I'm in the process of restoring my wife's '85 and the urethane bumpers are driving me nuts!

I've tried to fill in the scratches, compound, buffing, ect but nothng works. I was told that just painting them may solve the problem, but the material won't hold the paint as well since it is 22 years old and it will be a pain to paint match.

Now I'm thinking of replacing them. Has anyone heard of this place? Toledo Pro Fiberglass They claim to make Corvette bumpers that are as good as urethane, but hold paint like fiberglass. Has anyone bought this product and is it any good?

Help and advice is welcome. Thanks.

 

Carefull sanding and cleaning, and you should have no problems at all with adhesion, it's done everyday. Take the gas door lid, and they should be able to color match the paint to how it is now, rather than what the color code is.

 

It sounds like you are describing the flex fit bumpers.

All of the major catalogues stock them (ecklers, mid america, etc), in addition to places like Vette2Vette for between $450 and $500.

I was in the same dilemma as you but was not convinced about those FlexFit bumpers, especially since I'd have to order them sight unseen.

Carlisle helped me out though- I was able to see those bumpers up close. They are a material somewhere inbetween fiberglass and urethane, definitely rigid, but not as stiff as the standard body panels. What I did not like however, was that the body molding was cast into the bumper. I did not know that before, and was never told that when I called and asked. That was enough to make me not order them, because I didn't know how to get that cast bumper molding/trim to match the rest of the modling on the car (it is super smooth black on the flex fit bumpers- which you know is not how the rest of the car is).

I ended up finding a nice urethane original with no damage (also at carlise). As far as I know, the urethane bumpers are not repairable like fiberglass. Painting is not a big deal, but you need to use the proper base coat with the right activator (I do not remember brands off hand, sorry). The wrong paint, and it will not adhere.

Were you able to fix the scratches and get the body work of the bumper done okay?

That was a long post... sorry. Hope it helped.

 

When I redid my rear bumper I had a guy soda blast the paint off after I removed the rear lights and corner markers and molding. Gouges or deep scratches can be fixed by using this 2 part body filler from auto body supply shop. It dries then you can sand it and work it however you want to and it stays flexible like the bumper. Then it needs a primer for flexible body panels and also when it's painted it gets flex agent added to the paint and clear coat. HOPE THAT HELPS GOOD LUCK Pipe

 

Yes it did help. That was just the info I was looking for.

No, not yet. They both look like someone tried to wash the car with a Brillo Pad. The front one is worse than the back. I was able to get the scratches out of the rest of the car with Race Glaze Leveling compound, but it did nothing for the bumpers. My next step is a more agressive rubbing compound.

 

Thanks. I'll see what I can scare up. There are a few nasty gouges that I need to address on the body too.

 

The body is different it's glass not urethane like the bumpers. I'll look for the stuff in the garage and give you the name (ure weld) comes in 2 part tubes and you mix like body filler but stays flexible. If ya got scratches in the body ya might want to try and color sand it. They use 2500 or 3000 grit wet dry paper used wet like with a hose with slow running water and do the whole car then use a buffer with caution on edges and corner body lines with a fine cut cleaner then a good buff with polish then wax. Sometimes this gets most of the scratches out unless they are too bad and then it needs paint. LET US KNOW HOW YA MAKE OUT Pipe