Front Bumper Removal 1969
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,089
Likes: 43
From: Native Californian CALIFORNIA
Army
Front Bumper Removal 1969
Any tricks or advice to make the removal of the front bumper as painless as possible. Do you open the headlights to gain access to the bolts?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,412
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
The headlight assemblies won't be in the way; up or down. I've removed front bumpers many times, but kinda forget the details. The center of the bumper has two bolts to be undone...you might have to remove the plastic center grill to get to these. Midway from center the bumper is bolted to the chrome upright pieces...undo one bolt each. And finally the bumper ends...I think to reach that bolt you have to reach up from underneath from the inside of the fenders. I think it'll be straightforward.
Cover the painted surfaces with masking tape and multiple layers of newspapers. The ends of the bumper have a way of scratching the paint when the bumper swings loose.
Cover the painted surfaces with masking tape and multiple layers of newspapers. The ends of the bumper have a way of scratching the paint when the bumper swings loose.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,285
Likes: 4,375
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Erv,
68/70 gave you good advice.
Be careful when your putting the bumper back on. It's VERY easy to crack the fiberglass while tightening the bolts. I put the bumper where I want it and move the brackets to meet it. Don't use the bolts to pull the bumper to the brackets.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
68/70 gave you good advice.
Be careful when your putting the bumper back on. It's VERY easy to crack the fiberglass while tightening the bolts. I put the bumper where I want it and move the brackets to meet it. Don't use the bolts to pull the bumper to the brackets.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,285
Likes: 4,375
From: Westminster Maryland
How much trouble is it to get the grills out?
Do you know a 3 year old that you could ask to do it. I think their arms and hands are just the right size. Plus they'll work for popsicles and baggies of Cheerios.
Regards,
Alan
Do you know a 3 year old that you could ask to do it. I think their arms and hands are just the right size. Plus they'll work for popsicles and baggies of Cheerios.
Regards,
Alan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
Likes: 7
From: Peekskill NY
I did this on my 70 this summer and I removed the grills for easy access. Take Alans advice re; the brackets and go slow. I had more trouble reinstalling it then taking it off. Have a helper or two to hold the bumper corners. They kept dropping towards the ground while I was getting the center bolts started and that will scratch up your paint.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,285
Likes: 4,375
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi GD,
Boy... we all travel the same path. As usual I did mine by myself. I had to use some padded jack stands to hold the corners up. It was a very high tech/ racy look.
Regards,
Alan
PS: The fellow who sprayed my lacquer takes bodies off and puts them back on by himself. It's quite a dance to see.
Boy... we all travel the same path. As usual I did mine by myself. I had to use some padded jack stands to hold the corners up. It was a very high tech/ racy look.
Regards,
Alan
PS: The fellow who sprayed my lacquer takes bodies off and puts them back on by himself. It's quite a dance to see.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,246
Likes: 114
From: Watkins Glen NY
BUT, be very careful loosening them! Soak them very good first, and back them out slowly, making sure the captured nut inside the bumper doesn't spin. One of mine did (the last one after everything else was removed
).Now thats a bear--trying to keep that nut still and turn the bolt. Ended up very carefully cutting that bolt head off with a torch--something I did NOT want to do!
IIRC, I couldn't get at the bolt head or anything else in that tight area with a saw or grinder.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,089
Likes: 43
From: Native Californian CALIFORNIA
Army
How do you disconnect the pigtail of the marker light from the marker light ly thus completely freeing up the grille to be removed? I did not want to froce the issue so I thought it better to ask someone.
Thanks,
Thanks,
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,101
Likes: 10
From: NorCal
I left the end bolts out. Hard as I tried, it looked funny with everything bolted down, so I fabricated some thin (1/4") hard rubber spacers with a little dimple on each side and glued it to the bumper. After I bolted the rest down it lined up perfectly and doesnt shake or squeak.
Ironically, I had a old gal back her pickup into the LF corner and the bumper just deflected down slightly and she rode up the fender peak. Cracked it, but they guy that advised me on the repairs said I lucked out because if the bumper had been bolted on the end, it would have really torn it up! Turned into and easy fix and didn't even scratch the bumper. I call it my Okie 5MPH bumper!
Hans
Ironically, I had a old gal back her pickup into the LF corner and the bumper just deflected down slightly and she rode up the fender peak. Cracked it, but they guy that advised me on the repairs said I lucked out because if the bumper had been bolted on the end, it would have really torn it up! Turned into and easy fix and didn't even scratch the bumper. I call it my Okie 5MPH bumper!
Hans
