71-72' Front bumper brackets

[72RoadRunnerGTX]

I had posted this picture from the 72’ FSM of the front bumper brackets over on moparts as a reply to a question and noticed an extra “inner brace” on that diagram that I’m not familiar with. The three different 72’s I’ve been working with over the last few years don’t have these additional parts and the three brackets per side I have seem to fit together OK without it. As a firm believer that the factory wouldn’t spend 2 cents on any part it deemed as unnecessary, I may loose some sleep over this. Anyone have any pictures of this additional brace? Maybe something the 71’s had and omitted by 72’?

[71440 gtx]

no not on a 71 my car oct 70 do not have them

[general]

I noticed the same thing last year so I made a note of the part numbers 3464122/123. Wouldn't you know that I was able to find two NOS pieces. I have attached a picture of the 3464122. I mocked up how the braces go together which I will post in a seperate post. Looks like it also bolted up to the side of the rad support. I have not seen this yet in any cars nor have some pretty knowledgeable people in the hobby.
Enjoy
Norm

[general]

Here's a pic of the mock up

[general]

Another one

[72RoadRunnerGTX]

Do you have any mounting holes in your inner fender that would correspond with this additional bolt for this plate? None of my 72’s show any sigh of ever having this bolt hole. Have you determined just what the brace braces?

[general]

Because its a steel plate and its also bolted to the rad support on top I would think they were trying to stiffen the bumper brackets for the up and down movement. I don't know if you noticed, but the inner brace has an access hole cut into it. I always wondered why that was there. It now appears its to have access to the bolt that ties this steel brace to the middle bumper bracket. See pic.
My car does not appear to have the extra hole in the rad support for the top hole. When I strip it I will see better, but I don't think anyone would have filled that hole in the past anyhow.
I'm thinking it was engineered that way but didn't have a very long life. Guys who have very early build cars should check for that hole in the rad support.

[72RoadRunnerGTX]

An early attempt to control vertical movement of the bumper is the only thing I can think of after seeing it described in the 72’ parts cat as “Brace-bumper jacking”. The part numbers are different from yours I notice. Judging from the small size of the upper bolt hole and the thin gauge metal at the inner fender I can’t believe it would provide a whole lot of additional rotational support. I’m beginning to believe it was a very early design abandoned in early production to save that above mentioned 2 cents. Body shops in the day would estimate their order needs based on what their books told them about what parts were needed. The body shop publications would pull their info from early Chrysler sources. The guy rebuilding the car would replace only the damaged parts he came upon, there would always be a pile of parts left over to be returned to the dealer. The dealer in turn could return these kinds of parts back to the factory. I remember seeing new body parts like these with multiple order labels affixed to them, each label representing an order/return cycle. The date on that label wouldn’t reflect a date of manufacture but would be the date ordered by the dealer whose name it shows. The label contains bin locations at the regional depot as well. Not really surprised you can still find these NOS. I beginning to believe however my 72’s never had them.
Thanks for posting your pics.

[Eric]

Would have to have been a very early build thing. My car with a build of 831 (70) doesn't appear to have ever had them.

[general]

I think this will one of those pieces that will hang on my wall as a great conversation piece. I don't think my car add them either. I'll be watching when I go to shows. Maybe someday I'll see one.

BTW I verified my 71 parts book, those are the numbers. Must have changed for 72 .

[1fastrunner]

I just used this to put mine back together after powder coating. Just so I have it right, on the plate mount, the vertical tab points in and the horizontal tab points out?
Thanks,
Jim

[71Runner]

no not on a 71 my car oct 70 do not have them

Same here, with a build date of Nov. 1970.

[bruce]

My Dec. '70 build Road Runner doesn't have them and never did.