'69 front bumper installation help
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 862
Likes: 9
From: Communist party of MD
'69 front bumper installation help
Finishing up putting the exterior trim of the car back on after a full re-paint. Got to the front bumper and having some trouble with the corner mounts. I understand how the large mounts extend from the frame (behind the tire) and extend into the front clip, then there is u-shaped brackets that mount ontop of that.
My question is there is a space from inside the fiberglass to the u-shaped bracket - what goes there?
The shims on the assembly manual that came in the parts box look like they don't fit in that small opening. Almost looks like a cylinder or bolt would fit to protect the fiberglass from damage.
Anyone have any pictures or advice that could help me out?
Thanks!
My question is there is a space from inside the fiberglass to the u-shaped bracket - what goes there?
The shims on the assembly manual that came in the parts box look like they don't fit in that small opening. Almost looks like a cylinder or bolt would fit to protect the fiberglass from damage.
Anyone have any pictures or advice that could help me out?
Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
If I am understanding this correctly, are you sure that those large brackets coming off the chassis are as forward as possible where they bolt to. Are they slotted a little, so that the assembly can be moved more forward into position on the inside of the nose ? I had issues putting a new bumper on my 68 but in the middle section. The repro bumpers center flange protruded out so far it created a gap along the front. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 862
Likes: 9
From: Communist party of MD
I have some play with the brackets that mount to the frame. But the u-brackets won't butt up against the fiberglass since the brackets are wider than the flanged out corner where the bumper mounts to.
I picked up some steel cylinder spacers I will try and install with this weekend and see if that will do the trick.
I picked up some steel cylinder spacers I will try and install with this weekend and see if that will do the trick.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
Between that u bracket and the fiberglass there is a 4 inch reinforcement bracket that bolts to the support that goes along the inside of the nose . Is that missing? That will eat up a little of the gap also. 1 on each side.
Last edited by John 65; Jan 6, 2012 at 11:52 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Do you have the 69 Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM)? The AIM shows how the bumpers were mounted and the presence or absence of shims.
It's posssible there are no shims between the horse collar (U bracket) and the bumper reinforcement bar molded in the nose.
It's posssible there are no shims between the horse collar (U bracket) and the bumper reinforcement bar molded in the nose.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 862
Likes: 9
From: Communist party of MD
I was able to purchase some metal cylinder spacers at Lowes to use as shims between the fiberglass and bumper brackets Seemed to do the trick well after I had to cut them to the right thickness.
Anyhow, after 5 hours of fiddling with the bumper brackets, center bracket and bumper itself, it's hung. However there is issues. Looking straight down birds-eye view there is a lot of space between the fiberglass and bumper itself. I can see the inside of the bumper actually. Looking at it from the front looks decent and also from the side.
Before, when we did a test mount, the bracket was pushing the bumper even further out and we couldn't get the side bolts in. So we took the plasma cutter and opened up the slots in the radiator support where it mounts to.
Birds Eye view
hockeysticks won't align to the bumperettes
Sides look good at least...right?
The bumper-ettes and hockeysticks have a good 1/2" gap in between them. Again I do not know if these bumpers/hockeysticks are oem or aftermarket. They came with the project car and I had them chrome plated
Anyhow, after 5 hours of fiddling with the bumper brackets, center bracket and bumper itself, it's hung. However there is issues. Looking straight down birds-eye view there is a lot of space between the fiberglass and bumper itself. I can see the inside of the bumper actually. Looking at it from the front looks decent and also from the side.
Before, when we did a test mount, the bracket was pushing the bumper even further out and we couldn't get the side bolts in. So we took the plasma cutter and opened up the slots in the radiator support where it mounts to.
Birds Eye view
hockeysticks won't align to the bumperettes
Sides look good at least...right?
The bumper-ettes and hockeysticks have a good 1/2" gap in between them. Again I do not know if these bumpers/hockeysticks are oem or aftermarket. They came with the project car and I had them chrome plated
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,936
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
if your just building a nice car for yourself and not a top flite car painting the back of the bumper black will help if you can't tighten the gap up.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
Thats EXACTLY what the center of mine looked like and it turned out to be the chinese bumper. As said in my 1st post, the center flange on the bumper protruded out to far compared to the original. I found this out after I measured the two. Any chance of bringing the face of the horse shoe bracket back in towards the car a little bit ?
The side dont look so bad.
The side dont look so bad.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 399
Likes: 4
From: Suffield CT
Kevin, that sucks man
my original 69 bumper was rechromed and is still in bubble wrap for 10 plus years, i bought a 1970 used and slapped it on the car myself. It fit 10X better than your pic.
IMHO something is WAY off ???
My car had original bumper damaged and some Fiber glass damage from a stick the car infront hit in the air and landed on the vette... 8-(
and the used bumper still fit way better than your pic.
i think this spring i will put my original bumper back on.. 8-)
-ALF out...
my original 69 bumper was rechromed and is still in bubble wrap for 10 plus years, i bought a 1970 used and slapped it on the car myself. It fit 10X better than your pic.
IMHO something is WAY off ???
My car had original bumper damaged and some Fiber glass damage from a stick the car infront hit in the air and landed on the vette... 8-(
and the used bumper still fit way better than your pic.
i think this spring i will put my original bumper back on.. 8-)
-ALF out...
Last edited by fazang; Jan 9, 2012 at 03:03 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 862
Likes: 9
From: Communist party of MD
Ok, that answers my question then - it is officially a cheap knockoff bumper.
Looks like I'll be shopping for a C3 OEM bumper at Carlysle. How can I tell if its OEM or not and what markings do I look for?
Looks like I'll be shopping for a C3 OEM bumper at Carlysle. How can I tell if its OEM or not and what markings do I look for?
