When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Getting ready to install the gas tank shield and gas tank. I removed the rear bumper cover because the retainer studs and nuts are rusted and I want to assure that I can remove them easily when the time comes to replace the bumper cover. I figured that with the gas tank and shield in place it will be a real bear of a job if the hardware isn't up to snuff. Anyways the upper retainer looks to be a GM part but I'm not sure that there should be Philips head screws installed? The AIM shows studs and push nuts to hold the retainer to the bumper cover, then there are nuts on the rear. fiberglass with built in washer? There was a real Bubba job done to it in the past and they used whatever they could find to hold everything together, hardware store bolts, nuts, etc.
wth is that ? do yourself a favour , throw that piece of steel away , that's nothing like what was there originally ,
I used these types , no Philips head screws and a nice flat piece of steel with the studs already on ,also comes with the nut already having a lock type washer attached so you don't have to try and put that on separately.
That's what I thought. The two outer retainers are flat with the built in studs. The two top retainers are this channel type of steel with screws. I'll order the new top pieces and restore the side pieces. Also I was looking at the AIM and they show shims between the impact absorbers and the steel bar? My bumper had no shims. It seemed to fit good but maybe it was not tight to the steel underneath I couldn't tell. Do I need to take measurements and add them?
Also I was looking at the AIM and they show shims between the impact absorbers and the steel bar? My bumper had no shims. It seemed to fit good but maybe it was not tight to the steel underneath I couldn't tell. Do I need to take measurements and add them?
your plan is to put the cover back on as is after you finished right? Is your cover the original flexible one , is it a yellow colour on the back ?
Just for an example I went through a change of rear cover on my 77 and had to leave the shims off so I could get it to go on at all . It went from original to an Ecklars flex-fit .I actually had to leave the outer bumperette pieces off it was so badly made .
Yes the bumper is yellow colored on the back. It is not the original to the car and is probably a 76 or 77 rear bumper but it is definitely a quality part and is likely a GM factory bumper. I would like to eventually put the rear bumper back to the correct 75 model year with the CORVETTE indented emblem letters but for now I just want to leave it as is and reinstall it with the correct fasteners. When I save up the money to do a complete paint job I'll change it out at that time.
teamo, the first two pic. in your post are of an original bumper retainer, the top 2, left and rt. a "c" shaped strip of metal, although "buba" has replaced the original screws with sheetrock looking screws. The links bazza provided are the replacement ones, sold at many suppliers.
I just removed the original bumper cover on my 79 to replace the rusted retainers and It's the same as the one you show.
I bought new upper bumper retainers and restored the left and right side ones. Getting ready to put everything back together. I've had the bolts removed from the bumper gas shocks and the bolts going to the steel bumper that goes underneath the bumper cover for some time. I've derusted and painted everything and getting ready to put it all back together. In my haste I forgot to take pictures of the bolt orientation, the washers used, etc. For the bumper shocks the AIM seems to show bolts going from the rear towards the front with welded nuts on the frame and no washers installed. My frame does not have welded nuts. Do I use washers for these bolts? If I need to use the washers, do they go under the head of the bolt or on the nut side? The brackets that go on the bumper support have rubber pieces with studs and nuts. Do these studs get washers installed or just the nuts on the back?
teamo: The bolts for the bumper shocks that go to the frame, go in the two outside holes from the rear facing to the front, with just a nut. The other end of the bracket that bolts to the bumper support the bolts face the rear with washers under the bolt head, my bumper cover is back on so I can't see if there is welded nuts or not. Hopefully these images will attach and help.
Brian79
rear bumper cover retainer
do yourself a favour , throw that piece of steel away , that's nothing like what was there originally ,
