Afternoon project? 1973+ bumper reinforcment removal for weight reduction...worth it?

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MRGTX

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It looks like there's a heavy gauge piece of sheet metal, presumably as a reinforcement, just behind the front bumper of my Dart. I assume that this is common to other '73+ A bodies as well...

Is it possible to just unbolt the bumper, remove this chunk of metal and bolt the bumper back on?

Is there enough weight to be saved to even bother?

Thanks.
 
It looks like there's a heavy gauge piece of sheet metal, presumably as a reinforcement, just behind the front bumper of my Dart. I assume that this is common to other '73+ A bodies as well...

Is it possible to just unbolt the bumper, remove this chunk of metal and bolt the bumper back on?

Is there enough weight to be saved to even bother?

Thanks.


Every pound counts.

I'm certain you can pull at least one pound out of the from bumper mounts/brackets. I know you can on a 67-69 dart.

Just getting rid of those ugly cow pushers would help
 
It looks like there's a heavy gauge piece of sheet metal, presumably as a reinforcement, just behind the front bumper of my Dart. I assume that this is common to other '73+ A bodies as well...

Is it possible to just unbolt the bumper, remove this chunk of metal and bolt the bumper back on?

Is there enough weight to be saved to even bother?

Thanks.

Did it with my 73 Dart and it was easy.
It works just like you said.
 
If I recall, that chunk of steel weighed about 40 pounds. It just bolts into place so the physical removal is not difficult. The only problem with removing it is the big gap it will leave between the bumper and the grill. I was considering using a piece of aluminum to replace it. I expect this is a 73 only piece as they had the impact bumpers starting in 74.
 
Wait...40lbs?
That’s a serious amount of weight on the nose of the car.

The gap could be unsightly I didn’t think of that...an aluminum piece would be a good call.
 
I wonder if you could move the bumper closer to the grill as well.
 
If I recall, that chunk of steel weighed about 40 pounds. It just bolts into place so the physical removal is not difficult. The only problem with removing it is the big gap it will leave between the bumper and the grill. I was considering using a piece of aluminum to replace it. I expect this is a 73 only piece as they had the impact bumpers starting in 74.
Early 74s still had it, mine was an early 74 and while it got the impact bumper on the rear, it shared the 73 bumper on the front.

total bumper weight with the crash plate was around 60 pounds. so Im thinking the 40 pounds sounds about right for that crash plate.
 
I always hated those cars because of that extra weight and park bench look. They look so much cleaner when you move em back and lighten em up

373ae6da1df4947e8855cbd0d6f01e2d.jpg


2008-launch.jpg
 
I always hated those cars because of that extra weight and park bench look. They look so much cleaner when you move em back and lighten em up

View attachment 1715481473

View attachment 1715481474
agreed, i moved mine back and am using a fiberglass bumper. thing with brackets weights about 9 pounds. compared to the 60 plus for the factory, more when you take in the brackets at about 15 pounds a piece.
 
Front bumper on my 75 duster weight 64 lbs including crash plate. The shocks weighed another 11 lbs each. Replaced with fiberglass bumper and aluminum brackets.
 
I wonder if you could move the bumper closer to the grill as well.

That may be a nice side effect.

I did both and it worked out well.
The 73 bumper doesn't have the gap like the 74 with the impact bumper, but still it was nice to tuck it back and inch or so by slotting the bolt holes in brackets where they attach to the frame rails.

bumper.jpg
 
On my 76 swinger, i swiss cheesed the reinforcement plate as much as i could, collapsed the shock mounts and welded them solid, ditched the bumper filler, and moved the bumper back about 3 inches
 
I’m not sure it would be a direct bolt on for a ‘73, but an alternative if you don’t want to lose the crash protection, is the aluminum pieces that mount the bumpers (backer bars for want of a better term) and plastic filler strips from the ‘76 Feather Duster/Dart Lite.
Of course, finding said bits is probably not going to be the easiest due to the one year only production, and if a donor could be located, the special hood (they had aluminum underbracing) and matching decklid (Duster,Demon,Dart Sport only) from one would likely save another 10-20lbs or so.
 
I'm wondering if you guys have a trick for this:

My bumper has never been off of the car. It turns out that each of the bumper bolts, despite being soaked in penetrating oil, are being a pain in the arse. As you guys know, the head of the bolt is chrome, round and smooth but it sits in a square opening in the bumper which holds the bolt in place allowing you to tighten/loosen the nut. Cracking the nut loose is not a problem but once you back it off past the depth of the square portion of the bolt head, the bolt is free to wiggle around.

Normally, you could just push the bolt with a spare finger to hold it in place in the bumper and spin the nut by hand but when you have some rust on the threads, the required torque makes that impossible.

