Mexican Bob

Anybody know what it takes to swap from a factory 77 to the 82 rear bumper cover? Does the hardware underneath have to be changed/modified?

Thanks in advance for your replies!


MxB

Mexican Bob

I ended up buying the "custom" bumper (cover) PN: 10342 from Ecklers...




...anybody have any experience with these?


MxB

tnovot

I have the OEM 80-82 rear bumper on my '75. Pretty much a bolt on except I had to modify the original tail light housings a little to use them. Would have been easier to buy actual 80-82 lights.
Terry

Tim H

Thick skin?

Mexican Bob

...not sure what you mean by this; perhaps something to do with the differences in the thickness of bumper covers?

What do you think about:




MxB

Tim H

Well you got me on that one!!!!

77BLACKNSMOKE

We have a '77 localy with that on in. My brother love it. But I like the stock 80-82 bumper on the pre 78's. So it is just a matter of taste.

Tim H

Do you like a Chevelle front end on a Cutlass also?

Mexican Bob

Now I get the "thick skin" remark. You're a purist? My first car was a Firebird with a Camaro front end. It cost me $190...and was at least 3 different colors of primer...in addition to badly faded yellow. In high school, we called it "The Famaro." ...no front grill, pin hole in the gas tank where if you put more than $2 (back when $2 of gas was relatively a lot) of gas in it, it would leak out...350 Pontiac and a BOP 'glide...and 4:10 gears in a 10-bolt posi with slapper bars...some us were simply too poor to be proud...just loud and obnoxious to those who had pristine, daddy-bought rides.

If you want to consider my motivation: I want to put a spoiler on the rear of the car, but the cost of the '78 style spoiler was more than the cost of the bumper cover with a spoiler built-in to it...and I was considering the cost of mating the two parts together in addition to what it would take to get the factory stock bumper cover ready to repaint. Now, if all goes well, I'll have a bumper cover that I can perhaps sell to a purist...

I never found the rear of these cars to be particularly attractive in stock form, so I don't have a problem modifying it. I need clearance for the intake/carb/air filter that I'm using as part of the engine build, so I also bought a hood with about 3-5/8" more clearance...




This one wasn't my favorite, but it was on sale and represented the qualities that I needed in terms of clearance. I bought an L-88 scoop and after considering the amount of work, decided that a new hood with a scoop built-in was going to result in less money...and perhaps I can sell the stock hood and the L-88 scoop?

There was never any intention to return the car to stock condition. The goal is to make a nice looking hot rod out of it. Stroker engine, roller cam, dual exhaust, rebuilt TH350 with a shift kit, 3:90 gears and (nearly) everything metal sandblasted and repainted.

Now I have a complete L-48 350 and the stock TH-350 that I can sell...perhaps to somebody who wants to put it in some old Ford truck or something?


MxB

Easy Mike

Mexican Bob: your bumper cover from Eckler's should also tell you which tail lights you have to use with it. My guess would be 80-82. Any 80-82 AIM shows how the tail lights were installed and lists the parts you will need.

Mexican Bob

Eckler's says: Use 1975-82 Taillights

...one less thing to buy amidst the onslaught of yet another part that seems twice as expensive as "regular" cars.

Of course, my interpretation of that also includes "hand fitting required." So far, I haven't found anything that is painless with these cars


MxB

atp1234

looking to purchase the same bumper. how did it fit

derekderek

i like that my 75 is all original, except for smog pump i took off, but my corvette and my prius cost less than a friend paid for his prius. 15k for a perfect one and they just about don't exist. nobody but us is gonna know it is a wrong year rear bumper, and the 74-79 isn't the prettiest rear bumper, it is what GM hadda come up with for 5 mph bumpers. (which BTW is a joke. you hit anybody in any car at 4 mph, it is gonna cost a couple of grand in damages.) take a 77 to an NCRS event. even if it is a 100 point car, the judges look down their noses at it. now, to the OP. the 80 to 82 bumper is only 5 years younger than yours. they disintegrate too. not as bad as ours, but buy a new aftermarket, not an OEM...oh, you already have aftermarket.

Mexican Bob

Not too bad...not the best photo of it, but it seems to fit well enough with taking the end/corner pieces off. Definitely a better look than the OEM 'butt nose' bumper cover...IMO.

Of course, the 'Huggies' box under the car completes the '***-end' photo-shoot in a 'right proper' way.


MxB

atp1234

that looks awesome. that bumper looks like the pace car one but just molded in I like it better than a standard 1980. could you post a side shot picture?

Mexican Bob

Maybe could post a 'side shot' in a few weeks...don't get to the shop very often these days...as long as you're not holding your breath waiting for the shot, I will see what I can do the next time I'm there.


MxB

KrisB410

Here's my 75 with the 80-82 rear bumper (molded in). I kept the 75 style lights.

derekderek

it is a nicer bumper than the 74-79 look.

Priya

I'm surprised that look is so popular. I much prefer the 74-79 rear bumper, particularly with pace car rear spoiler.

97C5

74 is different than 75-79. That said, it's the bumperettes that some people don't like and will take the opportunity to remove them when presented. No different than you not liking 80-82. I have a 77 but wish it had the body of a 63 split. What am I to do? ;^)