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I have a '72 corvette and im having issues installing the front chrome bumper, the p/s corner hole doesnt match up and both corners bow outward, any suggestions on how to get this installed? I attached some pictures showing the problem
Hi s,
It appears to me that the bumper has been 'sprung' which has made the ends not parallel with the body and thus the bolts are difficult to start.
A picture of the center of the bumper may indicate if it's sprung or not.
Did the bumper ever fit this car well?
Has the large center horse-show bracket been moved?
Regards,
Alan
[QUOTE=Alan 71;1590185504]Hi s,
It appears to me that the bumper has been 'sprung' which has made the ends not parallel with the body and thus the bolts are difficult to start.
A picture of the center of the bumper may indicate if it's sprung or not.
Did the bumper ever fit this car well?
Has the large center horse-show bracket been moved?
Regards,
Al
Funny.... I had the exact same issues when I first tried to install my front bumper, AND I posted very similar pictures. It was Alan who suggested I loosen all the mounting bolts until I could get ALL of them started into their holes.... THEN start tightening them all up. This method worked perfectly, AND the corners got pulled in a bit when it was done. (Notice I was test fitting BEFORE paint to get the brackets right) Before & after shots...
Hi s,
A new bumper… ah!.
It's sad to say but new front bumpers are quite notorious for not fitting well.
I'd still like to see a picture of the fit of the bumper at the center of the front clip.
Depending on the fit across the front of the car perhaps the bolts for the ends of the bumper can be started first and gradually pull the bumper ends in using the outer bumper brackets (NOT THE BODY), and then use the center bracket to set the center/front.
The fit of the bumper across the whole front of the car has something to do with how the ends fit.
Regards,
Alan
I had the same problem replacing my front bumper on my '70. I finally found a bumper from Paragon Corvette that had the GM original part label. It bolted right on and looks great. If a part isn't the original GM trademark part, it will not fit correctly as it can't legally infringe on the trademark design.
Hi DG,
No where did I even imply that there's not a chance of crinkling the chrome.
All bumpers are bent at the installer's risk.
This is why the bumper that will be used must be test fitted before the bodywork/ paint is completed.
Regards,
Alan
The bumpers that I got from ( you know who)...were screwed up right off the bat. And this was confirmed by when I bolted them in place and the OUTER mount locations were NOT properly seated in the bumper BEFORE they were welded in place. SO...there was NO WAY for the bumper to fit correctly. Very good photos proved this. The problems changed from one bumper to the next....the 'welding in' on these outer bumper mount areas were POOR to say the least. Someone was not paying attention when these were being welded in place.
And my argument with (you know who) was that the mounting points on the bumper are a GIVEN with very slight variations. And this is confirmed EASILY by looking at how GM set up the front bracketry.
The CENTER of the bumper goes in the center due to the rolled ridge in the front of the bumper...that is NO BRAINER. Then...there is a bracket that attaches to the underside of the front edge of the hood surround that ties in the metal bracket that is riveted to the backside of the front edge of your top hood surround that the froth actuator supports of your headlights attach to. This twisted metal bracket is bolted to the end of the metal reinforcement and routes to the inside of the area where the bumper gets bolted to the corners of the fenders where the bumper mounts. This area has very little adjustment. There is some ability to adjust this metal bracket....but not a lot.
I heard enough excuses ....trying to convince me that there was not an issue...and GM bumpers were not perfect.....but what I was given was A JOKE!!!....but....'they finally realizing that I am no rookie on Corvette service/repair and the OBVIOUS inconsistencies in the weld job being done. 'They' finally test fitted a bumper and sent me one that was perfect. So...I know they are out there...it just may take time to get it.
Paragon has the original GM dies to make their reproduction bumpers. They have PR stamped on the inside where they bolt up to the car. With all of the crap coming out of China for our cars, why would anyone buy an imported bumper.
I was told by someone in the know, that GM did not want that raised ridge on top of the center of the 68 front bumper. I was told that they tried very hard to stamp them without it, but they just could not do it, and gave up.
If you look at the GM promotional photos of 68's, they did not have that ridge. Undoubtedly, they had to be hand made pre-production bumpers. Lou.
