Front Bumper
#12
04-12-2009, 07:01 AM
I'm very glad that this topic came up. Sorry about the trouble that you had getting the nose to fit properly.
I had planned, in the next two to three weeks, to remove the front bumper (complete nose) and have it painted as I have very faint spider cracks on the corners starting to show. My reason f/ removing it is that I don't want to have any paint build-up in the seam between the body and bumper. It was taken off the last, and only, time the car was painted, and done separately, about twelve years ago now.
My question is; will I have any problem getting the "old" bumper back on straight and flush w/ the rest of the body? I realize that you guys are talking about installing a new piece, but I also know that the material of the nose is somewhat flexy and distorts in places from just being on the car. Mine is an "81."
Also, is the material of the aftermarket nose any better than the original from the factory? I've read that they make the replacement pieces out of a more rigid/durable material, as the factory pieces didn't weather well over years.
Thanks in advance.
I always look at our C3s as a newer 'Vettes, as I'm almost 52 now, and to me, when people say "older" cars, I think of early 60s and back, but the C3s really ARE getting on in years now. Even my '81 is 29 years old, and your year is getting up near 40. Incredible! I remember how bumbed I was when smog pumps started coming out on cars, in '72, and killing the horse power.
I had planned, in the next two to three weeks, to remove the front bumper (complete nose) and have it painted as I have very faint spider cracks on the corners starting to show. My reason f/ removing it is that I don't want to have any paint build-up in the seam between the body and bumper. It was taken off the last, and only, time the car was painted, and done separately, about twelve years ago now.
My question is; will I have any problem getting the "old" bumper back on straight and flush w/ the rest of the body? I realize that you guys are talking about installing a new piece, but I also know that the material of the nose is somewhat flexy and distorts in places from just being on the car. Mine is an "81."
Also, is the material of the aftermarket nose any better than the original from the factory? I've read that they make the replacement pieces out of a more rigid/durable material, as the factory pieces didn't weather well over years.
Thanks in advance.
I always look at our C3s as a newer 'Vettes, as I'm almost 52 now, and to me, when people say "older" cars, I think of early 60s and back, but the C3s really ARE getting on in years now. Even my '81 is 29 years old, and your year is getting up near 40. Incredible! I remember how bumbed I was when smog pumps started coming out on cars, in '72, and killing the horse power.
#13
04-12-2009, 11:55 AM
Got the bumper from Rik's Corvette 1-888-745-7838
#FGL701F "TRUE FLEX" (Flexible Fiberglass)$299.95.
Also needed #BUM235 Bumper Retainers $29.95 for a bag. These replace the old strips under the bumper.
Bumper comes in base gloss black only.
#FGL701F "TRUE FLEX" (Flexible Fiberglass)$299.95.
Also needed #BUM235 Bumper Retainers $29.95 for a bag. These replace the old strips under the bumper.
Bumper comes in base gloss black only.
#14
04-12-2009, 12:11 PM
Jim,
The new material is a lot better then the original stuff.
The new stuff is more flexible and holds the paint better and longer.
When I pulled the old bumper cover off things popped off with it,
like cracked rubber pieces that go inside the front cover and there is a long rubber strip that goes the whole length of the cover it fell off on my garage floor.
Problem is you cant but this stuff anymore.
Almost anyone can bolt fiber glass parts on a car. The problem is it will look really bad (gaps etc) if you are not really experienced at it.
Look at the way some of the aftermarket fiberglass bolt on hoods look on C3's.
You see them quit often online and none of them match up good.
Schoon
The new material is a lot better then the original stuff.
The new stuff is more flexible and holds the paint better and longer.
When I pulled the old bumper cover off things popped off with it,
like cracked rubber pieces that go inside the front cover and there is a long rubber strip that goes the whole length of the cover it fell off on my garage floor.
Problem is you cant but this stuff anymore.
Almost anyone can bolt fiber glass parts on a car. The problem is it will look really bad (gaps etc) if you are not really experienced at it.
Look at the way some of the aftermarket fiberglass bolt on hoods look on C3's.
You see them quit often online and none of them match up good.
