Removing Front Bumper
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 245
Likes: 5
From: Layton, UT
Removing Front Bumper
I've got an 80 with the original urethane front bumper. I've got all the nuts off the studs, even the top corners, which were a pain in the butt. Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, not a single stud broke. However, I still can't get the bumper off. The sides of the bumper have the 2 vertical studs on either side, then along the front it has all the horizontal studs. I can't rotate the bumper enough on the sides to drop off the vertical bolts so I can just put it straight out from the car. Does that make sense? I know most people say the studs brake off when they're removing the nuts, so they wouldn't have this problem. But for me, since none broke I just as soon use them again. I'm starting to think I'm going to have to use a sawzall to cut the for 4 vertical studs. Anyone have any advice?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 245
Likes: 5
From: Layton, UT
I thought about that. However, my bumper is in good shape and the body shop said they'd recommend keeping the original and just rehabbing it vs buying a new one and having to fit it to the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 278
From: Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Ok, didn't see where you were going to reuse a 40 yr old urethane bumper.
Good luck with the rehab and reinstall. Hope cracks don't appear. Those things get VERY brittle over time.
Good luck with the rehab and reinstall. Hope cracks don't appear. Those things get VERY brittle over time.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 245
Likes: 5
From: Layton, UT
I agree, and if there is any concern I'll replace it. However, I'm not even convinced it is original, because it seems like its in too good of shape. The rear bumper was the same way. They're both urethane, but not brittle at all. I also can tell that both bumpers have been off at some point. That's why i'm wondering if they were replaced before my time owning the car.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 400
Likes: 207
From: Liberty Bay, WA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 195
From: Englewood FL
I thought there were three nuts holding each side of the bumper. You mentioned removing two nuts. This is a picture showing the bumper retainers:
http://www.keenparts.com/CorvettePar...per%20Retainer
Once I removed all the nuts, I pulled down on each side, to free the sides of the bumper and then pulled it forward. I put milk crates under each side, so it would not drop down too far. After painting, I reversed the process.
It is mater of opinion, but my limited experience with the 1979-82 urethane bumpers is that they hold up well for 40 year old bumpers. I repainted several of those cars, removed the bumpers, sanding them to remove the old paint, painted them off the car and then reinstalled them. They all held up well and were still flexible. The cars were always garaged, which may have made a difference.
If you do choose to reuse them, I would remove the old paint by sanding and not with a chemical stripper. I ruined two urethane bumpers by using a chemical stripper listed as safe. It swelled the urethane, and they never returned to the original shape.
http://www.keenparts.com/CorvettePar...per%20Retainer
Once I removed all the nuts, I pulled down on each side, to free the sides of the bumper and then pulled it forward. I put milk crates under each side, so it would not drop down too far. After painting, I reversed the process.
It is mater of opinion, but my limited experience with the 1979-82 urethane bumpers is that they hold up well for 40 year old bumpers. I repainted several of those cars, removed the bumpers, sanding them to remove the old paint, painted them off the car and then reinstalled them. They all held up well and were still flexible. The cars were always garaged, which may have made a difference.
If you do choose to reuse them, I would remove the old paint by sanding and not with a chemical stripper. I ruined two urethane bumpers by using a chemical stripper listed as safe. It swelled the urethane, and they never returned to the original shape.
Last edited by mark79,80; Dec 21, 2020 at 04:19 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 245
Likes: 5
From: Layton, UT
I thought there were three nuts holding each side of the bumper. You mentioned removing two nuts. This is a picture showing the bumper retainers:
http://www.keenparts.com/CorvettePar...per%20Retainer
Once I removed all the nuts, I pulled down on each side, to free the sides of the bumper and then pulled it forward. I put milk crates under each side, so it would not drop down too far. After painting, I reversed the process.
It is mater of opinion, but my limited experience with the 1979-82 urethane bumpers is that they hold up well for 40 year old bumpers. I repainted several of those cars, removed the bumpers, sanding them to remove the old paint, painted them off the car and then reinstalled them. They all held up well and were still flexible. The cars were always garaged, which may have made a difference.
If you do choose to reuse them, I would remove the old paint by sanding and not with a chemical stripper. I ruined two urethane bumpers by using a chemical stripper listed as safe. It swelled the urethane, and they never returned to the original shape.
http://www.keenparts.com/CorvettePar...per%20Retainer
Once I removed all the nuts, I pulled down on each side, to free the sides of the bumper and then pulled it forward. I put milk crates under each side, so it would not drop down too far. After painting, I reversed the process.
It is mater of opinion, but my limited experience with the 1979-82 urethane bumpers is that they hold up well for 40 year old bumpers. I repainted several of those cars, removed the bumpers, sanding them to remove the old paint, painted them off the car and then reinstalled them. They all held up well and were still flexible. The cars were always garaged, which may have made a difference.
If you do choose to reuse them, I would remove the old paint by sanding and not with a chemical stripper. I ruined two urethane bumpers by using a chemical stripper listed as safe. It swelled the urethane, and they never returned to the original shape.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 195
From: Englewood FL
Sorry I wasn't clear. There is a bolt and then 2 nuts that have to be removed on each side. All three are removed. I had a feeling that what you described is the only way to remove them. Pull down the sides first, then when they come loose, pull it forward. It just seems like it's so tight that I may brake the bumper just trying to get the sides down. the bumper holes are kind of pushing against the studs, making it hard to pull the sides down.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 245
Likes: 5
From: Layton, UT
I spent the last 30 minutes seeing if i could work the bumper enough to get it off the studs. I was able to get the sides off of the rear stud, but the front stud, near the corner of the car was just too long. The side's had no change of bending down far enough to clear it. I finally just took a saw and cut that one bolt off on one side. That was enough to release one side of the bumper, at which point I could pull it forward and away from the car, and it released enough pressure that the other side dropped off as well. Bumper is now off. I'll guess I'll have to replace at least one of the stud brackets. Thanks for everyone's inputs.