71 cuda bumper brackets?????

[mrbill426]

I'm going to try for a better profile shot.   

If it IS a Challenger bumper I'll have to send it back 

[mrbill426]

Okay, sorry for all the photos but here they are side by side and as close to being on the same plain as I could support  them.  They were rightside up and and fairly level.

[purple1]

Sorry to say but that rechromed bumper looks like a 73-74 Challenger front bumper.

Dave

[IMNCARN82]

   We'll that's part of the problem

[toomanyprojects]

FYI-
1970 to early build 1972(before build date 01-1972) have all the same bumper brackets-
my friend's 73 that was built 09-1972-has the extended brackets-(pics to come)-

triplets(who worked at the L.A plant) said that they used what ever left over parts from previous years unless it was federally mandated (lower compression engines in 01-1972, and 5 mph bumpers in 01-1973) - they had a gray area or grace period before the Official recognized new year started-

my cars were built as follows;
02/1970 realy doesn't matter - only a clean 318 barracuda
10/1970 but a 1971 model year - numbers matching 340 w/engine cast of 8/1970 - high compression
09/1971 but a 1972 model year - numbers matching 340 w/engine cast of 9/1971 - forged crank - slight dish in piston
look closely @ attached pics-i can swap any brackets to any bumpers on these 3 cars-
i purchased the 1971 and 1972 from the original owners(the 71  is still in his name on the small california "PINK" slip)
the 1970 was purchased from a good family friend which was bought from the original owners-
i have owned all 3 vehicles for well over 17 yrs-

[mrbill426]

Thanks for the pics.  So, the red 'Cuda has the jack slots ('72-'74) but mounts to earlier brackets with all 4 bolts in front.  To use my existing brackets that's the style bumper I need.  Mine has an April '72 build date, all numbers matching 340 with a forged crank. 

It is a bit of an odd fish though, all my research tells me my factory A/C car should have come with a 26" radiator however the original 22" radiator support was cut (with a torch) at a later date and a correct "26 inch one installed.  The body shop chopped a right side one out of a donor car, overlapped it over what was left of the spot-welded in original one, and held it in with 2 phillips head crews     I thought that maybe after it was (obviously) wrecked they had to replace the front end yoke and could only find one form a non-A/C car, but the yoke is original with a matching VIN.

[toomanyprojects]

do you have pics tag, block#, and build sheet?
check fender tag and engine #-
a/c should be noted on fender tag-
340 early build date should come with forged crank--again check the #-and was the engine ever rebuilt?
because there was a time lazy mechanics would cut the radiator support to remove the engine forward(like in a van)and mickey mouse a new support from a donor car - instead of removing the hood-which usually takes 2 people-put preferably 3-
by cutting the radiator support, you can do it by yourself-
like i said earlier-check fender tag/build sheet(if available), and engine /trans #s-just to be thorough-

[mrbill426]

I have two matching build sheets and the fender tags, all indicate the car has A/C.  All the serial numbers match including the transmission.  I guess my parts book is wrong and there were factory A/C '72s  with 22" radiators.  Hell of a sloppy job putting in the larger one though    Right now I am in the middle of replacing both inner fender shields since they are badly rusted under the battery try, at both hood hindge mounts, and on the flat areas where the fender supports spot weld to them.  I also have new right side radiator support to replace that abortion that was left behind.

[toomanyprojects]

mrbill426-
at least you have everything-
do you have any pics?

[mrbill426]

mrbill426-
at least you have everything-
do you have any pics?

Here are a couple pics showing the rather interesting modification to fit the "26 radiator.  First shot shows how they torched out the right (22") support to enlarge the opening (real classy).  The second shot shows how they screwed on a donor piece from another car, right over the original one.  It's just plain strange, this car should have had a 26" radiator to begin with.

[FM3V6M]

Hey toomanyprojects, are you in San Gabriel Valley, that neiborhood looks familiar!

[toomanyprojects]

yup-
rosemead, Ca-