Chrome front bumper conversion?
12-15-2014, 09:13 PM
#21
Race Director
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Giant robot, 
I have no idea why the chip,
but whatever guy, 
Peterbuilt,
Sharp looking car you have there, dig the 80 rear bumper...
I am not a white car person but yours makes it look good...
Condo,
Perhaps look up my build,
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...m-project.html
We are a bit akin in our thinking, I dropped a 454 in my 69 and have ZL-1 flares being added, I have several other mods including tilt clip, custom tail lights and scoop.
Hopefully I will have some update info soon, I scored a hood to start messing with my scoop ideas...
I have no idea why the chip,
but whatever guy, Peterbuilt,
Sharp looking car you have there, dig the 80 rear bumper...
I am not a white car person but yours makes it look good...
Condo,
Perhaps look up my build,
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...m-project.html
We are a bit akin in our thinking, I dropped a 454 in my 69 and have ZL-1 flares being added, I have several other mods including tilt clip, custom tail lights and scoop.
Hopefully I will have some update info soon, I scored a hood to start messing with my scoop ideas...
12-16-2014, 07:13 AM
#22
Nam Labrat
Member Since: Sep 2013
Location: New Orleans Loo-z-anna
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"Very interesting threat................errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr r......THREAD!"
Personally, I like the '68 that has been modded to be a '76 poser.....doors and seats add extra weight----Huh, Bats.......
Personally, I like the '68 that has been modded to be a '76 poser.....doors and seats add extra weight----Huh, Bats.......
12-16-2014, 11:51 AM
#24
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Hopefully I will get an update soon, Tommy is installing the rear ZL-1 flares and doing lots of pictures so I can post a flare "how to"
there was a rust hole in the channel under the door post to the front , he is also fixing that, I can't wait to get it home and get going on it.
12-16-2014, 12:52 PM
#25
Racer
Thread Starter
Looking forward to it. If you could have him snap some pictures of the brackets for the tilt front end that would be awesome. I really want to get started on my repairs
12-16-2014, 02:06 PM
#26
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Both the builds I directed you to on here tackle it very well, Ecklers tilts were ahem, crappy, bent tubes and pretty rickety, gave tilts a bad rap, but you do not need to waste time on overkill sloppy multi movement hinges,
With custom mods each of us do it a bit differently, make our own mouse trap,
I haven't done mine yet that will also be a lot of pictures showing what I do this time,
I have no problem looking how others do it taking from that and then making it my own, I was lucky to get to talk with several old timers who did lots of tilt clips and not just on vettes, one flaw with tilt clips is some are not as rigid as stock the old timers gave me some tips that are sweet and I have not seen done before,
The biggest key to a tilt front clip is where your pivot point/hinge point is, in general you want it as high up in the clip as possible, in my case I will still be running pop up headlights so it will be tricky, a trade off.
Another twist I might try is while most people glass the hood to the clip to make it one I might leave my hood cut, giving to a more stock look until I hit the switch and the entire clip opens up...
12-16-2014, 02:52 PM
#27
Racer
Thread Starter
I have seen someone who has done the tilt but kept the functional hood. I think it's pretty cool for quick fixes but ultimately I think it looks better as 1 piece. Hopefully you will be starting your tilt build soon and can share some pictures.
12-16-2014, 05:55 PM
#28
Le Mans Master
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I've been thinking of doing the front and rear chrome bumper conversion on my 79. I put some numbers down and estimate it will cost about $9000 CDN for all new parts not including a paint job and hundreds of hours of my labour. But then I see pictures of 78/79's with pace car spoilers in a colour other than brown and think "They're a great looking car as is." and I'm not sure its worth the time and money.
I estimate about $2700 U.S. for the front and rear bumper pieces and all the associated bracketry new. Figure if I could get that stuff used it would be quite a bit cheaper. Contacted Western Corvette about places in Canada parting out C3's and they said the odds of finding any of the bumper bracketry used are slim to none. Not sure I believe that.
I estimate about $2700 U.S. for the front and rear bumper pieces and all the associated bracketry new. Figure if I could get that stuff used it would be quite a bit cheaper. Contacted Western Corvette about places in Canada parting out C3's and they said the odds of finding any of the bumper bracketry used are slim to none. Not sure I believe that.
12-16-2014, 06:26 PM
#29
Le Mans Master
back when they went to the bumper covers back in 74 i hated the look, when i bought a new Pace Car in 78 i hated it a bit less because the spoilers did help the look. the 80 and up came out it seemed better. but i never really got excited about them.
i really think i didn't like the late cars because the performance was terrible in comparison. since i have been working on My 79 i have grown to really like the later cars the best. for a design change the government stuck us with Chevrolet did a pretty good job of making it work compared to other cars.
i really think i didn't like the late cars because the performance was terrible in comparison. since i have been working on My 79 i have grown to really like the later cars the best. for a design change the government stuck us with Chevrolet did a pretty good job of making it work compared to other cars.
