How hard is if to swap a 1971 or 1972 dart front end on 1973 dodge dart sport

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Austen G Ornduff

Austen G Ornduff

Austen from poor mans speedshop youtube channel
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Terre Haute Indiana
Hi I have a 1973 dodge dart sport I'm building I don't really care for the 1973 front end I was wondering how hard it is to put a 1971 to 1972 dodge dart front chip on it
 
Fenders, hood, grill, valance, ect. Maybe doors. Caint Remember. I'm positive some more Knowledgeable Members will help!
 
Its all bolt on. Everything from the fenders forward. Doors stay the same. Here is my 73.
If you use 71 fenders your sidemarkers will be mismatched.

20220529_191124.jpg
 
I agree...the 71 or 72 look better. As for the side markers, you could always weld them closed and delete them. I spent a bunch of money on side markers only to realize they were in horrible condition so I deleted them. Its all personal taste but hey, it was the goverment that required them, not an automotive stylist.
 
As said already, it's a bolt on operation with the right parts. Your '73 has standard bumper brackets, so you have the proper mounting locations on the frame for the earlier bumper.

You will need '70-'72 fenders (w/extensions), '70-72 grille and headlight surrounds, hood, hood latch and hood latch support panel, lower valance, bumper and bumper brackets. You don't need the doors. If you use '72 fenders your marker lights will match, if you use '70/'71 fenders you will need to do something about the mismatched markers.

I converted my '74 Duster over to a '71 Dart nose, making it a '71 Demon, uh, tribute. I used '68 markers to clean up the mismatch.

img_3627_zpsy3oleyjr-jpg.jpg


IMG_2258 copy.jpg
 
72bluNblu said:
As said already, it's a bolt on operation with the right parts. Your '73 has standard bumper brackets, so you have the proper mounting locations on the frame for the earlier bumper.

You will need '70-'72 fenders (w/extensions), '70-72 grille and headlight surrounds, hood, hood latch and hood latch support panel, lower valance, bumper and bumper brackets. You don't need the doors. If you use '72 fenders your marker lights will match, if you use '70/'71 fenders you will need to do something about the mismatched markers.

I converted my '74 Duster over to a '71 Dart nose, making it a '71 Demon, uh, tribute. I used '68 markers to clean up the mismatch.

View attachment 1715946094

View attachment 1715946093
Click to expand...

That looks really good with the 68 markers! And in my humble opinion, you picked the best year grill...love the 70-71 dodge grill.

The one thing that I always thought was really cheap on the part of Dodge was that they never re-tooled the fender lips to match the Duster rear quarter lips. I spent about a week trying to figure out if I had the wrong fenders on my Demon when I was doing body work. (should have joined this forum) I was trying to decide if I should spend huge money on new ones or fix the extremely damaged ones I had when I noticed the opening shape didn't match the rears...

The story of how Dodge just slapped a Dart front clip onto a Plymouth Duster rear along with the story of how they were going to be called the "Beaver" are pretty funny.
 
72bluNblu said:
As said already, it's a bolt on operation with the right parts. Your '73 has standard bumper brackets, so you have the proper mounting locations on the frame for the earlier bumper.

You will need '70-'72 fenders (w/extensions), '70-72 grille and headlight surrounds, hood, hood latch and hood latch support panel, lower valance, bumper and bumper brackets. You don't need the doors. If you use '72 fenders your marker lights will match, if you use '70/'71 fenders you will need to do something about the mismatched markers.

I converted my '74 Duster over to a '71 Dart nose, making it a '71 Demon, uh, tribute. I used '68 markers to clean up the mismatch.

View attachment 1715946094

View attachment 1715946093
Click to expand...
That's a great look!
 
72bluNblu said:
As said already, it's a bolt on operation with the right parts. Your '73 has standard bumper brackets, so you have the proper mounting locations on the frame for the earlier bumper.

You will need '70-'72 fenders (w/extensions), '70-72 grille and headlight surrounds, hood, hood latch and hood latch support panel, lower valance, bumper and bumper brackets. You don't need the doors. If you use '72 fenders your marker lights will match, if you use '70/'71 fenders you will need to do something about the mismatched markers.

I converted my '74 Duster over to a '71 Dart nose, making it a '71 Demon, uh, tribute. I used '68 markers to clean up the mismatch.

