Bee Jay

My front bumper must come off to be repaired and repainted. There is this massive plate behind my front liscense plate. Can that be removed? If so, can I modify my front end to look like and function like the 73, with a grill that matches the grills to each side? I was just wondering?
Bee Jay

FRSTR90

That is something that I've been wondering myself... I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but I think the bumperettes look absolutely hideous! Maybe the '73 front bumper and all the other stuff might bolt up to your car? If you need pics of what the bumper looks like without the bumper cover let me know.

seventysixvette

I couldn't agree more. I really like the looks of the '73-'74 front bumper. I opened my grill area up and cleaned all the bumperette off. I just covered the opening up with a little black screening. If I decide I don't like this, I'll throw a '74 front end on.



I remembered a thread with a feller that put a '74 front end on his bumperette blessed '78. It seemed to work out well with a minumum of body work. Here's a link....

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...nt-bumper.html

I thought that '74 end looked GREAT on his '78!

John

Bee Jay

Yes, I'd like to see that picture.
Thanks.
Bee Jay

Bee Jay

I got the bumper off tonight. What a pain in the ***. I'll never do that again. Now I have this big black rubber mess that sits behind the bumper. Is all of that necessary?
Bee Jay

Ganey

I agree it looks better w/o the bumperettes though not that big of a deal to me.

In the 77 AIM, a center piece is shown that has the bumperettes w/ center & part of the bumper (shown as 1 piece). The bumper attaches w/ 2 bolts from back while the lower bumperettes part has 3 studs w/ nuts at back. The drawing shows the front of the 3 studs at bottom. Look for the studs. It looks like the piece could be unbolted & the lower bumperettes part w/ center cut off horizontal below the center bumper part.

seventysixvette
Was your 76 like that?

seventysixvette

Yeah, there is a heavy metal piece right behind the license plate with the impact rubber lumps attached. Mine was held on with three carrage bolts that passed through the impact honeycomb and into the heavy metal brace that is welded onto the vacuum canister. I unbolted the three bolts and the large front piece came right off.

The plastic honeycomb assembly is just loosely shoved into the metal bracing. The stamped bracing holds the honeycomb and has the grill mounts bolted to it.

There are shims between the honeycomb mount and the mount on the vacuum tank you want to keep an eye on. They'll be loose when you remove the three bolts. I suppose if someone switched to a different front cover the shims might need to be adjusted.

John

Bee Jay

Here is what I have now. I'm taking the car in on Monday to have the bumper cover repainted and to have the gouge in the fiberglass between the headlights repaired and repainted. That rubber mass in the middle looks huge. I'll try to remove it per John's instructions when I get the car home. I don't think switching to a 73 type front end is practical for me.
Bee Jay

...Roger...

Couldnt you remove all the stuff under the front bumper and install the fiberglass nose but modify it first to look close to the 73 ?
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...2&dept_id=1361

FRSTR90

Sorry Bee Jay, I hadn't seen this thread at the top.. I ll try to get some pics up either tonight or tomorrow..

seventysixvette

That's what I did first. I removed the soft nose and bought a fiberglass nose off e-bay. I cut the bumper lumps off and fiberglassed the front license area in. I'll admit, it's not as clean as an original '73-'74, but I thought it was better than stock.

I figured this would save me on having to replace the grills too. I think '75 up is different than '73-'74s.



John

Bee Jay

I broke it down some more today. I got the big rubber bumper/license plate thing out, a heavy bracket that was attached to it, and the rubber/plastic corugated thing that helps shape the bumper. All that is left is a metal bumper crossmember that must remain because it holds all the bracketry for the grills. I will put the corugated thing back because it weighs very little, but that bumper/plate thing and bracket weighs 15 lbs! They are not going back on. Maybe I should chrome plate the bumper cross member, then I can claim to have a chrome bumper car. Maybe I will take it off and lighten it by Norval/Strider method. Drilling tons of lightening holes. Maybe I can save even more than 15 lbs. I can't believe that Chevy bolted on so much weight to the front of these cars. I already removed the front air tank/bumper ram. I'll take the car in tomorow to get the paint and body work done.

Hey Groovy Jay, I went to your web site to see what you did to your front bumper, but the site isn't working correctly.
Bee Jay

groovyjay

I know, we went through a server change some time ago and there's a little php/html mix up that will need my attention. I try to get it done soon as possible. YOu can just leave the whole inner bumper structure out...

Shirley1978

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...on-a-78-a.html

wer2xu

Are you missing a bolt?

Bee Jay

Thanks for the link. I wonder if I could cut out the middle section of my stock front bumper. I don't mind the bumperettes. You should see what came on my 914. The bumper is in for paint now, but If I could cut out the area between the bumperettes, I could put my oil cooler in there with some mesh like you did.
Bee Jay

Bee Jay

Yes, I was going to remove that metal bumper cross member and drive it to the body shop. But the lower front fenders get real flexible when you undo the bolts that hold it in. So I will remove it when the car comes back and start triming it.
Bee Jay

Curby

They are different. My 73 was retrofitted to a 75 nose before I got her, and I looked into getting the 73 nose back on the car. The mounting flange on the front of the headlight surround is totally different. What you have to do is buy a fiberglass 79 nose and a fiberglass 73 nose, and graft them together. Then buy the 73 grilles (EXPENSIVE!) and take the plasma cutter to the bracing to fit the modified nose.

It is a lot of work, but the result is WAY Cool. I am about ready to tackle mine.

There is a good model of a 73 in the NCM. The body is off the frame, so you can see the 73 support bumper and nose really well to tell what is different from your pictures.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Shirley1978

that mesh is gone now.. it isnt much but chicken wire.. i got rid of it and havent decided what im gonna do for the grill yet.. right now i have 2 fog lights in the middle section.. still havent taken a good pic of it yet tho..

Troy.Blackburn

Ok, that does it! I hate you guys! I've had my '77 for 10 years and not once have I given the front bumperettes a second thought.

But after reading this I took a look at them... and I agree! I don't like how they look either. Now I want a 73/74 front bumper!