Rant: Bumper bolts.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,416
Likes: 1
From: NC,USA
Rant: Bumper bolts.
Argh.
I've got a 75, rubber bumper... preparing for a frame off.
The front bumper bolts were a pain to get to everything must be removed... and a fair number had a flat head slot in the back. The rears however... are insane!
Who designed this? You gotta reach between a three inch wide gap... around the screws holding the tail lights in... On top of that, the nuts are set in a inch wide gap... smaller than any shorty socket and thin headed ratchet.
Burried up to your elbow with a 3/8ths box wrench, taking a 1/4 turn at a time... begs the question, is there a better way to do it?
I'm currently using a 3/8ths tappet wrench, almost a foot long... with a vice grip on the end. 1/4 turn by 1/4 turn...
Is there a better way?
I've got a 75, rubber bumper... preparing for a frame off.
The front bumper bolts were a pain to get to everything must be removed... and a fair number had a flat head slot in the back. The rears however... are insane!
Who designed this? You gotta reach between a three inch wide gap... around the screws holding the tail lights in... On top of that, the nuts are set in a inch wide gap... smaller than any shorty socket and thin headed ratchet.
Burried up to your elbow with a 3/8ths box wrench, taking a 1/4 turn at a time... begs the question, is there a better way to do it?
I'm currently using a 3/8ths tappet wrench, almost a foot long... with a vice grip on the end. 1/4 turn by 1/4 turn...
Is there a better way?
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 495
Likes: 1
From: Lubbock TX
I had to remove the rear bumper on my 75 a month ago and i had the same trouble, it took me two days for me and my dad to finally get the thing off. A few of the bolts were rusted and they wouldnt move. After we got most of them off, i was able to get a saw blade in between the bumper and the body and cut through the bolts that i couldnt take off. That was the easiest but its easy to cut the fiberglass
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Yeah, they're a PITA to remove but I'll bet they went on rickety split at the factory. I was at the Bowling Green Factory a couple of years ago and watched them put on C5 bumper covers. I would say they spent about 30 seconds max on each one and that was while the installer was paying more attention to the spectators than the bumper cover he was bolting on.
Last edited by Jud Chapin; Dec 22, 2006 at 11:44 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
They are great, got me into places where I could not get a rachet and socket into. It certainly beats the crap out of turning a box wrench 1/4 turn at a time and dropping the wrench every other turn. Soak the bolts and nuts with PB Blaster first and then give it a go.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
They are great, got me into places where I could not get a rachet and socket into. It certainly beats the crap out of turning a box wrench 1/4 turn at a time and dropping the wrench every other turn. Soak the bolts and nuts with PB Blaster first and then give it a go.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,577
Likes: 2
From: Long Island New York
I picked up my 12 piece set of Stanley's at a local car show from one of the vendors there for $35.00, they go for $69.- $79. in the stores. One of the best tool investments I have ever made, once you use them you'll wonder how you lived without them.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 0
From: Leander Texas
I removed all the retainer nuts on the sides of the rear bumper cover with 1/4 inch air ratchet as high as I could reach. The ones on the top wre removed with a 1/4 drive short handle ratchet. The two in the center I removed through the fuel filler access hole with a 6" 1/4 drive extension, and wratchet. Took about 1 hour, but I have small hands, and most of the retainers just snapped off. When I re assembled I used stubby Gear Wrenches.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Oakdale Ct
Since I am replacing both bumpers, I used a utility knife and cut the bumper off about an inch from the fiberglass, made it real easy to get to the nuts (most of which snapped anyway) The knife slices through the urethane like butter!
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,046
Likes: 675
From: FL
Oh, and here is the trick I used for future reference (or when you have to reattach the bumper).
Drop the gas tank and remove the tank shield. Tons of room then. And the tank goes in easily from below.
Drop the gas tank and remove the tank shield. Tons of room then. And the tank goes in easily from below.