Front Bumper Cover Removal
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Arthur Illinois
Front Bumper Cover Removal
Well my body mount replacement project has evolved into a cleanup project as well. I decided if i am doing this much I might as well do some preventative maintenance in the process.
I was in the process of removing the frame extensions on my 78 SA and noticed that in order to get to the bolt in the front of the extension that I would have to remove my front bumper cover. Well the first two bolts that i tried after soaking in PB Blaster snapped off pretty quickly. Just to make sure before I went any further I was thinking that these bolts were part of a brace that could be replaced, correct? I would hate to think that these bolts are attached to the bumper cover and that the whole bumper cover would have to be replaced if i snapped the bolts off.
I looked through some of the sites like Zip Corvette and they show front bumper stainless steel retainer sets. I am assuming that these are what i would use to replace the snapped rusty bolts.
I am hoping I am not biting off more than I can chew since I have read in some parts of the forum that taking off the front bumper cover is a mistake. Let me know if anyone has any tips or advice or if there do's and dont's to this project.
I was in the process of removing the frame extensions on my 78 SA and noticed that in order to get to the bolt in the front of the extension that I would have to remove my front bumper cover. Well the first two bolts that i tried after soaking in PB Blaster snapped off pretty quickly. Just to make sure before I went any further I was thinking that these bolts were part of a brace that could be replaced, correct? I would hate to think that these bolts are attached to the bumper cover and that the whole bumper cover would have to be replaced if i snapped the bolts off.
I looked through some of the sites like Zip Corvette and they show front bumper stainless steel retainer sets. I am assuming that these are what i would use to replace the snapped rusty bolts.
I am hoping I am not biting off more than I can chew since I have read in some parts of the forum that taking off the front bumper cover is a mistake. Let me know if anyone has any tips or advice or if there do's and dont's to this project.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,480
Likes: 2
From: Circleville Ohio
Vader Vette
The stainless re tainer kit is the one to use. Get the ratchet wrench that fits those tiny nuts 10 mm I think pb blast em and take em off one at A time the hardest one on my 75 was the passenger side top nut and bolt ended up with three or so extensions and alot of time. Also at the time I had cut my bumber off it only had an inch or so left on it so it was a little easier than yours will be unless your putting on A new one in which cut the old one off.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Arthur Illinois
Was hoping to not have to put on a new front bumper cover. Mostly just worried that if i continued snapping bolts when taking off the cover that i would be forced to buy a new one. If all I have to do is buy new retainers then I am good with that. By the looks of the current bolts holding the front bumper cover on, a some new stainless steel retainers would be a good investment anyways.
After the front bumper cover is removed anyone have any tips on the temporary storage of it so that I can help prevent warping or cracking?
After the front bumper cover is removed anyone have any tips on the temporary storage of it so that I can help prevent warping or cracking?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,083
Likes: 2
From: Montreal Qc.
If you look at the picture below, you can see the original bumper retainers, which are still available from the catalogs (pic is vadered from www.corvetteamerica.com)
The top has three sections, left/right/center 28997-28995-28996, and there is a curved section on either end 28998-29997. When I removed my front bumper a few years back, EVERY SINGLE BOLT snapped off. I managed to salvage the outer retainers by cleaning, grinding, POR15-ing, and welded small diameter 1 1/2" bolts in the original holes so they'd still work like they're supposed to. My top/middle sections were too far gone (rust) so I made my own with 7/16x1/8 lengths of metal (about 5 bucks from the metal store), drilled holes in the right place and welded the same little bolts. This all worked perfectly, and the bumper is attached now as good as new. the separate little retainer "sets" that the vendors sell might not work as well with a flexible original (rubber) bumper, they're meant for fiberglass ones I believe.
The top has three sections, left/right/center 28997-28995-28996, and there is a curved section on either end 28998-29997. When I removed my front bumper a few years back, EVERY SINGLE BOLT snapped off. I managed to salvage the outer retainers by cleaning, grinding, POR15-ing, and welded small diameter 1 1/2" bolts in the original holes so they'd still work like they're supposed to. My top/middle sections were too far gone (rust) so I made my own with 7/16x1/8 lengths of metal (about 5 bucks from the metal store), drilled holes in the right place and welded the same little bolts. This all worked perfectly, and the bumper is attached now as good as new. the separate little retainer "sets" that the vendors sell might not work as well with a flexible original (rubber) bumper, they're meant for fiberglass ones I believe.
