I hate my '81 bumper...
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Dallas
I hate my '81 bumper...
So I hate the front bumper on my 81 corvette.
The car has been a work-in-progress for many many years; but now it's time to get it's body right and get it a paint job. So, if I'm EVER going to swap out this front bumper for something I like... now's the time.
Problem is I can't seem to find many good choices... does anyone know of a bumper that looks good? Can I buy the bumper off of a '70 and mount it?
...
Yes, I know the car isn't worth much... but the $$ doesn't matter too much. We have already spent too much on the car and will keep it indefinitely. So, a couple grand for a bumper that I actually like is a non-issue.
The car has been a work-in-progress for many many years; but now it's time to get it's body right and get it a paint job. So, if I'm EVER going to swap out this front bumper for something I like... now's the time.
Problem is I can't seem to find many good choices... does anyone know of a bumper that looks good? Can I buy the bumper off of a '70 and mount it?
...
Yes, I know the car isn't worth much... but the $$ doesn't matter too much. We have already spent too much on the car and will keep it indefinitely. So, a couple grand for a bumper that I actually like is a non-issue.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,933
Likes: 4,497
From: Virginia
I tried really hard to find a 79 4-speed to match my wife's 79 auto. I stumbled upon my 80 4-speed instead. You are absolutely correct. The 79 wins on looks, and it isn't even close.
But once I looked into GMs reason for doing it, I began to appreciate the 80 a lot more. The front end redesign is not just cosmetic, and it isn't to meet some Fed requirement. It is functional. Your car has much better airflow, both through the radiator, and keeping the nose planted. It is also 250 lbs lighter than a 79.
If you want, you could graft an earlier front clip onto your car. A bumper swap is not possible without a lot of work. The 80 front bumper extends into the front quarter panels, so you would need to fiberglass those in, too. The bumper support is very different, with the vacuum can built into the 79 and earlier cars.
Perhaps you can trade front clips with someone. I'd love to build a chrome rear, 80-front restomod someday.
But once I looked into GMs reason for doing it, I began to appreciate the 80 a lot more. The front end redesign is not just cosmetic, and it isn't to meet some Fed requirement. It is functional. Your car has much better airflow, both through the radiator, and keeping the nose planted. It is also 250 lbs lighter than a 79.
If you want, you could graft an earlier front clip onto your car. A bumper swap is not possible without a lot of work. The 80 front bumper extends into the front quarter panels, so you would need to fiberglass those in, too. The bumper support is very different, with the vacuum can built into the 79 and earlier cars.
Perhaps you can trade front clips with someone. I'd love to build a chrome rear, 80-front restomod someday.
Last edited by Bikespace; May 7, 2022 at 06:31 AM. Reason: Typos
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,197
Likes: 7,795
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
An awful lot of people really like the 80-up ft. bumper. But as stated above, changing to a 74 - 79 Style would be a lot of work. Changing to a 68 - 72 chrome bumper front end would exced the value of the car.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 13,082
Likes: 3,399
From: SW Florida.
i lucked into an old but never installed one piece 71 front clip for 600 bucks. .bumpers, grilles, hockey sticks, brackets were probably another 500. decent used, not as new chrome. so it can be done, but it is a whole nose replacement.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Dallas
Did you swap the whole front clip? Did it work?
Can you post a photo?
—-
again, I’m not worried about exceeding the value of the car. I’ve already done that.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
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
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 1,149
Likes: 265
From: The frozen wastes...
I'm with ya. The 80+ cars are soooo much better in almost every way, but i cannot stand the look, front or rear. I have a 73. While i actually like the 73-4 front end, i like the 69 more, and i'll change it ASAP. I also hate the mudflap wheelwells, front and rear. Gonna change everything. Its just fiberglass, neither your car, or mine is worth much. Why not? Lots ov resources out there to do this.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,933
Likes: 4,497
From: Virginia