81 Corvette bumper retainer
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 106
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From: Iowa
81 Corvette bumper retainer
Hello all,
after tons of work, I just got my 81 vette back from painting. Time to get it all back together! I am, however, having a problem with the bumper retainers. When I took my bumpers off the car for paint, some of the spindles coming off of the retainer were accidentally broken off because of how rusty they were. Do I really have to pay $100+ for a complete new set of retainers? Is there anything else I could do on the cheap? As you can see from the pics, not all of the spindles are broken off. Also, in order to remove the retainers off of the bumpers, I had to drill out some rivets. Where do I get more of those? Do I have to do anything/get anything special to replace those? Or can I just use my cheap pop rivet gun. Thanks for any and all help!
after tons of work, I just got my 81 vette back from painting. Time to get it all back together! I am, however, having a problem with the bumper retainers. When I took my bumpers off the car for paint, some of the spindles coming off of the retainer were accidentally broken off because of how rusty they were. Do I really have to pay $100+ for a complete new set of retainers? Is there anything else I could do on the cheap? As you can see from the pics, not all of the spindles are broken off. Also, in order to remove the retainers off of the bumpers, I had to drill out some rivets. Where do I get more of those? Do I have to do anything/get anything special to replace those? Or can I just use my cheap pop rivet gun. Thanks for any and all help!
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
61 views and not one reply.
'whitestreak' You are aware of the 'paint / body' section here on the forum...don't you?
FORUMS tab....then GENERAL CORVETTE TOPICS.....then you will see 'PAINT/BODY' towards the bottom.
NO
YES...I do it quite often on cars where judging is not an issue.
More of what???? Rivets...or the studs that broke off
Replace what specifically. The rivets...or the studs.
Yes...a pop rivet gun is needed to secure these retainers to the bumper cover.
I replace these studs quite often when they break on me. I go to the hardware store and buy 10-24 screws that are long enough and knock out the factory stud. Install a new stud and by using a nut to hold it in place.. I tack weld or even braze the stud to the retainer. Then remove the nut and it is done. NOW...I have done countless stud repairs on these type of retainers...so I know how the stud will be angled specifically to a specific retainer. But...regardless... I replace the studs.... and in 30 years...I honestly can not remember but one instance where I had to buy retainers...and it was due to really bad rust.
DUB
'whitestreak' You are aware of the 'paint / body' section here on the forum...don't you?
FORUMS tab....then GENERAL CORVETTE TOPICS.....then you will see 'PAINT/BODY' towards the bottom.
Hello all,
after tons of work, I just got my 81 vette back from painting. Time to get it all back together! I am, however, having a problem with the bumper retainers. When I took my bumpers off the car for paint, some of the spindles coming off of the retainer were accidentally broken off because of how rusty they were. Do I really have to pay $100+ for a complete new set of retainers?
after tons of work, I just got my 81 vette back from painting. Time to get it all back together! I am, however, having a problem with the bumper retainers. When I took my bumpers off the car for paint, some of the spindles coming off of the retainer were accidentally broken off because of how rusty they were. Do I really have to pay $100+ for a complete new set of retainers?
YES...I do it quite often on cars where judging is not an issue.
Replace what specifically. The rivets...or the studs.
I replace these studs quite often when they break on me. I go to the hardware store and buy 10-24 screws that are long enough and knock out the factory stud. Install a new stud and by using a nut to hold it in place.. I tack weld or even braze the stud to the retainer. Then remove the nut and it is done. NOW...I have done countless stud repairs on these type of retainers...so I know how the stud will be angled specifically to a specific retainer. But...regardless... I replace the studs.... and in 30 years...I honestly can not remember but one instance where I had to buy retainers...and it was due to really bad rust.
DUB
