Removing 73/74 Front & Rear Rubber Bumper Guards

[Road_Runner]

For those 73 & 74 Barracuda/Cuda owners who have removed the large chrome & rubber bumper guards, what was required to do this?  I know the 72 had thinner chrome strips on the back and I've seen pictures where people have swapped out 73/74 guards for these: What parts are required to do this?  Did you also go to 72 & earlier bumper brackets to move the bumpers back in towards the body & is this required?  Can I still use my 73 bumpers or do I need to order 72 bumpers?  Sorry for all the questions, but I've been unable to get an exact answer to this the couple times I've tried.

Thanks in advance, Jim

[Road_Runner]

Hasn't someone here done this and care share a parts list for the conversion?  I hardly ever see a Barracuda with the guards still on so its got to be a common mod.  I'll keep whatever parts I take off so I can return it to 'original' if I ever want to, but the lines of the car will be greatly improved without the bulbous guards.....

Thanks in advance, Jim

[burdar]

Jim, this is a fairly easy mod.  The 70-72 Challenger(and I assume Cuda as well) bumper brackets were the same.  Those years had the bumpers pushed in tight to the body.  In 73 the 5mph bumper guards came out...requiring the bumpers to be spaced out farther from the body.  73's and 74's both have year specific bumper brackets.(and bumpers)  The 74 brackets resemble the 70-72's but the 73's are different in appearence.  You can get the 70-72 style brackets but that is NOT nessesary.

One hole per side needs to be drilled into the front bumper brackets.  That will possition the bumper in closer to the body.  The rear brackets aren't as easy.  For those you will need to cut the brackets...push the bumper in to the desired possition and then re-weld.

I know of a link that shows exactly what holes need to be drilled into the front bumper brackets.  It's quitting time so I don't have time to look it up.  PM me(so I remember) and I'll find the link for you tomorrow.
Darren     

[Got JOB]

You could take the guards off and leave the bumpers spaced as they are. Then the only thing to do is put a bumper bolt in the holes left. I did this on my '74 challenger. The bumpers stay in the same position and I used the filler covers that came on the car.

Ricky

[CHL2T]

 
I pulled them off the Cuda the day I got it and just left the filler in place.

The Challenger, on the other hand, was missing the front bumper and half of each bumper bracket when I got it, I used ones from a 74 and had to do some minor hole relocation. Not a huge deal

[Road_Runner]

You could take the guards off and leave the bumpers spaced as they are. Then the only thing to do is put a bumper bolt in the holes left. I did this on my '74 challenger. The bumpers stay in the same position and I used the filler covers that came on the car

Ricky

I thought this might work but wasn't sure.  Did you replace the guards on the back with the 72 & earlier version (just chrome, no rubber) or did you just leave them off and only have the straight bumper with no guards?

Thanks, Jim

[Road_Runner]

I pulled them off the Cuda the day I got it and just left the filler in place.

The Challenger, on the other hand, was missing the front bumper and half of each bumper bracket when I got it, I used ones from a 74 and had to do some minor hole relocation. Not a huge deal

This seems straight-forward on the front, what I'm unsure of is how this works on the back.  I've seen pictures where the back bumper was left in its original position further away from the body, but 72 & earlier 'chrome strips' were used in place of the blockier rubber guards on back.  Seems like this would leave a gap somehow, but not sure.

My preference  would be to do this in such a way that it could easily be returned to stock.

Thanks, Jim

[burdar]

Here's the link Jim.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=QuestionAnswer&Number=4780596&fpart=&PHPSESSID=

The entire thread is a good read but the pics reguarding the mods to the front bumper brackets are in the middle of the page.

Be aware that I gave some bad information earlier in that thread so read the whole thing.  By the end of that thread, you will have all the info you need.

Basically it boils down to this...the easiest thing to do is modify your existing front brackets and buy the 70-72 rears.  You can fill in the valence slots with the earlier style chrome guards.  Hope that helps.

Darren     

[Road_Runner]

Here's the link Jim.

http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=QuestionAnswer&Number=4780596&fpart=&PHPSESSID=

The entire thread is a good read but the pics reguarding the mods to the front bumper brackets are in the middle of the page.

Be aware that I gave some bad information earlier in that thread so read the whole thing.  By the end of that thread, you will have all the info you need.

Basically it boils down to this...the easiest thing to do is modify your existing front brackets and buy the 70-72 rears.  You can fill in the valence slots with the earlier style chrome guards.  Hope that helps.

Darren   

Excellent information, thanks!  I've cut & pasted much of that thread into a Word doc just in case it ever goes away.  Now I just have to decide which way I want to go with this.  I'm still toying with the idea of keeping mine VERY stock looking which means keeping these ugly guards on.  Just not sure I want an 'original' car that badly!

Thanks again, Jim

[Got JOB]

I pulled them off the rear also and then filled and smoothed the valance. Might be harder to do on the cuda cause I think the guard slot in the valance is kinda squared off isn't it?
Might see you at a cruise sometime this summer. We go to Newnan and Fayetteville ocassionally.
Ricky

[71cudajoe]

I, too, think the 6.1 HEMI is very cool. I have a 71 cuda and am in the process of a HEMI swap myself. I considered a 6.1 and compared the cost to purchase and install the 6.1 vs. a 426 crate motor. I opted for the crate motor (actually a 472 HEMI).

According to my initial estimates, the overall cost for the crate motor was more, but there were so many unknowns and variables with the 6.1 install that I was afraid I might encounter some surprises and unexpected costs. I also received numerous amounts of feedback that led me to believe the crate motor route would make my car more desirable and valuable -- so I went with the 472, and I'm glad I did.