74 dart sport bumper gap
I converted my '74 Duster from a shock mount to a non-shock mounted '70-73 rear bumper.
First version was here, I just fabricated a set of mounts to take care of the inner holes on the earlier brackets. I like Rapom's brackets better, but they were probably a little more work than mine.
My "new" '74 Duster- or why I need a project like a hole in the head
Second part of my conversion is here, I got rid of the brackets, filled the holes in the tail panel where the shock mounts went through and made the flanges for the tail panel like the earlier cars had. So from the outside it looks like a '70-73 car. With the bumper removed you can tell it's converted if you look at the corners.
My "new" '74 Duster- or why I need a project like a hole in the head
Of course doing the earlier bumper conversion requires a '70-73 bumper, '70-73 bumper brackets, and then either an extra fabricated bracket to replace the shock mounts or welding up the tail panel similar to the earlier cars. The easier option is to collapse the shock mounts, but they are filled with oil and do contain a heavy duty spring. So you have to do as Robert described above- drill the shock and drain the oil, collapse the shock mount to the length you want it, and then weld it in place so it doesn't extend out again. Or completely fabricate a new bracket at the length you want. That method is a cheaper, but you keep the '74 bumper and all of it's weight and size.
Here's a cut away of the original shock brackets so you know what you're dealing with.
I converted my '74 Duster from a shock mount to a non-shock mounted '70-73 rear bumper.
First version was here, I just fabricated a set of mounts to take care of the inner holes on the earlier brackets. I like Rapom's brackets better, but they were probably a little more work than mine.
My "new" '74 Duster- or why I need a project like a hole in the head
Second part of my conversion is here, I got rid of the brackets, filled the holes in the tail panel where the shock mounts went through and made the flanges for the tail panel like the earlier cars had. So from the outside it looks like a '70-73 car. With the bumper removed you can tell it's converted if you look at the corners.
My "new" '74 Duster- or why I need a project like a hole in the head
Of course doing the earlier bumper conversion requires a '70-73 bumper, '70-73 bumper brackets, and then either an extra fabricated bracket to replace the shock mounts or welding up the tail panel similar to the earlier cars. The easier option is to collapse the shock mounts, but they are filled with oil and do contain a heavy duty spring. So you have to do as Robert described above- drill the shock and drain the oil, collapse the shock mount to the length you want it, and then weld it in place so it doesn't extend out again. Or completely fabricate a new bracket at the length you want. That method is a cheaper, but you keep the '74 bumper and all of it's weight and size.
Here's a cut away of the original shock brackets so you know what you're dealing with.
