Hi guys, I'm a fairly new Moparts forum member and have referenced many of your threads as I restore my '74 Barracuda. Like many have done before me, I've decided to ditch the ugly protruding '74 style Rear Bumper in favor of a cleaner looking '71-'72 style Rear Bumper.

I bought a '71-'72 Rear Bumper with Jack Slots and '70-'72 Rear Bumper Brackets. As you can see by my pictures, the Bumper won't get any closer to the body and I have large gaps. It sits higher than it should and there's a lot of space between the Bumper and Rear Valance as a result.

The Rear Bumper Brackets I purchased from AMD are PN 970-1570-S and are stamped with the Mopar PN 2962306R and 307L. According to microfiche research info, these may be the incorrect Brackets (Challenger) and should actually be PN 2768604R and 605L Brackets (Cuda)? I've checked the '72 Car Parts Catalog however and it states they should actually be PN 2962306R and 307L for the "B" model car which is what I already have?

AMD was also not able to confirm the cross reference of their PN 970-1570-S Brackets with the Mopar PN 2962306R?

The car did have a fair amount of body work done at a shop, with a lot of my own help, which included new Rear Quarters and a Tail Panel, but I don't recall replacing the Rear Crossmember and it appears to be welded correctly to the end of the rear frame rails.

Does anyone have any ideas on what the issue might be?

Thank you.

I will be watching this thread because im cloning my 74 to a 71. I think all you need is to swap the bumper and the correct brackets and it should be a bolt on deal. I have some original bumper brackets out in the garage, I will see if I can find some part numbers.

Im going the full clone route on mine. Swapping the tail panel, bumpers, quarters, fenders, grill....everything.

As soon as this hail/rain storm passes I will try to run out and look for part numbers.

Here are the numbers I have.
The rear are positively off a 72 cuda...
2962306-R
2962307-L
Both also have 46570-A on them.

My fronts I bought and are supposed to be correct but I have not confirmed.
2962280
2962281
2962284
2962285
All also have 35756 on them.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for confirming the Rear Bumper Brackets I purchased from AMD (PN 970-1570-S), that are stamped with the Mopar PN 2962306R and 307L, are indeed '72 Cuda Brackets. I know I also have a '71-"72 Rear Bumper as they are the only years that had the Jack Slot holes.

I also have a thread running on this same subject on the E-Bodies Only site. Several of the guys in that thread are suggesting I will still need to modify (Drill, Cut, and Weld) the '72 Brackets to bring the Bumper in lower and tighter with less gap. My plan is to drill new holes in the Brackets above the existing holes to mock up the fitting by hopefully dropping the Bumper enough to fit better. Depending on how this looks and if I want to still pull the Bumper in tighter, I'll take some Bracket angle measurements before cutting and weld them back back together.

Hopefully, I get it right the first time. I do have an extra set of new '70-'72 Brackets in case I screw it up and need to try it again. If I'm successful, I'll post some pictures and provide measurements before returning the unused Brackets ($140) back to AMD (15% restocking fee plus return shipping).

I would ask what the difference is on a 71 to 72 as far as the body goes. I really think the difference would be the bumper itself and the brackets. I don't see why it wouldn't fit correctly just by swapping the brackets and bumper.

I did this last year to my 74 Cuda. I used AMD 70-72 brackets and 70 AMD bumper without slots. Mine has some gap on the ends. I was going to adjust it a little more before I get it painted. I went the same way on the front to suck the bumpers in.

A lot of potential variables to eliminate between all of the reproduction parts and body work. Can you get everything lined up with original 74 bumpers and brackets to confirm your panel alignment is right and then go from there? I did the bumper tuck on my 73 Challenger using 72 bumpers and brackets - original parts- and everything lined up really well, I don't believe the car ever had any metal work done to it. My brother had issues with his 70 Challenger that had quarters done, also using original bumpers and brackets his initial alignment left a lot to be desired. Those quarters were some of the first full Goodmark panels that came out way back when, don't know if that had something to do with the fit or if it was something else. He eventually came up with the idea of making articulated brackets that could be adjusted little by little until he got everything fitting exactly right before welding them up. A lot of work but the end result was well worth it.