Schoon
#15
04-12-2009, 05:26 PM
Texas Jim:
While pricey, urethane covers are still available: http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G
http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/f...20AE66539&trk=
I was able to get one from a dealer several years ago. Personally I think the ease of getting it to fit properly is worth the extra money. And the reason some of the original ones didn't have a real good paint match was because they were painted by the supplier and then shipped to St. Louis. Not sure if that lasted thru the entire Shark run as it seemed to be more prevalent in the early years.
While pricey, urethane covers are still available: http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050G
http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/f...20AE66539&trk=
I was able to get one from a dealer several years ago. Personally I think the ease of getting it to fit properly is worth the extra money. And the reason some of the original ones didn't have a real good paint match was because they were painted by the supplier and then shipped to St. Louis. Not sure if that lasted thru the entire Shark run as it seemed to be more prevalent in the early years.
#16
04-16-2009, 06:55 PM
Jim,
The new material is a lot better then the original stuff.
The new stuff is more flexible and holds the paint better and longer.
When I pulled the old bumper cover off things popped off with it,
like cracked rubber pieces that go inside the front cover and there is a long rubber strip that goes the whole length of the cover it fell off on my garage floor.
Problem is you cant but this stuff anymore.
Almost anyone can bolt fiber glass parts on a car. The problem is it will look really bad (gaps etc) if you are not really experienced at it.
Look at the way some of the aftermarket fiberglass bolt on hoods look on C3's.
You see them quit often online and none of them match up good.
Schoon
The new material is a lot better then the original stuff.
The new stuff is more flexible and holds the paint better and longer.
When I pulled the old bumper cover off things popped off with it,
like cracked rubber pieces that go inside the front cover and there is a long rubber strip that goes the whole length of the cover it fell off on my garage floor.
Problem is you cant but this stuff anymore.
Almost anyone can bolt fiber glass parts on a car. The problem is it will look really bad (gaps etc) if you are not really experienced at it.
Look at the way some of the aftermarket fiberglass bolt on hoods look on C3's.
You see them quit often online and none of them match up good.
Schoon
The front bumper on my '81 is in good shape, no uneven areas and surfaces are all straight. I was just wondering if I take the bumper off, will I have problems getting it back on straight and flush, or will I have to work on the thing in order to get it flush and straight? I am speaking of using the "old" one and not getting a new one. If I'm not mistaken, the '81 bumpers are quite abit more rigid than the earlier models.
What do you guys think? After reading the replies in this topic, I'm getting cold feet about taking the bumper off. Give me your take on this. Thanks in advance.
#17
04-17-2009, 09:54 AM
Go seamless
I am planning on doing both the front and back bumpers on my '79 as both are "rubber" bumpers, however I really like the look of the seamless bumpers. I will be filling the gaps between the front and rear bumpers and the body to smooth them out before I paint the car.
#18
04-17-2009, 08:18 PM
Schoon,
I was just wondering if I take the bumper off, will I have problems getting it back on straight and flush, or will I have to work on the thing in order to get it flush and straight? I am speaking of using the "old" one and not getting a new one. If I'm not mistaken, the '81 bumpers are quite abit more rigid than the earlier models.
What do you guys think? After reading the replies in this topic, I'm getting cold feet about taking the bumper off. Give me your take on this. Thanks in advance.
I was just wondering if I take the bumper off, will I have problems getting it back on straight and flush, or will I have to work on the thing in order to get it flush and straight? I am speaking of using the "old" one and not getting a new one. If I'm not mistaken, the '81 bumpers are quite abit more rigid than the earlier models.
What do you guys think? After reading the replies in this topic, I'm getting cold feet about taking the bumper off. Give me your take on this. Thanks in advance.
#20
04-19-2009, 07:19 PM
Jim, I think you are going to remove you bumper complete,not just the cover as Schoon did. From limited experience I would think it might be easier to realign the assembly as opposed to the cover. There will be some issues as there are numerous spacers and adjustments where the brackets hook to the frame. Try to keep all the hardware separated as to original location and you might even want to make some witness marks on the frame and the brackets with a center punch or similar tool. When you reassemble,put everything together and slowly tighten everything a little at a time watching the alignment as you go. My '79 was hit on the right front corner from the side and was pretty difficult to get back together in decent alignment after some frame straightening and bracket manipulation. Go slowly and work on any problems as they crop up. Good Luck!
Ron
Ron