Can you modify the 79 front end to be like the 73?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Bee Jay's Modification of the 79 front end to be like the 73 for additional cooling
My front bumper must come off to be repaired and repainted. There is this massive plate behind my front liscense plate. Can that be removed? If so, can I modify my front end to look like and function like the 73, with a grill that matches the grills to each side? I was just wondering?
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
Last edited by Bee Jay; Aug 30, 2016 at 12:30 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 3
From: Springfield Illinois
That is something that I've been wondering myself... I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but I think the bumperettes look absolutely hideous! Maybe the '73 front bumper and all the other stuff might bolt up to your car? If you need pics of what the bumper looks like without the bumper cover let me know.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 845
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Indiana
I remembered a thread with a feller that put a '74 front end on his bumperette blessed '78. It seemed to work out well with a minumum of body work. Here's a link....
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...nt-bumper.html
I thought that '74 end looked GREAT on his '78!
John
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
That is something that I've been wondering myself... I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but I think the bumperettes look absolutely hideous! Maybe the '73 front bumper and all the other stuff might bolt up to your car? If you need pics of what the bumper looks like without the bumper cover let me know.
Thanks.
Bee Jay
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
I got the bumper off tonight. What a pain in the ***. I'll never do that again. Now I have this big black rubber mess that sits behind the bumper. Is all of that necessary?
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
I agree it looks better w/o the bumperettes though not that big of a deal to me.
In the 77 AIM, a center piece is shown that has the bumperettes w/ center & part of the bumper (shown as 1 piece). The bumper attaches w/ 2 bolts from back while the lower bumperettes part has 3 studs w/ nuts at back. The drawing shows the front of the 3 studs at bottom. Look for the studs. It looks like the piece could be unbolted & the lower bumperettes part w/ center cut off horizontal below the center bumper part.
seventysixvette
Was your 76 like that?
In the 77 AIM, a center piece is shown that has the bumperettes w/ center & part of the bumper (shown as 1 piece). The bumper attaches w/ 2 bolts from back while the lower bumperettes part has 3 studs w/ nuts at back. The drawing shows the front of the 3 studs at bottom. Look for the studs. It looks like the piece could be unbolted & the lower bumperettes part w/ center cut off horizontal below the center bumper part.
seventysixvette
Was your 76 like that?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 845
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Indiana
I agree it looks better w/o the bumperettes though not that big of a deal to me.
In the 77 AIM, a center piece is shown that has the bumperettes w/ center & part of the bumper (shown as 1 piece). The bumper attaches w/ 2 bolts from back while the lower bumperettes part has 3 studs w/ nuts at back. The drawing shows the front of the 3 studs at bottom. Look for the studs. It looks like the piece could be unbolted & the lower bumperettes part w/ center cut off horizontal below the center bumper part.
seventysixvette
Was your 76 like that?
In the 77 AIM, a center piece is shown that has the bumperettes w/ center & part of the bumper (shown as 1 piece). The bumper attaches w/ 2 bolts from back while the lower bumperettes part has 3 studs w/ nuts at back. The drawing shows the front of the 3 studs at bottom. Look for the studs. It looks like the piece could be unbolted & the lower bumperettes part w/ center cut off horizontal below the center bumper part.
seventysixvette
Was your 76 like that?
The plastic honeycomb assembly is just loosely shoved into the metal bracing. The stamped bracing holds the honeycomb and has the grill mounts bolted to it.
There are shims between the honeycomb mount and the mount on the vacuum tank you want to keep an eye on. They'll be loose when you remove the three bolts. I suppose if someone switched to a different front cover the shims might need to be adjusted.
John
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Here is what I have now. I'm taking the car in on Monday to have the bumper cover repainted and to have the gouge in the fiberglass between the headlights repaired and repainted. That rubber mass in the middle looks huge. I'll try to remove it per John's instructions when I get the car home. I don't think switching to a 73 type front end is practical for me.
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
Last edited by Bee Jay; Jun 27, 2009 at 09:29 AM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
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
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Couldnt you remove all the stuff under the front bumper and install the fiberglass nose but modify it first to look close to the 73 ?
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...2&dept_id=1361
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...2&dept_id=1361
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 845
Likes: 1
From: Columbus Indiana
I figured this would save me on having to replace the grills too. I think '75 up is different than '73-'74s.
John
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
I broke it down some more today. I got the big rubber bumper/license plate thing out, a heavy bracket that was attached to it, and the rubber/plastic corugated thing that helps shape the bumper. All that is left is a metal bumper crossmember that must remain because it holds all the bracketry for the grills. I will put the corugated thing back because it weighs very little, but that bumper/plate thing and bracket weighs 15 lbs! They are not going back on. Maybe I should chrome plate the bumper cross member, then I can claim to have a chrome bumper car.
Maybe I will take it off and lighten it by Norval/Strider method. Drilling tons of lightening holes. Maybe I can save even more than 15 lbs. I can't believe that Chevy bolted on so much weight to the front of these cars. I already removed the front air tank/bumper ram. I'll take the car in tomorow to get the paint and body work done.
Hey Groovy Jay, I went to your web site to see what you did to your front bumper, but the site isn't working correctly.
Bee Jay
Maybe I will take it off and lighten it by Norval/Strider method. Drilling tons of lightening holes. Maybe I can save even more than 15 lbs. I can't believe that Chevy bolted on so much weight to the front of these cars. I already removed the front air tank/bumper ram. I'll take the car in tomorow to get the paint and body work done.Hey Groovy Jay, I went to your web site to see what you did to your front bumper, but the site isn't working correctly.
Bee Jay
Last edited by Bee Jay; Aug 12, 2009 at 12:20 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 8,220
Likes: 208
YOu can just leave the whole inner bumper structure out... 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 761
Likes: 0
From: san jose California
Last edited by Shirley1978; Jun 29, 2009 at 06:43 PM.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Bee Jay
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Yes, I was going to remove that metal bumper cross member and drive it to the body shop. But the lower front fenders get real flexible when you undo the bolts that hold it in. So I will remove it when the car comes back and start triming it.
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 12
From: Montgomery Alabama
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06
It is a lot of work, but the result is WAY Cool. I am about ready to tackle mine.
There is a good model of a 73 in the NCM. The body is off the frame, so you can see the 73 support bumper and nose really well to tell what is different from your pictures.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 761
Likes: 0
From: san jose California
Thanks for the link. I wonder if I could cut out the middle section of my stock front bumper. I don't mind the bumperettes. You should see what came on my 914. The bumper is in for paint now, but If I could cut out the area between the bumperettes, I could put my oil cooler in there with some mesh like you did.
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 397
Likes: 3
From: Gretna La
Ok, that does it! I hate you guys! I've had my '77 for 10 years and not once have I given the front bumperettes a second thought.
But after reading this I took a look at them... and I agree! I don't like how they look either. Now I want a 73/74 front bumper!
But after reading this I took a look at them... and I agree! I don't like how they look either. Now I want a 73/74 front bumper!