How do you remove an early front bumper?

LeeH · 02-28-2005, 11:33 AM

I bought some bumper guards to replace mine with the Amco bar. It looks like the bumper has to come off the get to the bumper guards. What are the steps to get the bumper off? Tricks? Traps?

Thanks!

Lukesportsman · 02-28-2005, 03:08 PM

First, you need special large torx I think. Its a real pain in the a$$. You'll have to pull the headlights, 4 bolts inside the trunk in front where you'd expect them to be. There are some supports on the outer ends that can be removed at several different junctions depending on rust. I accessed through the marker lights to undo the brackets that hold the horns and outer supports. 2 bolts per side that face outwards in the trunk to the left and right.

It is more difficult than you would think a bumper would be. This is from memory so if further questions, please ask. If I'm missing something than.....well I never claimed my memory was great

WHCJr72S · 02-28-2005, 07:07 PM

Lee:
for the front bumper guards on a 72-73 car (or the guards with a plastic back piece on the above bumper area) there is one bolt that is accessed through a hole in the body in the trunk. There is a large plastic plug in the hole.

LeeH · 02-28-2005, 07:51 PM

Hmmm... perhaps I should have asked, "How do you remove the front bumper guards." You'll be my hero if that's all there is to it. I just went out and looked at my car. There is a Torx bolt that I can access throught to top hole. Is that the one? There's a hex head bolt I can see, but cannot reach that is below it.

WHCJr72S · 02-28-2005, 08:41 PM

Lee:
I just went out and looked at my car and I looked at my parts book and there are two bolts that hold each bumperette on. My car has a clear/white plastic plug in the bolt holes. They are about 1 1/8 inch holes. If I remember I used a socket and an extension.

LeeH · 03-01-2005, 04:46 AM

Does your parts book show the specs on the bolts? If I'm going to have it all apart I might as well put in the correct hardware.

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Lee - if you're talking about the bumperettes, there's no need to remove the bumper. You'll find some access holes from the trunk area. There should be some white plastic caps inserted in the holes (if they're still there). Remove them and you can then access the 2 mounting bolts per bumperette. I can't remember what kind of bolts they are. -- Curt

jpnovak · 03-01-2005, 05:48 AM

they are not TORX! They will be either a std hex key or a triple Square 12pt, I have seen both. A torx will strip them.

Yes, the bumper guards come out using the access holes in the front latch panel. The bumper will come off without removing headlights.

Zeke · 03-01-2005, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpnovak
The bumper will come off without removing headlights.

Mine were bolted at the bottom of the headlight bucket. As said, headlights and turnlights out make the job fairly easy. It takes a bit of creativity with a 3/8ths breaker bar, 13mm socket and a 3" extension to blindly hold the nut or bolt (depending on how the last guy assembled them) at the base of the front fenders. There really is no better way than to go thru the turn light holes. Same thing for the headlight bolt bottom half.

DonDavis · DonDavis's Garage

Over the years many cars have had their bolts mixed and matched. My 71 had had long sheet metal screws holding on the bumperettes and my 72 had metric bolts. I've heard they are supposed to have allen head metric so it could be anything. Especially if the bumper was removed at some point. You know how it goes when reassembling something that has been off for a while for a paint job.

And both my 71 and 72 had to have the bumper removed to access the bottom hardware.

So Lee, this may be a maybe, stand by for a standby! How copy? Over.

jpnovak · 03-01-2005, 06:58 AM

Milt, there is a bracket that bolts to the headlight and then down to the battery box. The bumper then bolts to this bracket on the side of the battery box. You should be able to detach the bumper on teh side of the battery box. Of course, some of these bolts are hard to get to.

The bumper will come off using the bolts inside the trunk. They will be just in front of the battery box behnind the latch panel. Best of Luck1

LeeH · 03-01-2005, 07:33 AM

Arrggghhh!!! Well, they came off easy enough. When I went to install the very nice set I had bought I found out they were the wrong profile!

DonDavis · DonDavis's Garage

Lee, since I like you, I'm gonna do you a favor.

I'll trade you even for the bumper trim on your car for the bumper trim on mine. That way you will have the proper profile to use your very nice bumperettes. I'm bumperette-less and prefer the trim you have.

DonDavis · DonDavis's Garage

Here's a pic of my trim and bumperette.

LeeH · 03-01-2005, 08:40 AM

Thanks Don. Your trim is different than mine. It looks like the bumper guards I bought match yours. The rubber on my bumper squarer and maybe a bit wider. Does the trim on your front bumper match the trim on your back bumper?

LeeH · 08:52 AM

Here's mine. Anyone know which is correct for a '72?

DonDavis · DonDavis's Garage

Lee,

You have S trim on yours front and rear. I have S rear but T front. I was halfway joking about trading. But if you want to...

Sounds like your "new" bumperettes are for T trim.

LeeH · 03-01-2005, 09:11 AM

Dang! These "new" ones are really nice. I guess I'll put the old set back on until I track down a set for S trim. Thanks for your help, Don.

randywebb · 03-01-2005, 10:41 AM

Any pics of the holes & locations? or diagrams?

cegerer · cegerer's Garage

Lee, I've got a set I took off my 71 with S trim. Should be identical to what you need. They do have torx bolts and I don't believe they had ever been off of my car prior to me removing them. A little cleanup, they should be good as new. PM me - they're yours if you pay shipping. I need the garage space.

-- Curt