Fratzog
Old Man with a Hat
Missed this thread first time around. Nice score and silver is a great colour. I'm a tit man like you. 
Meet Ming, my 1973 New Yorker Brougham
- Thread starter ayilar
- Start date
78Brougham
"Chump"
You will... then you'll see how the designers really wanted them to look.
I want a '73, just so I can keep the tits on.
King Hooter
Senior Member
Me too, along with one of my HOOTERS plates on the front.I want a '73, just so I can keep the tits on.
I respectfully disagree. Your statement would be correct (i) if we were talking about Ming's rear bumper or (ii) if Ming were a 1973 Imperial -- as the latter's low production volume allowed the 1973 MY to be exempted from a full bumper redesign. For the rear NYer bumpers and for the rear and front Imperial bumpers, the rubber appendages that you so detest were indeed just added in 1973.
Ming, however, is a Chrysler -- and we are talking about her front bumpers here. The designers redesigned the entire front clip of the Chryslers as a package. AFAIK, the front bumpers were re-engineered as a whole to meet the 5mph collision standards. As such, the new bumper shape ("new recessed grille above a separate single-bar bumper rather than the previous loop design"), a new shock absorption mechanism (NYT 1971 article here), and a setback between bumper and fenders were designed to aborb 5mph impacts in conjunction with the "tits". Removing the latter might appeal to your eyes but would be inconsistent with the genesis of the design.
You'll see Ming and her mighty front in a week, at the start of the 2020 CATL. I'll be driving Medina again this year, as Ming needs some engine work before hitting the road, but she sure is "purdy" and I'll make sure you get a good look!
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78Brougham
"Chump"
Think about it... They're not going to spend tons of time and money redesigning the whole front bumper on a car that is in its last year of production with the new formal body coming out the following year. They slapped those hideous appendages on as a last minute bandage to meet the those retarded crash standards. Those cars were designed at minimum, 2 years prior and they didn't want to drop one more dime on them knowing full well they will be replaced with proper crash bumpers in the following year. What designer in their right mind would want that crap on a beautiful grill and rear bumper like these cars have.They got caught with their pants down, plain and simple.
You can believe whatever you want and listen to some other lame fairy tale about it but it was nothing more than a quick fix to get by till the formals came out.
To me they look like ****. You like them you wear them. If it were my car they'd be **** canned long ago. And that goes for the entire 1973 Mopar lineup.
Indeed. The NYT article is dated 1971, and the point you make is exactly why I included that period reference.
Well, they clearly did drop a dime. The bumpers were completely redesigned on both the NYer and Newport. In contrast, the bumpers of the Monaco and the Imps were not redesigned for 1973. Money was spent on some cars.
The 1972 Chryslers' beautiful loop front bumpers were gone by 1973. The rubber stops would have been awful on the lithe '72 loops; on that, I agree. IMHO, though, they work on the '73: ours is a free country, so we can agree to disagree
ceebuddy
Well-Known Member
I second the opinion that the upcoming bumper legislation was known to the industry as early as 1971.
Here is some more contempoprary reading on that topic:
LIFE, August 13, 1971
Popular Science, October 1972
Popular Science, April 1973
Here is some more contempoprary reading on that topic:
LIFE, August 13, 1971
Popular Science, October 1972
Popular Science, April 1973
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How is Ming doing? Any new photos?
Just saw the thread but great buy and nice silver Ming beauty @ayilar
78Brougham
"Chump"
Just filler, they gotta put something in there. Those tits are ugly and ma Mopar took the easy way out, good looks be damned!
They new the fuselage era was winding down, they were going with the formals, so they pooled all there resources into those and put a bandaid (ugly tits) till they had their new design of the bumpers ready for production across the entire corporate line up.
Case closed.
ceebuddy
Well-Known Member
I agree, most likely there was no money spent if there was an easy way out. Still, the new bumper stadrards were no overnight surprise.
With spring in full bloom, it is time to provide an update on Ming.
As I mentioned in an engine thread started by @schwarzsurfer, when @71Polara383 started working on Ming in December, he discovered that a couple of her pushrods were bent. We decided to take this opportunity to replace the cams. To that effect, I bought a Lunati V265H12 kit in December -- in addition to the uniformly positive reviews of the Lunati cams, I liked the fact that all the parts in this kit are made in the States.
