Rear bumper cover question???
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 889
Likes: 24
From: Fort Worth Texas
Rear bumper cover question???
Ok, I've got a 1986 coupe that I'm getting it ready for body work and paint work. I have a 1992 rear bumper that I want to install on the car, but I know that the moldings changed when they changed the bumper design, has anyone installed a late model rear bumper on a early model car and not changed out the other body moldings and fenders and front bumper. If so could I please see some pictures? Would the rear wide molding really be that noticeable on my car with the early style molding? When I paint the car I'm painting all the body molding to match. I like the late model rear bumper but I want to keep the early model front bumper and fenders. I really want to see if anybody has done this or get some advice. Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
Ok, I've got a 1986 coupe that I'm getting it ready for body work and paint work. I have a 1992 rear bumper that I want to install on the car, but I know that the moldings changed when they changed the bumper design, has anyone installed a late model rear bumper on a early model car and not changed out the other body moldings and fenders and front bumper. If so could I please see some pictures? Would the rear wide molding really be that noticeable on my car with the early style molding? When I paint the car I'm painting all the body molding to match. I like the late model rear bumper but I want to keep the early model front bumper and fenders. I really want to see if anybody has done this or get some advice. Thanks
I believe to be made happy you should consider picking up a pair of later fenders (moldings are part of the fender, a pair of door moldings and the short one in front of the rear wheel, if done like that then from wheel to wheel the car is a match and it continues around the rear. On the front if the molding is colored it won't be all that noticeable.
If just the rear bumper is done I'd think it would NOT be that attractive.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,221
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
There is a company (or two) that make an aftermarket (fiberglass) rear bumper fascia with the thin early style molding. If you don't want to swap moldings, seek that bumper style (and rid yourself of the OEM 92 bumper). That's because I've never seen anyone combine the two [molding] styles -- because I think it would look bad, wrong, out-of-place, mis-matched, fugly.
But, I'm still trying to decide how I really feel about it! LOL
But, I'm still trying to decide how I really feel about it! LOL
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 462
Likes: 3
From: Virginia
I believe to be made happy you should consider picking up a pair of later fenders (moldings are part of the fender, a pair of door moldings and the short one in front of the rear wheel, if done like that then from wheel to wheel the car is a match and it continues around the rear. On the front if the molding is colored it won't be all that noticeable.
If just the rear bumper is done I'd think it would NOT be that attractive.
If just the rear bumper is done I'd think it would NOT be that attractive.
Edit: assuming he also matches the mouldings. Don't mix mouldings.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 889
Likes: 24
From: Fort Worth Texas
Thanks guys for the advice. Yeah I didn't think it would look to good if I mix matched the two but I was hoping to see a picture of one. Or I guess I could just trial fit my 92 bumper to see for myself? I'd really like to have the after market zr1 style bumper with the matching molding but I'm trying to build this car on a budget, LOL. Unless anybody has one for sale that y'all know of for a good price??
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 279
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas Nevada
I changed the rear bumper on my 85 before I painted it a few months ago. The swap is easy because all the mounting holes and light plugs will fit with the standard harness. The only modifications needed will be to the lower part of the "shock pad" aka the actual bumper material behind the exterior panel you see on the car. You can easily cut away bits of it with an electric saw. You might also need to drill new holes through the bumper for the rear splash guards, or vise versa. I worried about the "early" trim not matching, but nobody has even noticed the difference and even I forgot how it changes to the rear.
When I was searching for a bumper back in October I only found one for $300. I was on craigslist yesterday and the thing still hasn't sold after my decent offer because it needed work. Thank god I held out because I found this one for sale on craigslist for $40 about an hour away. It obviously needed TLC, but a few spare hours after work over a week and it was good enough to slap on the car and get painted.
Hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 889
Likes: 24
From: Fort Worth Texas
WOW, thanks ziggi91, that's exactly what I was looking for!!! your car is sswwweeeettttt !!!!!!! Great job. Well that sold it for me, ill be putting my 92 bumper on my 86 now, LOL...I've got 2 questions for you thought? What year bumper is your new one , and if it is what I think it is, (92-96 standard rear bumper) did you " shave" the rear bumper third brake light and corvette script from the rear bumper? Thanks again
your car is sswwweeeettttt !!!!!!! Great job. Well that sold it for me, ill be putting my 92 bumper on my 86 now, LOL...I've got 2 questions for you thought? What year bumper is your new one , and if it is what I think it is, (92-96 standard rear bumper) did you " shave" the rear bumper third brake light and corvette script from the rear bumper? Thanks again
Racer
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 279
Likes: 2
From: Las Vegas Nevada
The "Corvette" inscription is still there. On later bumpers it's just an indentation of the letters. I don't know which year it is, but the previous owner did shave the 3rd brake light because he had one on his hatch. It looks seemless, but I wouldn't do it. 85s don't have wiring for a 3rd light so I left it alone. I have a spare 3rd light for the hatch, and wiring that I ran up the driver pilar from under the dash, just in case I get a fixer ticket.
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