new bumpers best pick?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 162
Likes: 5
From: Mount Pleasant WISCONSIN
new bumpers best pick?
Hi guys/ladies. I own a 76 stingray with an overall beautiful candyapple red paint job applied during the 1980's. The front and rear bumpers need repainting. The shop guy tells me it may be easier to just buy new bumpers than to remove the tri coat and start anew on the existing bumpers. The options are Urethane, fiberglass, and flex fit.. It's my understanding that urethane and fiberglass more mimic the original lookout are a lot more work to place on the vehicle, where as the flex fit is easier to place on but may show defects upon close inspection. Does anyone have experience with this. I am not very confident with my shop guys knowledge of corvettes. What would you use to get the bets look?
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 109
Likes: 23
From: Duvall WA
Bumpers:
Vettera,
The urethane bumpers ARE the easiest to fit & install, not so easy to paint- match depending on the color & if paint flex additives are added?
The fiberglass (Including the Flex) ARE the easiest to paint match.
BUT-Guaranteed that you WILL have to some "body/bumper fill & fit" work with either the fiberglass or the flex-fiberglass style bumpers! The results of a properly done fiberglass replacement bumper can be outstanding, without the paint match challenges and no future "lumpy-waves" of urethane bumpers.
There is some extra work to modify the crash impact related parts on the front bumper (Full length rubber Honey-Comb & steel frame plus the center rubber/steel structor) the rear bumper is pretty straight forward.
If you are interested, I do have a set of Genuine TRU-FLEX Fiberglass bumpers for 1975-79 Corvettes. Note: there is a small difference between early & late 1976 rear bumpers - early 1976 had "small" Corvette emblems installed into a "recessed-area" on the rear bumper, later 1976 models had larger Corvette emblems mounted onto a straight-smooth surface. The rear bumper I have is the later smooth bumper style. Toledo-Pro Part # BCT-010 Rear Bumper (BBT-020 Front Bumper) $350 for BOTH and you would be "Looking-GREAT" ! ! !
The urethane bumpers ARE the easiest to fit & install, not so easy to paint- match depending on the color & if paint flex additives are added?
The fiberglass (Including the Flex) ARE the easiest to paint match.
BUT-Guaranteed that you WILL have to some "body/bumper fill & fit" work with either the fiberglass or the flex-fiberglass style bumpers! The results of a properly done fiberglass replacement bumper can be outstanding, without the paint match challenges and no future "lumpy-waves" of urethane bumpers.
There is some extra work to modify the crash impact related parts on the front bumper (Full length rubber Honey-Comb & steel frame plus the center rubber/steel structor) the rear bumper is pretty straight forward.
If you are interested, I do have a set of Genuine TRU-FLEX Fiberglass bumpers for 1975-79 Corvettes. Note: there is a small difference between early & late 1976 rear bumpers - early 1976 had "small" Corvette emblems installed into a "recessed-area" on the rear bumper, later 1976 models had larger Corvette emblems mounted onto a straight-smooth surface. The rear bumper I have is the later smooth bumper style. Toledo-Pro Part # BCT-010 Rear Bumper (BBT-020 Front Bumper) $350 for BOTH and you would be "Looking-GREAT" ! ! !
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 162
Likes: 5
From: Mount Pleasant WISCONSIN
I was told by a body shop guy that the urethane and fiberglass were the most difficult to fit properly and the flex, because it is flexible was the easiest to fit. He didn't mention anything about which would be harder to paint match, but I do not have a great deal of confidence in his corvette knowledge base. My car has a paint job from the 80's that he says may be difficult to match. I think I need to find a body shop that deals with corvettes on a more regular basis.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
if there is nothing physically wrong with the bumpers, they fit well, and just need new paint, I wouldn't mess with them and just have them repainted. you could spend a ton of money in labor trying to fit new bumpers for no good reason.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 109
Likes: 23
From: Duvall WA
Bumpers:
If you are NOT wanting to touch the paint on the car, I would only suggest urethane,as urethane is the MOST flexible. The fiberglass & the TRU-FLEX are much more brittle (almost the same - not much different between them). Sounds like your candy-paint will be a difficult paint match (most older red paints can be a difficult match).
Also keep in mind that the C3's are getting OLD (A 1968 is 45-years old & an 82 is 31-years old) there are not many body shops & mechanics that see these cars on a regular basis, thus expert work can be hit & miss !?!
Also keep in mind that the C3's are getting OLD (A 1968 is 45-years old & an 82 is 31-years old) there are not many body shops & mechanics that see these cars on a regular basis, thus expert work can be hit & miss !?!
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 31
Likes: 1
From: Calgary AB
I put TruFlex .....
I put TruFlex bumpers on my '75. Fitting was fairly straight forward and the fit was easily as good as the original bumper covers that were deteriorating - not perfect everywhere, but neither were the originals. My paint shop guy who is a corvette fanatic said he could paint them and they'd look great from 30 feet away, but up close, quite different - especially if the paint is older. I opted for a fresh new paint job (it was due anyway).
$350 for a pair from the above poster is a great deal. I should mention that I installed them myself. I have a few pics on my profile page.
Good luck!
$350 for a pair from the above poster is a great deal. I should mention that I installed them myself. I have a few pics on my profile page.
Good luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 803
Likes: 4
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
I can't see how your body shop guy can say that Truflex are the easiest to fit. They're not THAT flexible. You still have a fair bit of work to do to get them right, as with fibreglass. The more time you take to get the fit right, the better the result!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 162
Likes: 5
From: Mount Pleasant WISCONSIN
I agree I am not going to use this body shop guy. I am in no rush. I will read the forum and make a more educated decision before having work done. The car does not look bad, just want it to look great.
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