3RD Duster
Active Member
How do I collapse my 1974 shock mounts?
Tucking factory 74 bumpers
- Thread starter al bundy’s dodge
- Start date
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On the rear, use a come-a-long and a chain off the rear end.
Get it pulled in then make a 4" long strap and bolt the bottom of the chrome bumper to the frame structure of the car to hold it there.
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3RD Duster
Active Member
3RD Duster
Active Member
Mine are on the front and already off if the car
You could drill a hole in that shock to drain the oil, then compress them in a press. But you will have to strap or weld the shock to keep in collapsed, they are spring loaded. That will also mean the shock is storing compressed energy, and if the strap or weld fails it will expand violently.
Someone here cut them apart to remove the spring, but honestly it would be easier to get some bar stock and make a bracket at that point. It’s literally just going to be a piece of flat stock with another flat plate on the end to mount the bumper.
3RD Duster
Active Member
3RD Duster
Active Member
That is what I was thinking. Drain the oil and collapse it and then prevent it from moving back out. Why not just weld it all the way around?
You could, just keep in mind you’ll be welding on closed space that was previously full of oil and is only vented with a small hole and also has a compressed spring in it wanting to unload.
If you can weld, it would be easier to just use some flat stock to make a new bracket entirely and avoid the whole situation. With would literally only take one piece of flat stock welded to a flat plate and all of 3 holes.
3RD Duster
Active Member
Great info. My buddy is a machinist and I will leave that to him.
What is the average distance we need to collapse them to get rid of the spacer?
What is the average distance we need to collapse them to get rid of the spacer?
That last bit I don’t know, my ‘74 was one of the models that got a non-shock front bumper. And I put ‘71 bodywork on it so I never dealt with resetting the shocks on the front. I just replaced the ones on the rear and changed it to a ‘71 rear bumper.
harrisonm
Well-Known Member
I don't know about 73-75 Dusters, but I tucked the bumpers on my 69 Barracuda. I adjusted the front brackets back all the way, but it wasn't enough. So I cut about 1.5" out of all the front brackets, rewelded them and then powder coated them. The rear was a bit more difficult due to the shape of the brackets. I measured to see exactly how far I wanted to tuck them in and then cut and adjusted and welded them back together.
Youtube, you cut them dump the guts and weld them in closed position, also cut heap of reo from front bar and will drop a lot of weight. The front bar is crazy heavy and hanging out at the end of the car terrible if trying to get a good launch etc off the line
I left the filler in the front, because with out it there was an ugly gap on the top and sides. I left in as it mimics the front valance on my 70.
The back is a different story though, which may be in a little too far. They are definitely too wide and I may eventually section the front to tuck into the fenders. I have 70-72 back bumper I picked-up for the back. If and when I'm going to paint them as the car is more ratty in nature. Sometimes you have to leave well enough alone...for now
View attachment 1716387535
The back is a different story though, which may be in a little too far. They are definitely too wide and I may eventually section the front to tuck into the fenders. I have 70-72 back bumper I picked-up for the back. If and when I'm going to paint them as the car is more ratty in nature. Sometimes you have to leave well enough alone...for now
View attachment 1716387535
3RD Duster
Active Member
This is all great information. Thank you.
My front was the 74 non shock bracket bumper and I slotted the mounting holes the exact amount I wanted to slide the bumper toward the body. It worked well and makes installation of the bumper nice and easy as you can bolt it up and slide it back into place.
The rear was the 74 shock mounted bumper. I removed the mounts, drained the oil, removed the springs (be aware, they are under a bit of tension), and cleaned everything up so they would slide nicely. Mount everything back up, slide the bumper toward the body till it is where you want it. Tack weld it, pull it apart, and finish weld it however you feel comfortable doing it and put it back together for the last time.
I removed the heavy backing metal behind the bumpers while doing this. It saves a gob of weight.
I actually prefer the tucked 74 bumper to the 73 bumper in the back, but it is true that they really should be narrowed a bit on each side to make them look right. Maybe I'll do that if I ever get the bumpers rechromed!
(I don't have any close up photos)
Cley
The rear was the 74 shock mounted bumper. I removed the mounts, drained the oil, removed the springs (be aware, they are under a bit of tension), and cleaned everything up so they would slide nicely. Mount everything back up, slide the bumper toward the body till it is where you want it. Tack weld it, pull it apart, and finish weld it however you feel comfortable doing it and put it back together for the last time.
I removed the heavy backing metal behind the bumpers while doing this. It saves a gob of weight.
I actually prefer the tucked 74 bumper to the 73 bumper in the back, but it is true that they really should be narrowed a bit on each side to make them look right. Maybe I'll do that if I ever get the bumpers rechromed!
(I don't have any close up photos)
Cley
Nice work!
I really think something like that is easier to accomplish than modifying the original brackets, especially given that they’re pretty much always an oily, rusty, spring loaded mess. The bracket arrangement needed is fairly straightforward, as your work shows a couple of straight pieces of stock with some 90° brackets on the end is really all that’s necessary. I ran my own rear brackets for a bit with my ‘70-73 rear bumper, did the same as you and just made them from scrap. With a bit more modification I’m not running factory 70-73 rear brackets.
And yeah, even a very heavy duty bracket arrangement would be lighter than the original shock mounted brackets.
3RD Duster
Active Member
How far back should I move the bumper towards the grille? Average distance? Thank you.
Just compress the entire bracket until it bottoms out, there isnt an average distance
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