12-16-2014, 06:50 PM
#30
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I've been thinking of doing the front and rear chrome bumper conversion on my 79. I put some numbers down and estimate it will cost about $9000 CDN for all new parts not including a paint job and hundreds of hours of my labour. But then I see pictures of 78/79's with pace car spoilers in a colour other than brown and think "They're a great looking car as is." and I'm not sure its worth the time and money.
I estimate about $2700 U.S. for the front and rear bumper pieces and all the associated bracketry new. Figure if I could get that stuff used it would be quite a bit cheaper. Contacted Western Corvette about places in Canada parting out C3's and they said the odds of finding any of the bumper bracketry used are slim to none. Not sure I believe that.
I estimate about $2700 U.S. for the front and rear bumper pieces and all the associated bracketry new. Figure if I could get that stuff used it would be quite a bit cheaper. Contacted Western Corvette about places in Canada parting out C3's and they said the odds of finding any of the bumper bracketry used are slim to none. Not sure I believe that.
I am not even sold you really like your vette...
back when they went to the bumper covers back in 74 i hated the look, when i bought a new Pace Car in 78 i hated it a bit less because the spoilers did help the look. the 80 and up came out it seemed better. but i never really got excited about them.
i really think i didn't like the late cars because the performance was terrible in comparison. since i have been working on My 79 i have grown to really like the later cars the best. for a design change the government stuck us with Chevrolet did a pretty good job of making it work compared to other cars.
i really think i didn't like the late cars because the performance was terrible in comparison. since i have been working on My 79 i have grown to really like the later cars the best. for a design change the government stuck us with Chevrolet did a pretty good job of making it work compared to other cars.
12-16-2014, 07:00 PM
#32
Le Mans Master
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I think I'd be a great deal more content with my 79 if it wasn't brown. That colour is a real turnoff for me. I actually enjoy driving my 81 AMC Eagle more. Its really not anywhere near as stylish a car but I think being purple and electric blue and colours I picked myself it makes it way more pleasing to me - I often find myself giggling just driving it. If my 79 had been hot pink when I bought it I think there's a good chance I wouldn't be considering a chrome bumper conversion or buying a 69 and putting a 79 interior into it.
12-16-2014, 08:32 PM
#34
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Well, it kind of defeats the purpose if I can't find it all in one place.
I think I'd be a great deal more content with my 79 if it wasn't brown. That colour is a real turnoff for me. I actually enjoy driving my 81 AMC Eagle more. Its really not anywhere near as stylish a car but I think being purple and electric blue and colours I picked myself it makes it way more pleasing to me - I often find myself giggling just driving it. If my 79 had been hot pink when I bought it I think there's a good chance I wouldn't be considering a chrome bumper conversion or buying a 69 and putting a 79 interior into it.
I think I'd be a great deal more content with my 79 if it wasn't brown. That colour is a real turnoff for me. I actually enjoy driving my 81 AMC Eagle more. Its really not anywhere near as stylish a car but I think being purple and electric blue and colours I picked myself it makes it way more pleasing to me - I often find myself giggling just driving it. If my 79 had been hot pink when I bought it I think there's a good chance I wouldn't be considering a chrome bumper conversion or buying a 69 and putting a 79 interior into it.
I know...a brown car CAN be painted a different color...
12-16-2014, 09:01 PM
#35
Le Mans Master
Saw that Josh has designed some fglass bumpers that can be painted or chromed. Pics look great and would be a far less expensive way to go than real chrome bumpers.
12-17-2014, 07:52 AM
#38
Le Mans Master
Bats, from looking at the pucs Josh should give ypur friend a hefty Christmas bonus. The pic they posted with the top unpainted bumper on the blue 80/82 looks great.
Priya send them an email, they get back to ppl quickly. (Pic link sent via pm)
Priya send them an email, they get back to ppl quickly. (Pic link sent via pm)
Last edited by gdh; 12-17-2014 at 07:55 AM.
12-17-2014, 09:29 AM
#39
Racer
Thread Starter
CIC sent me an estimate of around $3500 for all new parts for the conversion. That doesn't include labor or paint so for anyone else looking into this job - I advise against it. Seeing as I own a body shop my labor is minimal and paint is "free" so I'm going to shop around for used parts and just refurb them myself. As far as the kit is concerned they do offer ways to modify your existing clips by grafting the hood surround and fenders of a 68-72 onto it so if you're handy that is a viable option.
Last edited by Tact; 12-17-2014 at 04:09 PM.