crash bars in doors

[eldubb440]

when did they start? in all models?

my buddy's 70 challenger has them, but I don't think I've seen them in any 70 B doors

 

[Kern Dog]

I know that in the 2nd generation Camaro and Firebird models, the 70-72 doors were lighter for this reason.
I have several 69 and later A body doors out back, I could check those and assess when those were fitted with the bracing.

 

[Photon440]

The regulations introduced in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 214 for door impact went into effect on Jan.1, 1973. Some companies, such as American Motors, continued the old style of door for the 1973 model year in the initial few months (cars built in 1972), only implementing the extra cost design when absolutely necessary by law. However I think Chrysler put the change in place at the start of the model year.

 

[R413]

They are not in the 66-70 B-bodies. Thankfully

They help make the challenger/cuda doors extra clunky when closing. I had a car that they were removed and it was great. A normal human could operate the doors on a side hill without shoulder injuries!

 

[66Satellite47]

Didn't realize the '70 B Bodies didn't have them, thought that was a '70 mandate. I cut the door beams out of a '70 Cuda project car, 40 pounds per door!!!

 

[Kern Dog]

I strongly doubt that they added 40 lbs per door.

 

[R413]

They do add a lot of weight and it don’t doubt the 40lbs.

Have you ever lifted an E-body door that was off the car? Night and day difference from a B-body door.

 

[Cranky]

The regulations introduced in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards No. 214 for door impact went into effect on Jan.1, 1973. Some companies, such as American Motors, continued the old style of door for the 1973 model year in the initial few months (cars built in 1972), only implementing the extra cost design when absolutely necessary by law. However I think Chrysler put the change in place at the start of the model year.

All 1970 E body cars had them.....

I strongly doubt that they added 40 lbs per door.

They added a good 20-25lbs to an already heavy door on the E body cars and I've removed several of those dang 'side impact protection' beams. Used to only mess with the E cars starting in 74 with a 72 model.....

 

[Kern Dog]

I agree that they are added weight but not 40 pounds of it.

 

[66Satellite47]

OK, my mistake, it was 24# per door.

 

[Cranky]

24 1/2#

 

[Fm3 Dart]

safety items were added in steps. Not all cars got all safety updates at the same time. It was based on sales volume etc, so in certain years some cars had the updates while others didn't.
A few examples:
All E bodies in 1970 got door beams. But that was the only Mopar body that did in 1970. B bodies got the door beams in 1973. A bodies got them in 1974.
Typically new designs in the early 70's had more safety features from the beginning, and carry over cars had safety features added along the way.
Other items like energy absorbing bumpers came in stages too, sometimes during the model year, like the 74 Dart Sports for example. That's why you will see some 74 Dart Sports with the regular front bumper brackets, and some have the huge bumper shocks.