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I recently purchased a 76' that suffers from the urethane bumper problem. I will have to replace the front and rear bumper covers. Does anyone have ideas on what type/company to go with. My thoughts were the flexfit from MidAmerica. Any help would be appreciated.
I recently purchased a 76' that suffers from the urethane bumper problem. I will have to replace the front and rear bumper covers. Does anyone have ideas on what type/company to go with. My thoughts were the flexfit from MidAmerica. Any help would be appreciated.
When I bought my '74 project it came with front and rear flex fiberglass bumpers from J&D Corvette. I had to do some minor cutting for the tail lights but they fit to the body so well that I just mounted them and painted them. Look as good as others I have seen.
I posted this in a previous thread, it might help.
I'll assume than that there are three types of replacement C3 rubber bumpers.
1. Urethane - Similar to oem and highest quality.
2. Flex Fiberglass, True Flex, Flex Fit - all the same flexible fiberglass
3. Fiberglass.
I guess there are advantages and disadvantages to all three such as.
1. Urethane
Pros, similar to oem, most flexible, closest to original look hardest to paint. Most likely best fit.
Cons, most expensive to purchase, difficult to modify if fit is not perfect when received. most expensive to paint. Most difficult to repair is damaged.
2. Flex Fiberglass
Pros, will flex a bit when slight pressure applied, second closest to oem,
Cons, still more difficult to paint, not as easy to modify if not a perfect fit.
3. Fiberglass
Pros, easiest to modify for a perfect fit, can be reworked to be seamless to the body, lowest price to paint. easiest to repair. Lowest price to purchase and paint. Easiest to match body paint.
Cons, no flex therefore easiest to damage, most opposite to oem. hardest to install.
I replaced the front bumper on my 73 with the Tru-flex from Willcox.
The fit was not perfect, but it took just a little work to make it fit. I didn't
remove any of the front bumper parts and even left the rubber piece
that runs across the front of the main bumper support.
I have not painted it yet, but am happy with the fit.
Are we to assume you did the work...........thanks for posting photos.
Yes, I did the work myself. Just needed to grind down the high
areas (on the bumper not the body) and then reinforced the backside of the flange where
I removed the material.
Wow thanks for all the great feedback! I think I'm going to go with the Flex from Mid America. All your cars look beautiful. I'd love to have the bumpers molded but I live in the northeast so one pothole and there goes all that $$$$.
I believe I may also go with the "Flex Fit", I just wish I could compare them side by side (fiberglass) or check a flex fit on a C3. I don't know of any C3 owner that has one close to my area.
1976 Bumper Covers
