horrible fiberglass bumper alignment
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
horrible fiberglass bumper alignment
i just bought this fiberglass replacement bumper for my 75 off of ebay. it is supposed to be new/never installed. it is supposedly an Eckler's peice. i only paid 186 w/ shipping, which i thought was a deal. so i go to put it on my car and the center is one inch too low. i thought maybe all of that honeycomd and metal reinforcment on the car was not letting it fit right. so i take all of that stuff off and line up he top, and now the bottom is an inch high!! on top of that, the sides are about a 1/4 inch short on each side. 
Is it possible that my car's front end is wrong? i have been reading other posts on the bad fittment of fiberglass bumpers. are these companies actually getting away with this shoddy workmanship?
i was thinking about geting an actual new front bumper from Dunshee Corvette for $270. but is it worth it? will it have the same horrible fitment? 
Is it possible that my car's front end is wrong? i have been reading other posts on the bad fittment of fiberglass bumpers. are these companies actually getting away with this shoddy workmanship?
i was thinking about geting an actual new front bumper from Dunshee Corvette for $270. but is it worth it? will it have the same horrible fitment?
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Mine was out on one side by 1/2 inch so I had to cut the bumper, fasten it to the car and then fiberglass it back together.
They don't fit very well so be prepared to make alot of adjustments.
They don't fit very well so be prepared to make alot of adjustments.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 2,305
Likes: 5
From: Orlando,Fl,USA
I bet thats the bumper that the guy said was lying around for years. I think I actually bid on that one about 6 weeks ago??
Anyway I went with the ecklers flexfit bumper ($350). That thing lined up so well that its unbelievable. I had to loosen up and change out one of the absorbers because of the rear impact that I had. I than gave it a few wacks with the sledge & that brought it up to where it should be. I used the SS fasteners that come in a bag for $30. It was a PITA job but its done. I will have the body shop finish up the fitment with a little sanding & filler in the seams. I have the car stripped of all emblems , chrome stuff & lights for the paint job.
Anyway I went with the ecklers flexfit bumper ($350). That thing lined up so well that its unbelievable. I had to loosen up and change out one of the absorbers because of the rear impact that I had. I than gave it a few wacks with the sledge & that brought it up to where it should be. I used the SS fasteners that come in a bag for $30. It was a PITA job but its done. I will have the body shop finish up the fitment with a little sanding & filler in the seams. I have the car stripped of all emblems , chrome stuff & lights for the paint job.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 2
From: San diego ca
Poor fit of fiberglass bumpers is notorious on our cars...you will find people with all kinds of stories both good and bad...now I too would say 1" is extreme.. especially along the top edge...as usually its the sides that dont line up.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
i never knew these bumpers could be that bad. the guy said it was new so i didn't think it could be warped. if i compare it to pictures of other bumpers, it looks as if the top , were it should sloped up, is practically straight across.
http://www.deadzoom.com/uploads/UP169794.jpg
here is a link to a picture
for some reason clicking on the link it says "forbiden"
but if you copy and paste it in the address bar it works.
http://www.deadzoom.com/uploads/UP169794.jpg
here is a link to a picture
for some reason clicking on the link it says "forbiden"
but if you copy and paste it in the address bar it works.
Last edited by chris75stingray; Feb 24, 2005 at 11:36 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,457
Likes: 463
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Most of these bumpers for the rear of '74-'82 Corvettes "usually" work pretty well as they do not have that much of a curved contour line that the front has. I bought an Eckler's FlexFit bumper for the front of my '74 that, like yours I sold it because the fit was totally unacceptable. Ended up spending $500+ for the '73/'74 GM Restoration Parts "correct, original" urethane bumper, which fit BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL one, partially due to the fact I was not an assembly line worker installing it in less than two minutes. I spent over 2hrs just "lining it up". It really isn't the manufacturer's fault of the fit of these bumpers-it's due to the fact that our fenders & quarters were "glued & hand assembled" in a jig. They say that no two Corvette's panels are the same in width, height, length. I do not believe that, but I know the point they're trying to make in saying it.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,457
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From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Originally Posted by Corvus
Can you please show some pics, as I'm considering fiberglass for my 76.
Pic of my 1975 4yrs ago with the rear TrueFlex(Toledo Pro FiberGlass)Bumper. Didn't get one of the front.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 2,508
From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I went with the GM Restoration original and it fit perfect. It is a flexible original replica. I figured the extra $100 would be worth the saved grief and it sounds like it was worth it.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 2,508
From: Buckeye, AZ
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I went with the GM Restoration original and it fit perfect. It is a flexible original replica. I figured the extra $100 would be worth the saved grief and it sounds like it was worth it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
From: Grants Pass Oregon
Cheesy
Well I guess I did something right, just by dumb luck though. About a year and a half ago when I ordered my one piece front end I also ordered other parts I would need. One of those parts was a figerglass nose piece, with the under skirt and the front dam to boot. Amazingly enough they all fit like a little jigsaw puzzle. I guess the guys knew they would be held accountable and fit the parts togather before they sent then out. Oh and just so you know...they've al been sitting around for that year and a half and still fit togather famously. So I'm thinking you have to stack stuff on top of a piece and leave it that way for a few years to make it warp. The guy selling the nose on eBay probably knew it was warped already.
You can click on my pictures to the left and see how the bumper sits, its just set up there nothing holding it up.I ordered from that company down south..Ummm Help me guys...not eklers...all these guys do is fiberglass, been at it for a long time. Vanacor...had to go look it up..lol. Those guys were great! They even sent me a little something extra.
You can click on my pictures to the left and see how the bumper sits, its just set up there nothing holding it up.I ordered from that company down south..Ummm Help me guys...not eklers...all these guys do is fiberglass, been at it for a long time. Vanacor...had to go look it up..lol. Those guys were great! They even sent me a little something extra.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Home of WILD TURKEY
I've been told
they are now making the rubber ones again!!! We bought some 6-7 years ago & just got'em on the car... The backs fit with no prob. but the front's require alot of fab. work... You actually have to cut out two supports & make a replacement set!!!
Last edited by THE ROOSTER; Feb 25, 2005 at 09:57 PM.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
this is a good read
anything but urethane is a cheap substitute
read what Dave McLellan said himself about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch body variance.
http:www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/tip17.html
read what Dave McLellan said himself about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch body variance.
http:www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/tip17.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Now this is horrible.... I don't think you can make this fit without cutting the new bumper and glass it back together ...
If I bought a bumper like this for $100 I wouldn't complain.... you paid $186 incl. shipping ?? The fiberglass bumpers are usually $329 or so, GM bumpers are $500 ?? - unfortunately you get what you pay for...
If I bought a bumper like this for $100 I wouldn't complain.... you paid $186 incl. shipping ?? The fiberglass bumpers are usually $329 or so, GM bumpers are $500 ?? - unfortunately you get what you pay for...
