I now have one of each. My plans are to use parts from the 72 to make the 74 complete. I will use the small bumpers on the 74. My questions are: Are there any differences between the 2 years I need to worry about? I know the 74 has 5 lug wheels which is one reason I'm gonna use it. Plus it's in overall better shape. Are the floor boards the same under the front seat? Is there much of a market for a running 200 ci 6 and tranny? Will the c-4 tranny behind a 200ci fit a 302? Is the dash on these cars removable without cutting? The whole metal dash not the padding. All body parts are interchangable correct? That's all my concerns right now. I appriciate any help with these. This is going to be a fun project and the best part is going to be when my daughter drives her new Maverick to school the first day. Think I'm going to tech her how to power-brake it so when she pulls in the first time beside all the hondas and toyotas she can smoke-em down and shower them with all gooey rubber. lol clint
To answer your questions: If your 74 dosent have a catalitic converter, the floor should be the same. It seems you cant give away 6 cylinders until you throw it away. Then everybody wants one. A 200 auto transmission will not bolt up behind the 302. Different bell housing patterns. The dash is removable. There are some screws along the top under the windshield weather stripping that are almost impossible to get out unless you remove the windshield first. All body parts are interchangable. There are some small differences like the front fender notch and inside door handle locations but everything will still bolt up.
just to add the quarter extentions are different the 74 will be longerand will not work with the small bumpers
I was just curious about the dash, probably won't remove it but If I fix up the 74 I only have a title for the 72 so the VIN number may be a problem. I guess I need to look closer at the front fenders on both cars to understand the quarter extensions, I thought the front fenders were the same and you could put the small bumpers on a big bumper car pretty easily. Man, I have alot to learn about these things. I can answer most all of these kinds of questions when it comes to 67-72 F100's. Now I'm on the other end of the questions. lol I appreciate all of you patience with me clint
You can convert a big bumper car to small bumpers but it is not a bolt on deal, so to speak. Mounting the bumpers to the frame is where it gets tricky. Quarter extensions are the bolt on corners on the rear of the car. They will interchange easily however, the big bumper ones are longer than the small bumper ones because the top of the big bumper is flat where as the small ones curve up. Just keep the correct extension with the correct bumper. They all still bolt up the same. I wrote a bumper swap article and is probably posted several times on this message board, so do a search and you should find it. It will help explain things. As far as changing Vin #'s, yes its illeagle but who really cares. Its for yourself and your not trying to decieve anyone. Just keep it to yourself locally. Marti Auto Works can reproduce the door data plate for a 72. The vin # is also stamped on the top of the left side fender apron, under the fenders. You will see it when you take off the left fender. To be safe I would transplant this section too.
Thanks Mavaholic, I'll look for the article. I agree on the VIN, I know it aint right but I just don't see anything wrong with it. By the time I finish with the 2 cars it'll be hard to figure out what year what is on it. Kind of like the old johnny Cash song. lol clint
Thanks Blown76mav. I forgot about the removable bell on the c-4. I'm used to c-6's or AOD's I have a small block c-4 with bell that is bad so that takes care of that. I guess I need to drive the 72 around some before I do anything and make sure the tranny shifts good and all. I got a good deal on a stock bore 72 302 last night that just needs ringed and bearings,. I just need the tranny figured out, some v-8 frame mounts and crossmember and I'm ready to drop it in. clint
Mavaholic, Sorry for giving your credit to MavMan a while back on the bumper swap issue. PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!! HELP ME MAVAHOLIC...YOU ARE MY ONLY HOPE! Sometimes, this is true. Scott
