Fiber Glass Bumper
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Instructor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 202
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From: Brandon Ms
Fiber Glass Bumper
I replaced my front bumper on my 1973 with a Fiber Glass. The bumper matched up all along the top, but on the sides there is a gap. Can this be filled with out filling the seam? I want to keep it looking factory. Can anyone explain how it's done?
Thanks For Your Help!
Thanks For Your Help!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 22
From: Yooperville MI
The end gaps are common on the front, some worse than others, depending on the bumper mold or how the body was assembled. '73 & '74 are the easiest and it's fairly easy to fix without doing any work on the body, just the bumper. Make sure the upper surface matches perfectly all the way across and the gap is even. You didn't say how much end gap you have? If it's only a 16th or eighth inch, you might be able to sand through the gel coat across the top to close up the end gaps, but you need to use a block and sand evenly. The gel coat is pretty thick and might be just enough to bring the ends in. Sand and test fit constantly.
If your gap is more like the photo, you can use Evercoat Vette Fill to fill in the ends. Before you do this, are you good with body fillers and shaping them? Do one side at a time. Cover the end of the fender and the body mounting surface with automotive quality masking tape (more than this photo shows). Lay a piece of Saran Wrap over the body area you just taped. The Saran Wrap will keep the Vette Fill from sticking to the body. Remove the gel coat from the mounting surface of the bumper and about an inch on the side of the bumper. Clean the bare fiberglass where the Vette Fill will be with solvent. Mix up some Vette Fill and put some on the bumper mounting surface and press the bumper in place against the body and tape it to the body so it doesn't fall off. After the Vette Fill dries remove the Saran Wrap, check the fit and see if there are any voids that need to be filled on the mounting surface. The angle of body mounting surface and bumper mounting surface must match otherwise the bumper will distort or crack when you tighten the mounting nuts. Then fill the outer part of the bumper as needed to match the body shape.
If your gap is more like the photo, you can use Evercoat Vette Fill to fill in the ends. Before you do this, are you good with body fillers and shaping them? Do one side at a time. Cover the end of the fender and the body mounting surface with automotive quality masking tape (more than this photo shows). Lay a piece of Saran Wrap over the body area you just taped. The Saran Wrap will keep the Vette Fill from sticking to the body. Remove the gel coat from the mounting surface of the bumper and about an inch on the side of the bumper. Clean the bare fiberglass where the Vette Fill will be with solvent. Mix up some Vette Fill and put some on the bumper mounting surface and press the bumper in place against the body and tape it to the body so it doesn't fall off. After the Vette Fill dries remove the Saran Wrap, check the fit and see if there are any voids that need to be filled on the mounting surface. The angle of body mounting surface and bumper mounting surface must match otherwise the bumper will distort or crack when you tighten the mounting nuts. Then fill the outer part of the bumper as needed to match the body shape.
