Rear bumper cover removal
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 1999
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Rear bumper cover removal
I have to get my rear bumper cover re-painted. If I remove it and take it to my local bosy shop, he can strip it and paint it for a very attractive price. Looking at the assembly guide, I see 18 threaded studs on the cover with a nut and washer on each one. So, can you reach all the nuts? Will the studs pull out of the cover? How long should this job take? Any special tools required?
Thanks
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,825
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From: Shawano WI
Re: Rear bumper cover removal (Lee)
No special tools required although a skinny arm helps.
The studs you see are a metal retainer that comes in from the back side of the bumper. There are 4 retainers, 1 on each side and 2 across the top. Some of the studs may break off. If they do you can either weld a new bolt to the retainer or purchase new retainers from the Vette supply vendors.
Shouldn't take over an hour to do. Don't forget the license plate light.
[Modified by Pete79L82, 7:27 PM 3/5/2002]
The studs you see are a metal retainer that comes in from the back side of the bumper. There are 4 retainers, 1 on each side and 2 across the top. Some of the studs may break off. If they do you can either weld a new bolt to the retainer or purchase new retainers from the Vette supply vendors.
Shouldn't take over an hour to do. Don't forget the license plate light.
[Modified by Pete79L82, 7:27 PM 3/5/2002]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Fort Worth TX
St. Jude Donor '06
Father & Son St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Rear bumper cover removal (Lee)
Just be careful removing your cover, it may be more brittle than you think. Might even make sure it's a warm day with the sun shining on it. My front cover already had cracks on it and needed replaced, but it fell apart completely when I removed it, very brittle.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,943
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From: Florham Park NJ Port Credit Ontario
Re: Rear bumper cover removal (Lee)
Lee,
If your Vette is from Canada (as was mine) I would bet that most of the studs will break off. They are difficult to reach as well. I suggest that you purchase the stainless retainer kit from one of the vendors. Also as others have said, once I removed mine it literally crumbled apart.
Good Luck,
Stew
If your Vette is from Canada (as was mine) I would bet that most of the studs will break off. They are difficult to reach as well. I suggest that you purchase the stainless retainer kit from one of the vendors. Also as others have said, once I removed mine it literally crumbled apart.
Good Luck,
Stew
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
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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
Re: Rear bumper cover removal (Lee)
Lee, when I had to replace my '75's front and rear bumper last winter due to the typical "age cracking", I just ended up "cutting" the urethane bumper about an 1/8" away from the fiberglass of the body. Then I used a 90degree bodyshop grinder and just ground off the raised portions of the stud that is welded to the retainer. I then just "poked" the studs through. You cannot do this of course if your going to try and reuse your original bumper. If this is the case, as others have said, check it very, very carefully. If it is age cracking, especially at the inner corners where the molded sharp bends are, then if you do successfully remove it, repaint it, and reinstall it, you could be wasting alot of labor, paint costs and time if you go through all this and it's no good. It could last a year or two or even a few years, but eventually it's going to literally fall apart as mine did and many others here have. If you get 20-25yrs use out of an original urethane bumper, consider yourself lucky. Being where you live also has a big effect on how long the urethane lasts. The warmer or hotter the climate an owner lives in, the shorter the life of the urethane.