I chose the Lunati cams to get a bit more oomph compared to factory specs. I checked with numerous sources, and the consensus was that all the parts should play very nicely together. My goal is to do things "right" and for the engine not to need any more work for another 100k miles--while keeping it as smooth as from the factory. Ming is a respectable NYB, not a hot rod after all
@71Polara383 suggested that the work be done by a local shop that he knows and likes.
He and I agreed to go for a full teardown. It was a good call. The rod bolt below appears injured, and the copper showing on the bearing indicates wear... therefore it could have been a time bomb if we had not done it.
Here is a summary of what's been done so far. The engine has been bored .30 over; new freeze plugs and cam bearings; new pistons and rods reconditioned with ARP fasteners. Heads rebuilt - new valve springs (Lunati) and a valve job. Lunati cam.
The shop where I sent the engine is a busy one, but they should be finishing the work soon. That's later than I had hoped for, but the timing is actually not bad because, by the time the engine comes back to his shop, @71Polara383 should be done with the top repairs and repaint of Buttercup (my 1972 NYB). So, the pipeline is moving.
Meanwhile, I just bought a handle strap for Ming's front passenger door from @FURYG to replace one that was not perfect:
As I mentioned in an engine thread started by @schwarzsurfer, when @71Polara383 started working on Ming in December, he discovered that a couple of her pushrods were bent. We decided to take this opportunity to replace the cams. To that effect, I bought a Lunati V265H12 kit in December -- in addition to the uniformly positive reviews of the Lunati cams, I liked the fact that all the parts in this kit are made in the States.
I chose the Lunati cams to get a bit more oomph compared to factory specs. I checked with numerous sources, and the consensus was that all the parts should play very nicely together. My goal is to do things "right" and for the engine not to need any more work for another 100k miles--while keeping it as smooth as from the factory. Ming is a respectable NYB, not a hot rod after all
@71Polara383 suggested that the work be done by a local shop that he knows and likes.
He and I agreed to go for a full teardown. It was a good call. The rod bolt below appears injured, and the copper showing on the bearing indicates wear... therefore it could have been a time bomb if we had not done it.
Here is a summary of what's been done so far. The engine has been bored .30 over; new freeze plugs and cam bearings; new pistons and rods reconditioned with ARP fasteners. Heads rebuilt - new valve springs (Lunati) and a valve job. Lunati cam.
The shop where I sent the engine is a busy one, but they should be finishing the work soon. That's later than I had hoped for, but the timing is actually not bad because, by the time the engine comes back to his shop, @71Polara383 should be done with the top repairs and repaint of Buttercup (my 1972 NYB). So, the pipeline is moving.
Meanwhile, I just bought a handle strap for Ming's front passenger door from @FURYG to replace one that was not perfect:
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You will need a new fuel pump push rod, I have had bad experiences with the aftermarket push rods ( Comp, Mopar performance etc.. all wore down within a season.) I have a couple of NOS push rods here if you are not able to get one. NOS compared to the worn aftermarket at top. second pic is the worn end.
I thought, back in April, that the work "should be finished soon." Well, famous last words! @71Polara383 only got a call yesterday to let him know that the engine was finally ready. Months late and $500-1k over the anticipated budget. Wyatt will go and check things out / pick it up this weekend, but then it's "gonna take a little while to build the motor. Lots of measuring and double checking to do."
Good thing Ming's 50th birthday reunion at Carlisle is not till 2023
Even for this year's CATL in September, I don't see how Ming could be ready. No problem, as Buttercup should be in shape to participate instead.
Good thing Ming's 50th birthday reunion at Carlisle is not till 2023
Even for this year's CATL in September, I don't see how Ming could be ready. No problem, as Buttercup should be in shape to participate instead.
Even with the unwanted surprises, it is progress. Good news. Pics?
Hello. Just wondering how Ming is doing? It has been a while since we have heard any updates on Ming.
One update: I got her registration sticker renewed and left it with the car this weekend
There’s more to come but it’ll wait till this summer. Regina and Buttercup have priority right now.
There’s more to come but it’ll wait till this summer. Regina and Buttercup have priority right now.
Georg/BBTR
Active Member
I just noticed that you bought her two years ago already... Still belated congratulations on your latest acquisition, @ayilar
For some reason the 73s look even more massive from the side, which may be due to the regular bumper up front and the fender skirts. Anyways, great car!
For some reason the 73s look even more massive from the side, which may be due to the regular bumper up front and the fender skirts. Anyways, great car!
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73Coupe
Senior Member
I think these got deleted when the site went down last time....
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