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Old Dec 27, 2015 | 10:19 PM
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Default 1972 Front Bumper

Ok senior CF guys I need your opinion. I have 1972 and I'm starting to think this bumper is not original. Thoughts? Should the gap be that wide? I can't find any sign she's ever been wrecked.





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Old Dec 27, 2015 | 10:27 PM
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well my 72 ,the bumper fits tight all around!!
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Old Dec 27, 2015 | 10:30 PM
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Bill that is what I was thinking. I'm guessing bubba found one and just put it on. I think I'm going to get a correct fitting front bumper.
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Old Dec 27, 2015 | 10:45 PM
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Default My 2 cents, ....

The AIM say 1/2" gap, so I would measure and see if you are close.


Nice Corvette!
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Old Dec 28, 2015 | 10:03 AM
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The new repo bumpers all look like that. The original ones fit the sides like the rest of the bumper. Another case of ill fitting repo parts.
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Old Dec 28, 2015 | 10:19 AM
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My '72









Last edited by brit vet; Dec 28, 2015 at 10:23 AM. Reason: added front on pic for better perspective
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Old Dec 28, 2015 | 10:27 AM
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My 72 has the original bumpers that I just had re-chromed and they fit perfect . That is why I didn't use reproduction which definitely looks like you have.
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Old Dec 28, 2015 | 11:06 AM
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One way the NCRS judges TRY to determine an original is by using the two small rusted circles (holes left and right near the amber lenses) on the underside of the bumper. This is where the bumpers were hung as they were being chromed. Not very helpful if your bumper has been RE- chromed at some point....

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Old Dec 28, 2015 | 12:00 PM
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Sprung OUT is easier to fix than sprung IN!!!

My inner Bubba says get a 2x4 and sledge and fix it good!!

Last edited by mikem350; Dec 28, 2015 at 12:01 PM.
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Old Dec 28, 2015 | 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by mikem350
Sprung OUT is easier to fix than sprung IN!!!

My inner Bubba says get a 2x4 and sledge and fix it good!!
Mikembubba350,
Likely to crack the chrome and/or create an ill fitting bumper in another location.
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Old Dec 28, 2015 | 05:53 PM
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Mine fits like yours on the passenger side drivers side is good. Mine is a repo.
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Old Dec 28, 2015 | 10:52 PM
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Thanks everyone. I got it off today and based on what I see I actually think it's original. Now the question is to get a repro or have this one rechromed.
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Old Dec 29, 2015 | 09:22 AM
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Originally Posted by bagger88
Thanks everyone. I got it off today and based on what I see I actually think it's original. Now the question is to get a repro or have this one rechromed.
If it is original you have other problems as originals fit fine on unhit front ends. My bet is yours is a repo.
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Old Dec 29, 2015 | 05:55 PM
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Originally Posted by kenba
If it is original you have other problems as originals fit fine on unhit front ends. My bet is yours is a repo.
I agree, and mine is similar to the OP's, and so Eckler's struck again....

I have one that fit much better, but the chrome is gone, so thinking of just having it powder coated......Gloss black.....
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Old Dec 29, 2015 | 10:22 PM
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Sir. Did you buy the $470 Ecklers bumper or the $326 one?

I wonder if they both mis-fit?
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Old Dec 30, 2015 | 06:26 PM
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FOR WHAT THIS IS WORTH:

I went through about 4 bumpers from the company that has the GM tooling and reproduces them.

The issue was the inconstancy of HOW the inner mounts were welded in place. After they actually mounted one and sent me photos of its fit...when I got it ...it fit perfectly as the photos they had sent. THEN a few months later...when I called....they knew what to do and what I expected. And even though 'they' tried to tell me that the front bumpers were not prefect...I told them ...what they were trying to pass off was NOT even close to being close...and each bumper was all over the place with gaps being so wide...you would break your knee cap off if your walked beside the front fender and hit it....thus NOT CONSISTENT.

It wasn't that the parts were not stamped correctly....THEY WERE. It was the person who was welding in the mounts was NOT paying attention....and was clearly shown in the photos I sent to them.

DUB
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Old Dec 30, 2015 | 08:41 PM
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Originally Posted by DUB
FOR WHAT THIS IS WORTH:

I went through about 4 bumpers from the company that has the GM tooling and reproduces them.

The issue was the inconstancy of HOW the inner mounts were welded in place. After they actually mounted one and sent me photos of its fit...when I got it ...it fit perfectly as the photos they had sent. THEN a few months later...when I called....they knew what to do and what I expected. And even though 'they' tried to tell me that the front bumpers were not prefect...I told them ...what they were trying to pass off was NOT even close to being close...and each bumper was all over the place with gaps being so wide...you would break your knee cap off if your walked beside the front fender and hit it....thus NOT CONSISTENT.

It wasn't that the parts were not stamped correctly....THEY WERE. It was the person who was welding in the mounts was NOT paying attention....and was clearly shown in the photos I sent to them.

DUB
Dub

Who'd you buy them from? Thanks Bagger
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Old Dec 30, 2015 | 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by DUB
FOR WHAT THIS IS WORTH:

I went through about 4 bumpers from the company that has the GM tooling and reproduces them.

The issue was the inconstancy of HOW the inner mounts were welded in place. After they actually mounted one and sent me photos of its fit...when I got it ...it fit perfectly as the photos they had sent. THEN a few months later...when I called....they knew what to do and what I expected. And even though 'they' tried to tell me that the front bumpers were not prefect...I told them ...what they were trying to pass off was NOT even close to being close...and each bumper was all over the place with gaps being so wide...you would break your knee cap off if your walked beside the front fender and hit it....thus NOT CONSISTENT.

It wasn't that the parts were not stamped correctly....THEY WERE. It was the person who was welding in the mounts was NOT paying attention....and was clearly shown in the photos I sent to them.

DUB
After you pointed this out to them is it now corrected ?
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Old Dec 31, 2015 | 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by bagger88
Dub

Who'd you buy them from? Thanks Bagger
They are a supporting vendor here on the forum. And they do REPRODUCTIONS......

Originally Posted by john 72-04
After you pointed this out to them is it now corrected ?
Honestly....I do not know....BUT....I can 'say' this from EXPERIENCE. RARELY does any manufacturer do ANYTHING when I let them know they have a problem...OR are selling something that is not correct.

They treat me like I do not know jack squat...and that I am being PICKY...but that is not the case. I just want parts that are correct...and have not been made out of thinner steel or whatever can be left out to make it cheaper so they can sell a piece of junk.

SO...I do not know if the company that welds them up was given the information and if THEY did anything about it at all to let the weld company know how important these parts being welded correctly can make a HUGE difference. I was told the fixture that is used for welding in the brackets is the original....BUT if it is WORN OUT....fix the darn thing.,....OR get someone who can install parts correctly and make sure each and every bumper coming out of the fixture is CORRECT....HOW hard can that be.....seriously.

DUB
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Old Jan 1, 2016 | 10:56 AM
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Originally Posted by bagger88
Thanks everyone. I got it off today and based on what I see I actually think it's original. Now the question is to get a repro or have this one rechromed.
If you know for sure that your bumper is original and just bent , they will straighten it before re-chroming it and it will look perfect. It's amazing what they can fix . You usually will see hammer marks on the inside but the outside will look like it did from the factory and once installed you won't see the inside .
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