'74-'74 Manta Class III Hitch installation.

[Aardvaark]

Since people asked at Lowes, here it the lowdown on this hitch.
From the junkyard, a 2002 Silverado pickup Reese multifit class III
hitch. Using just the center part with the receiver tube and cutting down
the cross tube to about 12" long, 6" each side of the receiver tube, I drilled
four 1/2" dia holes to mount it to the trunk floor which on the '74 and '75
Manta are much stiffer then earlier cars cuz of the bumper upgrade.
Then I fabbed up four backing plates for the truck floor and added four
more bolts to distribute the load and transfer force to the rear wall of the trunk. Then I fabbed up a rear support and drilled two 2" dia access holes
in the rear wall to get to two more bolts.
This hitch is rated for 5000lb and 500 lb tongue weight without sway control.
Well more then the manta is capable of I sure.
This may work on the '74-'75 Ascona sedans too.
Pics:

[Gary]

Mark - You didn't show the anti-rattle strip.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by Gary Mark - You didn't show the anti-rattle strip.

Hee,hee. Actually it does show in the last picture of the side. It's just forward of the rating label on the ball mount. It's the thing hanging down.
It's 'L' shaped so it can be pulled out before removing the ball/mount.

[timemachine]

You could also use the thing to tow the Manta.

Or to pick it up and slap it on the bottom.

Nice looking work.

Jim