 bucks off.
So the low buck Beak Car was ok. As the kids today say it is what it is.
Then buying NOS parts was cheap coming from the E Body world.
I would embrace a 1973-76 Swinger or Scamp too
So the low buck Beak Car was ok. As the kids today say it is what it is.
Then buying NOS parts was cheap coming from the E Body world.
I would embrace a 1973-76 Swinger or Scamp too
Here's how I "fixed" my 74 Dart Sport beaker. I also put a 70-71 tail light panel on it. 
I think the tucked bumper helps alot. I also sectioned mine. For your reference, one with a six pack scoop and blacked out hood.
Question: I haven't seen anyone (unless I missed it) note that the duster/scamp fenders are a completely different length from a dart/demon. I mistakingly bough duster fenders for my dart 10 years ago and they were 5 inches too short. So I resold them, but wouldn't someone wanting to change a beak car to a duster, or scamp, also need to change fenders?
Question: I haven't seen anyone (unless I missed it) note that the duster/scamp fenders are a completely different length from a dart/demon. I mistakingly bough duster fenders for my dart 10 years ago and they were 5 inches too short. So I resold them, but wouldn't someone wanting to change a beak car to a duster, or scamp, also need to change fenders?
The long fenders on the 70-72 is the only thing I dislike.
i have wondered if a 67-69 dart hood would work on that car since the fenders are pretty much the same. For the beaker haters.
Your car is badass
Everything forward of the doors on mine (post #68) is Duster.
MidnightSwinger
Well-Known Member
I think my 74 would be awesome the way I have it planned out. The beak cars need attitude, if you aren’t stuffing as much motor and tire as you can into it, you’re missing out.
I think the ‘73 should also stand on its own. You could still get a 340 and a 1:1 4 speed. Small bumpers, with the swinger and scamp still looking like a pre-73 from the back. Different animal.
I think the ‘73 should also stand on its own. You could still get a 340 and a 1:1 4 speed. Small bumpers, with the swinger and scamp still looking like a pre-73 from the back. Different animal.
1974 Dodge Dart
(custom paint)
(custom paint)
Looks great! I was wondering why no one else pointed out, that someone wanting to change a dart, to a duster nose, needs the whole nose, as fenders are not interchangeable (agreeing with you). And I didn't see anyone else mention it for the OP.
thanks!! 69 cuda hood is interchangeable with the 73-76 dart. I sold My old steel hood to a 69 cuda guy. Fun fact!
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