I closed the gap along the front on mine closer than the AIM stated and ended up getting everything to fit fairly good (again, loosely install all bolts and tighten in stages)
Problem arose with the clearance inside on the headlight surrounds vs the front grill brackets on the bumper when the lights opened.
M
Paragon has the original GM dies to make their reproduction bumpers. They have PR stamped on the inside where they bolt up to the car. With all of the crap coming out of China for our cars, why would anyone buy an imported bumper.
I was told by someone in the know, that GM did not want that raised ridge on top of the center of the 68 front bumper. I was told that they tried very hard to stamp them without it, but they just could not do it, and gave up.
If you look at the GM promotional photos of 68's, they did not have that ridge. Undoubtedly, they had to be hand made pre-production bumpers. Lou.
Sidebar: In 1968 I told a friend if I ever owned a Corvette two things would have to go.......the green tint on the rims/the cheap ridge on the front bumper (it wasn't cost-effective to grind the ridge down/fill the thin area with weld/grind the weld smooth before chrome)
Regardless if correct GM dies are used and stamped out parts are achieved...if the bumper is NOT welded correctly....you will have a bumper that is worthless when you go to fit it up.
And the bumpers was dealing with were not from China.
That is truly sad, Dub. Just like Eckler's, Paragon must not be the same without it's founder, Richard Fortier.
I know in the past that I have gotten stung by poor quality control on parts that I bought from GM dealers. People should understand that GM itself did not make most of the parts that they sold.
I bought a new C-3 front 68-72 cross member and did not notice the five inch split in a bend in the part. I still have a new AC Delco made mechanical clock and the green lettering is not centered on the raised portion. I also bought a replacement GM front bumper guard and the person that made it, used the left upper weld nut assembly on a right hand guard, rendering it useless! Of course I found that out about ten years after I purchased it, and it would not bolt up.
I worked in maintenance in an automotive parts plant for 34 years. We made Corvette parts. I know how important welding jigs and checking fixtures are. I think that the people that are making these products probably did not acquire the correct welding jigs and /or the checking fixtures to go along with the GM dies.
That is truly sad, Dub. Just like Eckler's, Paragon must not be the same without it's founder, Richard Fortier.
I know in the past that I have gotten stung by poor quality control on parts that I bought from GM dealers. People should understand that GM itself did not make most of the parts that they sold.
I bought a new C-3 front 68-72 cross member and did not notice the five inch split in a bend in the part. I still have a new AC Delco made mechanical clock and the green lettering is not centered on the raised portion. I also bought a replacement GM front bumper guard and the person that made it, used the left upper weld nut assembly on a right hand guard, rendering it useless! Of course I found that out about ten years after I purchased it, and it would not bolt up.
I worked in maintenance in an automotive parts plant for 34 years. We made Corvette parts. I know how important welding jigs and checking fixtures are. I think that the people that are making these products probably did not acquire the correct welding jigs and /or the checking fixtures to go along with the GM dies.
YES...but it does not take a 'rocket scientist' to figure out....when a part is being fabricated ad welded....test it to make sure your fixture is CORRECT. What sucks is when you see part in a catalog and it looks fine....but it is those things that you can not see in the photo that MAKE THE PART CORRECT.
Seems like very few places actually give a hoot and feel that if they keep making crap...and the suppliers BUY this crap...and sell it to us and WE accept this crap...then who is to blame??? Because IF a person found two parts...and they are priced differently...and are made by different manufacturers....MOST people will buy the cheap one....and NOT realize...that in some cases...THEY are feeding the PROBLEM.
Considering all of the low quality aftermarket parts that I have been buying for my latest restoration of my 72 , I didn't want the hassle of poor fitting bumpers. My original GM bumpers fit perfect so I just had them re-chromed and got a lifetime guarantee on the plating. It was a no brainer .
I had the same problem replacing my front bumper on my '70. I finally found a bumper from Paragon Corvette that had the GM original part label. It bolted right on and looks great. If a part isn't the original GM trademark part, it will not fit correctly as it can't legally infringe on the trademark design.
Yes, I believe that the repro bumpers of unknown origin (China most likely) don't fit. I bought a beautiful bumper from eBay. When I went to install it ..it looked the fit of your new bumper.
I'd suggest buying a repro bumper from Paragon with the original part number.
bumper installation
