Help with hood latch for Demon clone

[Idaho]

I'm fairly sure the hood latch and it's mount are different on the 71/72 Darts and Demons but not quite sure if I can mod my 73 Duster parts to work. There may be an issue with grille support as well.

Anyone done this or know about it?

 

[Burntorange70]

Cant help you much. I had a complete Demon parts car to work with so I did not get in to all that. But I remember the grille support was a little different. Not sure on the latch.

 

[Idaho]

Thanks anyway. Can't recall the last time I even saw a Dart or Demon around here. I know there's a guy on here with a Demon in Coeur D'Alene though...
Maybe I can look at his if I can recall the name...

 

[player1up]

might take a while, but you could search through the car **** posts to see if there is a high res pic of one with an open hood, then cross reference with what you have to work with.
I have a latch panel from a 72 duster in the garage if you want me to send over a few pics pm me. Not sure if it's close enough but thought I'd throw that out there

just looking at this ( demon engine bay ), this ( 72 Dsuter engine bay ), and this ( 73 Duster engine bay ), you may have a lot of work ahead of you.

For those that don't want to hit the links,
The Demon has a VERY flat latch panel with one hole and the spring and does not connect to the radiator core support at the center
The 72 Duster has a similar panel with a depression in the center where the latch goes through and connects at the core support
The 73 Duster has a small rectangular latch panel that connects the grill to the core support at the center only...

I'd say that it would be possible to modify the 73 latch panel as long as you take into consideration a couple of things:
1. latch depth in relation to hood and core support
2. latch panel reach in relation to distance from the grill mounting holes to the core support ( depth may play a part as well )
3. Will there be enough grill support with a center only mount

 

[Burntorange70]

As long as the latch is in the same location you should be able to make it work. Or just scrap it and run hood pins.

 

[Idaho]

I have a parts interchange manual but its confusing as they list different hoods and latch supports from 69 and up. I know the Dart hood changed in 69 and likely is the same through 72 for Darts and Demons, but not sure if the latch stayed the same. I think the grille support stays the same as people interchange 71 & 72 grilles without issue.

Someone here is parting a 69 Dart but I think I'll verify things before asking for the metal. I'm not in a hurry.

I suspect they are all the same. I'll figure it out one way or the another. Thanks for the input.

 

[Burntorange70]

You got 67-69 then the change came in 70-72 I do believe. So you need one from a Dart or Demon from them years. Dont think 67-69 is going to work for you.

 

[Idaho]

You got 67-69 then the change came in 70-72 I do believe. So you need one from a Dart or Demon from them years. Dont think 67-69 is going to work for you.

Right you are, 70-72 thanks.

Player1up has sent me some nice pics of the latch support piece that runs across from fender to fender. I'll post them when I have time. There is another bracket that ties it to the rad core support bracket that I have not got a look at yet.

 

[Burntorange70]

There is another bracket that ties it to the rad core support bracket that I have not got a look at yet.

It is different too. Mine on my 72 was all bent up so I was going to use the one from the 75. Looked like I could have made it work but I ended up just bending the 72 one back in to shape.

 

[green1]

Something changed after 70. I have a 70 Duster, bought a set up from a member; it seems to be 72 up. Different from 70. If you have dimensions, I can measure it.

 

[Idaho]

Here's a few photos, some cropped so as not to be "stealing" too much.

Red is the only one so far from a Demon.
Yellow are from a 72 Duster, one compared to a 73 Duster (thanks player1up).
Green is also from a 72 Duster.
Purple is from a 73 Duster.

Looks to me like they are all quite different. Makes sense I guess since the hoods are different. I imagine I can locate the parts from a 70-72 Dart or a Demon.

 

[Burntorange70]

Thats going to be the way to go. Top of the grill mounts there too.