Which front bumper to use?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
Likes: 7
From: Surrey British Columbia
Funny thing, this topic is coming up a lot lately. You've got three alternatives. Replace with O.E.M. It'll look great for years, but it will eventually distort. A fiberglass cover will stay rigid, however many guys blend the cover into front clip. Time consuming and costly because of the body work. Finally there's the Tru-Flex covers. They're flexible like the urethane covers but they don't distort over time. They install exactly the same as the O.E.M. covers.
As for cost of purchase, if memory serves me correctly the O.E.M. is the most expensive because it is of course "O.E.M." Followed by Tru-Flex, then the fiberglass cover.
I have Tru-Flex on my car. Not because I purchased them, they came with the car. Before I tore the car down I was impressed that both covers looked brand new. After pulling the covers off, that's when I discovered that they were not newer urethane parts.
As for cost of purchase, if memory serves me correctly the O.E.M. is the most expensive because it is of course "O.E.M." Followed by Tru-Flex, then the fiberglass cover.
I have Tru-Flex on my car. Not because I purchased them, they came with the car. Before I tore the car down I was impressed that both covers looked brand new. After pulling the covers off, that's when I discovered that they were not newer urethane parts.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,201
Likes: 2
From: Frederick Md
I own a 76 and 79.... and today they both sport Tru-flex front and back bumpers...
I replaced the front and rear of my 79 the first time with OEM bumpers and a few years later did the 76 with Tru-Flex .. 10 years after I installed the OEM ones on the 79 I replaced them also with Tru-Flex .. Paint faded and they were becoming wavy..
My 79 had the 78 Pace Car rear spoiler from the factory .. It is still on the car...but it is not only wavy ..the waves move with the sun ... noticeable at car shows when it is sitting out in the sun all day..
Bob G.
I replaced the front and rear of my 79 the first time with OEM bumpers and a few years later did the 76 with Tru-Flex .. 10 years after I installed the OEM ones on the 79 I replaced them also with Tru-Flex .. Paint faded and they were becoming wavy..
My 79 had the 78 Pace Car rear spoiler from the factory .. It is still on the car...but it is not only wavy ..the waves move with the sun ... noticeable at car shows when it is sitting out in the sun all day..
Bob G.
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Olathe Kansas
Tru-flex rear on my 79. Went with the 80-82 style with built in spoiler. Looks much better in my opinion but definitely took some time and effort sanding and shaping to make it fit correctly. Well worth the time and money in the end. Eventually I'm going to do the same with the front.
8th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Olathe Kansas
Yes, they come unpainted, usually in a black gel coat. You have to make the body lines match up correctly as well as the seam where it meets the body of the car. Takes some time and elbow grease but you'll be happy with it in the end.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 302
Likes: 2
From: Milton Delaware
He says "some elbow grease" well now....it takes a lot of work and fiberglassing. Never had a tru flex fit first time yet. Just take your time and just keep adding fiberglass. Some day you will have it built out to finally fit.
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Cruising
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Pittsford, NY
Any updates on this? I just tried to fit a fiberglass (supposedly flexible per midamerica corvette) but I have a good 1" gap between the top of the bumper and the rear of the car.
It seems like the bumper itself is too big for the new part. I took off the bumper section near the license plate but there still isn't enough room.
I'm contimplating taking the whole bumper off.....not sure if it would pass inspection at that point.
It seems like the bumper itself is too big for the new part. I took off the bumper section near the license plate but there still isn't enough room.
I'm contimplating taking the whole bumper off.....not sure if it would pass inspection at that point.