View attachment 1715946094

View attachment 1715946093
Click to expand...
I know this is an older post but can you tell me more about your swap. Are these all new parts, if so, where were they purchased? I have a 73 Dart Sport and don’t care for the “bird beak” look. I think your transformation looks amazing and I would like to replicate it on mine. Thanks.
 
on fb, there is a guy that has a complete 71 demon frt clip for 1950.00 looks great. (but she did also in her pics. but when i got to her house to pick her up, she had to turn sideways to get out the front door.)
 
72bluNblu said:
As said already, it's a bolt on operation with the right parts. Your '73 has standard bumper brackets, so you have the proper mounting locations on the frame for the earlier bumper.

You will need '70-'72 fenders (w/extensions), '70-72 grille and headlight surrounds, hood, hood latch and hood latch support panel, lower valance, bumper and bumper brackets. You don't need the doors. If you use '72 fenders your marker lights will match, if you use '70/'71 fenders you will need to do something about the mismatched markers.

I converted my '74 Duster over to a '71 Dart nose, making it a '71 Demon, uh, tribute. I used '68 markers to clean up the mismatch.

View attachment 1715946094

View attachment 1715946093
Click to expand...
Wow, seeing your car in side by side pics really drives home what a transformation for the better that is. I was perfectly happy with my 73's frontend until I saw that.:thumbsup:
 
Green Goblin 73 said:
I know this is an older post but can you tell me more about your swap. Are these all new parts, if so, where were they purchased? I have a 73 Dart Sport and don’t care for the “bird beak” look. I think your transformation looks amazing and I would like to replicate it on mine. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I bought the entire front clip from a '71 Dart 4 door that was being parted out, so the parts on my car were all used factory originals. Some, but not all of the parts needed are reproduced. Or were.

AMD makes reproduction front fenders, the front valance, and front bumper.

OER makes a '71 grille reproduction and headlight surrounds

There are a couple companies that make fiberglass hoods, but no metal reproduction is currently available that I'm aware of

As far as I know, the hood latch support panel, hood latch, fender extensions, headlight buckets/brackets, and bumper brackets are not currently being reproduced and you'd have to source used originals. But I did the conversion on my car quite awhile ago and haven't really been looking for some of those parts since then.
 
72bluNblu said:
I bought the entire front clip from a '71 Dart 4 door that was being parted out, so the parts on my car were all used factory originals. Some, but not all of the parts needed are reproduced. Or were.

AMD makes reproduction front fenders, the front valance, and front bumper.

OER makes a '71 grille reproduction and headlight surrounds

There are a couple companies that make fiberglass hoods, but no metal reproduction is currently available that I'm aware of

As far as I know, the hood latch support panel, hood latch, fender extensions, headlight buckets/brackets, and bumper brackets are not currently being reproduced and you'd have to source used originals. But I did the conversion on my car quite awhile ago and haven't really been looking for some of those parts since then.
Click to expand...
One more question... what is the front spoiler is that on the front end? Thanks for all the great info, definitely changing out that front end. Like night and day
 
Green Goblin 73 said:
One more question... what is the front spoiler is that on the front end? Thanks for all the great info, definitely changing out that front end. Like night and day
Click to expand...

It’s an OER spoiler for a ‘67 Camaro.

CHEVROLET CAMARO OER 3916673 OER Injection-Molded Front Spoilers | Summit Racing

It’s not a perfect fit but because it’s ABS it works fine. A heat gun makes it easier but it’s not necessary. The 68/69 spoilers work too, they’re a bit wider but not as tall. I liked the taller ‘67 version. For $30 it’s hard to go wrong.
 
72bluNblu said:
As said already, it's a bolt on operation with the right parts. Your '73 has standard bumper brackets, so you have the proper mounting locations on the frame for the earlier bumper.

You will need '70-'72 fenders (w/extensions), '70-72 grille and headlight surrounds, hood, hood latch and hood latch support panel, lower valance, bumper and bumper brackets. You don't need the doors. If you use '72 fenders your marker lights will match, if you use '70/'71 fenders you will need to do something about the mismatched markers.

I converted my '74 Duster over to a '71 Dart nose, making it a '71 Demon, uh, tribute. I used '68 markers to clean up the mismatch.

View attachment 1715946094

View attachment 1715946093
Click to expand...
I'm really torn between those two front ends. The 71 Dart is my favorite, but I really like the 73 Valiant/Duster front end, too. That wouldda been REAL hard for me to rip apart. lol
 
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