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1971-72 Air Grabber/Ramcharger Question

Bob Nossal

Dodgefor72
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Can anyone confirm whether or not 1971-72 cars with Air Grabber or Ramcharger hoods used fender braces? These are the braces that connected to a stud on the cowl behind the air cleaner and mounted to one of the fender bolts. There is a RH and LH brace. I’ve found only one example so far.
 
at least not in 71
the braces are a 72 up thing
 
Agree. 71 didn't have them. However, it doesn't mean you can't add them. I grabbed a set from similar year charger and made them work. Had to make " Custom" bend on the passenger side to clear the base plate.
 
71 no
72 yes

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Unfortunately, those aren’t the correct ’72 one year only struts pictured above in that shot. Missing the hood hinge clearance bends and the mid bend on the passenger side strut.
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Other than it was straight it sure looked factory. It wasn't a 73/4 bar.
My 72 SSP has a curved bar.

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These are ‘73/74 struts trimmed down to fit a ’72. Slight bends added at the ends to allow the hinge clearance. Didn’t bother with the mid bend on the passenger strut, not needed.


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All interesting conversation. I will post photos of what I have for a final opinion. It seems that all ‘72s should have braces but the question is making sure you have the correct shape.
 
To be clear, beginning with ’72, the center cowl stud and reinforcement plate was present on all ‘72s, not all cars had the struts installed from the factory however. Only saw them back then on big block cars, with and without N96, personally. Others believe some 340 cars got them; others indicate not with N96. I have also witnessed many of them being removed and discarded at the dealers back then if they got in the way.

Have yet to locate any documentation from the time that addresses the factory application of the struts. Parts books are typically pretty good at noting specific applications, not in this case.

Note part number change on the right side strut Dec 3, 71.
Fender brace2.jpg
 
I have 3 sets of the 73/4 ones and they are longer than the 72's.
I think we have talked about this before. The ones on the blue 72 GTX sure look and fit like factory ones other then the right side is straight. Maybe the right bar is actually a left bar? Don't have the car anymore so can't check.
My 72 SSP is a 400 car and the bars were on it when I got it and they look like the other 72's I've had.
 
IIRC, the center stud location is not perfectly centered, the bars are not the same length side to side, that plus the angled center mounting flanges means they don’t directly interchange side to side. Fairly easy to trim down and fit the ‘73/74 straight versions to fit a ’72, and make them look original. Without the bends at the ends, the hood hinge will hit the strut when the hood is closed however. On a N96 car, the edge of the air box seal will contact the strut without the right-side mid-bend.

Always a bit skeptical of original ’72 reference photos that include orange painted motors.
 
Ya the motors should be blue in both cars. I painted the motor orange for my 72 SSP cuz thats what I like and the GTX came that way but is a real 4-spd Dana car. Early built IIRC.
Now that you mention it the stud is not centered.
Sure the bars on the GTX could have been made or modified but they sure looked like they come from a press and dye.
 
My Oct ‘71 built Charger with a 400 Magnum has the braces. Someone I know that is really into the 1971-‘74 cars said the ‘72 Air Grabber/Ramcharger cars did not have the braces. I had no idea this much discussion would result.
 
I saw plenty of ’72 N96 cars with struts at the dealers back then. I have just as many ’72 reference pictures showing the struts with Air Grabbers as without. Yes, some knowledgeable folks swear they have owned ’72 N96 cars new that never had them, even having original paint still on the stud threads. The only reason I have ever found for the mid-bend on all the correct passenger side ’72 struts is to provide the needed clearance for the A/G equipped cars.
 
Good luck locating them. They were one of the last parts I found when restoring my 72 RR.
 
I was real happy that my car still had them when I bought it.
My 72 RR had them as did my 72 Charger Rallye 440
Have had several 72 318 cars that did not have them.

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