Tru-Flex Fit Not Even Close-HELP
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Tru-Flex Fit Not Even Close-HELP
Well the guy who's painting my 75 calls me tonight with the good news. The Tru Flex bumper cover for the front is a good 1/2 inch too small all the way around. It's so far off you can put it inside the old one and it won't even fit over the bumper. I'll be calling Bairs in the morning to see what solution they might have. Are all Tru Flex going to be the same size? Would the other brands be any different? What's going on here? I know these cars were hand made but I can't believe that could account for it being this far off. What do you guys suggest?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 140
Likes: 1
From: east hampton ct
On my 75 I just finished installing my truflex rear bumper which came from toledo pro. The bumper was 5/8" to short. According to toledo the 75 came in two widths. My front bumper fit fine. To get the rear to fit I cut the bumper in half, lined it up and glassed it back together. It was a pain in the neck but it came out ok.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by 28buick
On my 75 I just finished installing my truflex rear bumper which came from toledo pro. The bumper was 5/8" to short. According to toledo the 75 came in two widths. My front bumper fit fine. To get the rear to fit I cut the bumper in half, lined it up and glassed it back together. It was a pain in the neck but it came out ok.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
The front bumper I got a few months back fitted poorly also. Instead of hacking that one up, I sent it back for a refund and hacked up the glass bumper that was on the car. It was easier than I thought it would be. My bro ground, sanded, painted it I was through and it turned out quite well. There's a lot of glassing info here in the archives and on corvette.faq.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
You guys are telling me that there is not a correct fit bumper available?
I am glad I have my chome bumpers now. Having to hack up a new piece and add fibreglass is just unnacceptable.
Send it back and tell them to change their manufacturing process. These cars have been around for 25 years!
Hope you get it resolved.
Good Luck,
Pete
I am glad I have my chome bumpers now. Having to hack up a new piece and add fibreglass is just unnacceptable.
Send it back and tell them to change their manufacturing process. These cars have been around for 25 years!
Hope you get it resolved.
Good Luck,
Pete
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,176
Likes: 3,991
From: Connecticut, USA
Originally Posted by 28buick
On my 75 I just finished installing my truflex rear bumper which came from toledo pro. The bumper was 5/8" to short. According to toledo the 75 came in two widths. My front bumper fit fine. To get the rear to fit I cut the bumper in half, lined it up and glassed it back together. It was a pain in the neck but it came out ok.
Thanks
Gary
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 140
Likes: 1
From: east hampton ct
Sorry but I have no photos. I used normal polyester resin and cloth which according to the bumper manufacturor was OK. I bolted the bumper pieces in place then used a hot glue gun and small strips of wood to ensure proper alignment between the two pieces. Go easy on the glue and the strips of wood easily come off. I glassed enough to hold the bumper together, took it off the car and completed the process on the bench. I don't know if I'm going to the swap meet or not. How will I recognize your spot if I go.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
FYI, no two car bodies are alike. The way I heard it, wear on the molds causes it. It's most likely not a defective part, the part they are selling probably fit someone's vette perfectly, just not yours.
Maybe try measuring your car and calling around and comparing with parts? Might get you alot closer and avoid the return/shipping charges and headaches...
Good luck!
Maybe try measuring your car and calling around and comparing with parts? Might get you alot closer and avoid the return/shipping charges and headaches...
Good luck!
Racer
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 268
Likes: 0
From: Mechanicsville VA
This is kind of disconcerting. I have not gotten to that point yet, but am starting to think that the standard fiberglass front & rear is the way to go, instead of fitting the urethane or Tru-Flex. Tell me if I am wrong and why...
Racer
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 485
Likes: 1
From: Dallas Texas
They also run too big. The front bumper is about 1/2" too wide. I was going to build up the fender to match but I like the idea of cutting it down to size and glassing in. As much glass work as I have done on this car that should not be a big deal. At least I don't have to deal with the a rear bumper.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 3
From: Manchester, Dead Center in the Middle of TN 25 miles to Jack Daniels,10 miles to Geo Dickle, and .8 mile from the Liquor Store at I-24 Exit 114
St. Jude Donor '05
I may be off in left field as usual but I can't see using a Tru-flex or any Glass bumper that doesn't fit. The GM Urethane is the way I'm going. It's truly flexible and should fit as the factory replacements did. I think the reason they did use the urethane is because it is very forgiving to their variable dimensions.
The GM may cost more but, or does it? jim
The GM may cost more but, or does it? jim
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Not much progress today. My bodyshop guy talked to Bairs but didn't get much for answers. They claim it just takes some manipulating and loosening of brackets 
. I haven't talked to him about the cut and paste solution yet 
. I'll see what his reaction is and if he doesn't go for that I'll probably call and see if I can get dimensions of the Ecklers Flex-Fit and fiberglass versions.
. I haven't talked to him about the cut and paste solution yet . I'll see what his reaction is and if he doesn't go for that I'll probably call and see if I can get dimensions of the Ecklers Flex-Fit and fiberglass versions.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
I went to Ecklers in Florida last year and was told by there sales manager that they make their own flex fit from the original molds as they are the authorized GM manufacturer of the urethane bumpers. Anybody have anything on this?
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: Leander TX
Originally Posted by kens 80
I went to Ecklers in Florida last year and was told by there sales manager that they make their own flex fit from the original molds as they are the authorized GM manufacturer of the urethane bumpers. Anybody have anything on this?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,460
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
Originally Posted by PROSOUTH
I may be off in left field as usual but I can't see using a Tru-flex or any Glass bumper that doesn't fit. The GM Urethane is the way I'm going. It's truly flexible and should fit as the factory replacements did. I think the reason they did use the urethane is because it is very forgiving to their variable dimensions.
The GM may cost more but, or does it? jim
The GM may cost more but, or does it? jim
Does it fit better than original-unbelievably perfect because you can take your time tweaking and adjusting it whereas the assembly line workers only had SO MUCH time to get it on.
Because of the "contour & curvature" of the front bumper, especially at the sides around the marker light area I can understand why these "rigid" bumpers have so much trouble in this area.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 683
Likes: 4
I am experiencing the same with the rear bumper for a 75. I ordered the flex fit from Ecklers. I would not fit, and it doesn't flex. Furthermore the crossbar that attaches to the collision shocks would have to be left off the vehicle. This is not acceptable in that this is what protects the fuel tank in case of a rear collision. I called Ecklers about this and they agreed to a exchange for the urathane made from GM original molds. This is the way to go as it is better materials than original, Its flexible and I can put the car back to original. The only drawback is on the rear bumper is that the letters for CORVETTE are not indented into the bumper as original. What I plan is to make a template from the old bumper and use a dremel toll to make the indentation. I would call Ecklers and order Part # 13028 for 73-74 front bumper or Part# 32497 75-79 Front bumper original equipment.
Hope your project is a success!
Steve
Hope your project is a success!
Steve