Repro urethane bumper question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Birmingham AL
Repro urethane bumper question
I just received a bumper from Ecklers this weekend. Is it normal to have the molding edges overhanging around the top and side edges where the bumper meets the body? It looks like I'll have to do some shaping to get a good line. Is that all normal?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 4
From: Celeste Texas
I've bought two front bumpers, both had stuff on them and both had to be ground to fit. I've heard that the jigs used to assemble vettes were constantly adjusted so no two of them have the exact same dimensions. Maybe that's why the extra material is there.
Bill
Bill
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Be thankful that it only needs minor fitting.
My first rear on the '75 fit really good, just some minor fitting. Took it out for a drive and got rear-ended, not enough to do any real damage EXCECPT to the cover, which shattered. Now doing it all again. Same vendor and the cover is NOT the same fit. The right side has at least a 3/16" hangover. And yes they were both the Flex type and not solid Fiberglass. Still, there is not enough flex in Flex. In a way I wish the urethane was still around and reasonable enough to purchase.
My first rear on the '75 fit really good, just some minor fitting. Took it out for a drive and got rear-ended, not enough to do any real damage EXCECPT to the cover, which shattered. Now doing it all again. Same vendor and the cover is NOT the same fit. The right side has at least a 3/16" hangover. And yes they were both the Flex type and not solid Fiberglass. Still, there is not enough flex in Flex. In a way I wish the urethane was still around and reasonable enough to purchase.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,455
Likes: 462
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Originally Posted by KenSny
...In a way I wish the urethane was still around and reasonable enough to purchase.
Ken. I purchased an Eckler's '74 True Two piece "Flexi-Fit" rear bumper BECAUSE an exact repro is NOT available for the '74 rear. It did come out beautiful, looks stock except minor, minor differences that 99% of the people don't know about. Tried getting a '73/'74 "Flexi-Fit" for the front that wasn't even close. Ended up buying that GM Restoration Parts '73/'74 front bumper for $549, but it went on in minutes and due to the "flexibility" & "moldability" of that urethane, it came out perfect. 
I now understand why GM used it in the first place-you can mold, bend & shape it to fit.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Paul, I am so ticked off with fit of this second rear cover that I have not even touched it since July, and it still sits...... probably will until Spring. I'd sand down the edge of the cover except that the area is so thin the mounting lip/flange would not be solid anymore. You'd really have to build up the inside of the cover in order to make it solid. It's a shame that the Quality Control is just not there when they crank these things out.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 683
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by KenSny
Be thankful that it only needs minor fitting.
My first rear on the '75 fit really good, just some minor fitting. Took it out for a drive and got rear-ended, not enough to do any real damage EXCECPT to the cover, which shattered. Now doing it all again. Same vendor and the cover is NOT the same fit. The right side has at least a 3/16" hangover. And yes they were both the Flex type and not solid Fiberglass. Still, there is not enough flex in Flex. In a way I wish the urethane was still around and reasonable enough to purchase.
My first rear on the '75 fit really good, just some minor fitting. Took it out for a drive and got rear-ended, not enough to do any real damage EXCECPT to the cover, which shattered. Now doing it all again. Same vendor and the cover is NOT the same fit. The right side has at least a 3/16" hangover. And yes they were both the Flex type and not solid Fiberglass. Still, there is not enough flex in Flex. In a way I wish the urethane was still around and reasonable enough to purchase.
Hope this helps
Steve
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by KenSny
Paul, I am so ticked off with fit of this second rear cover that I have not even touched it since July, and it still sits...... probably will until Spring. I'd sand down the edge of the cover except that the area is so thin the mounting lip/flange would not be solid anymore. You'd really have to build up the inside of the cover in order to make it solid. It's a shame that the Quality Control is just not there when they crank these things out.