I got one loose by clamping the end of the bolt with vice grips but it left teeth marks in the bolt...and it's pretty tricky to get a good enough bite on them anyway...so that's not a good solution.

Any other ideas on how to get them off?
 
Torch... a little heat can go a long way sometimes.

Do what the guys said. There is a good bit of weight there and when the bumper gets moved back it has a good look instead of an after thought look. It is like a long shelf glued on look.
 
I'm wondering if you guys have a trick for this:

My bumper has never been off of the car. It turns out that each of the bumper bolts, despite being soaked in penetrating oil, are being a pain in the arse. As you guys know, the head of the bolt is chrome, round and smooth but it sits in a square opening in the bumper which holds the bolt in place allowing you to tighten/loosen the nut. Cracking the nut loose is not a problem but once you back it off past the depth of the square portion of the bolt head, the bolt is free to wiggle around.

Normally, you could just push the bolt with a spare finger to hold it in place in the bumper and spin the nut by hand but when you have some rust on the threads, the required torque makes that impossible.

I got one loose by clamping the end of the bolt with vice grips but it left teeth marks in the bolt...and it's pretty tricky to get a good enough bite on them anyway...so that's not a good solution.

Any other ideas on how to get them off?
Take the bumper off. Heat up the nut(even a small propane torch will work). Lay the bumper on a block of wood over where the bolt head is. Press firmly down on the bumper keeping the bolt tight in its square opening. Then remove
 
I'm wondering if you guys have a trick for this:

My bumper has never been off of the car. It turns out that each of the bumper bolts, despite being soaked in penetrating oil, are being a pain in the arse. As you guys know, the head of the bolt is chrome, round and smooth but it sits in a square opening in the bumper which holds the bolt in place allowing you to tighten/loosen the nut. Cracking the nut loose is not a problem but once you back it off past the depth of the square portion of the bolt head, the bolt is free to wiggle around.

Normally, you could just push the bolt with a spare finger to hold it in place in the bumper and spin the nut by hand but when you have some rust on the threads, the required torque makes that impossible.

I got one loose by clamping the end of the bolt with vice grips but it left teeth marks in the bolt...and it's pretty tricky to get a good enough bite on them anyway...so that's not a good solution.

Any other ideas on how to get them off?

A wire wheel on a drill and before you try to loosen the nut and clean the threads up as much as you can.
Then some lube and remove them.
Once you get the nut turning it should hit the clean part of the threads before the square clears the bumper hole.

If that doesn't do it I use a nut splitter.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_...MIv4yN24yQ6AIVDfDACh37fwuVEAQYBCABEgLdSfD_BwE

NWMDC.jpg
 
Just an update- the backing plate on the bumper for a ‘73 Dart weighs closer to 15lbs...I haven’t gotten the scale out but it’s not even close to 40lbs, guys. Maybe this is different foR later cars?

In any case, it’s well worth removing dead weight from the nose but don’t count on a huge chunk of weight here...interestingly, this offsets the weight of my new battery relocation (using 0 Gauge cable) kit almost exactly.
 
Just an update- the backing plate on the bumper for a ‘73 Dart weighs closer to 15lbs...I haven’t gotten the scale out but it’s not even close to 40lbs, guys. Maybe this is different foR later cars?

In any case, it’s well worth removing dead weight from the nose but don’t count on a huge chunk of weight here...interestingly, this offsets the weight of my new battery relocation (using 0 Gauge cable) kit almost exactly.
Yes a 73 plate is way lighter than a 75 or 76. Not sure if a 74 is more like the 73, 75, or 76
 
Yes a 73 plate is way lighter than a 75 or 76. Not sure if a 74 is more like the 73, 75, or 76
MY 74 was the heavier setup. Between the spring filled coil mounts, and the backing plate, it was every bit of the 86 lbs noted in post 11. I would have honestly guessed more. I also went fiberglass like post 11 above. If i was keeping it on the street, i probably would have just re-used the chrome shell, slid in closer to the body.
 
When my 75 Duster got rear ended by a Ford van back in the mid eighties that big collision bumper saved my car from catastrophic damage. I was hit hard enough at a stop light to be launched forward several feet, and expecting the worst I got out to have a look. The only visible damage at the time was confined to the bumper guards and visually it was very slight. Meanwhile the vans headlights were left pointing in two different directions, the bumper was shoved into his radiator which was loosing its coolant all over the ground, and his grill was destroyed. I was able to drive away and ignore the minor damage. He was towed away. I get that the car looks a bit better without them sticking out there like that, and the weight savings is a real temptation, but I think I'll be keeping my collision bumpers.
 
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