Midyear lower front bumper braces

[Jack J.]

I'm struggling. Just trying to make these front bumpers look normal. Keep thinking MAYBE? Lower braces are reversed? Both are under their respective fiberglass indentations. And I thought the rears were bad. Bumpers seem to be where they're not supposed to be. Corners are far away from the body and either too high or too low. Suggestions? Thanks Jack J.

[Jack J.]

Re: Midyear lower front bumper braces

Just placed a lock washer between lower brace and cross member. Made a huge difference as far as closeness to body. Now how do you lower corner to get near panel hole? Jack J.

[Frank D.]

Re: Midyear lower front bumper braces

Pictures would help....washers on the bottom brace can be used to fine-tune bumper alignment (usually if a car has been damaged). but should be needed for coarse adjustments.. Its almost impossible to get those bottom braces wrong, if you do they won't "slot" into the depressions in the front valence.

This video should clear things up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8AP2Y7vmYA

[Jack J.]

Re: Midyear lower front bumper braces

Frank, let me start by saying both front corners were replaced. The came from the vendor with NO holes for the bolt through brace into bumper. Body shop tech created the holes after taking measurements? from other Vettes. I have no idea if the holes locations are correct but I suspect not. My I problem is I can't get the corners to butt up against the body panel, about 1/2 inch away.

[Frank D.]

Re: Midyear lower front bumper braces

IIRC My parking light panel replacement piece came with a pre-drilled hole, again pictures would help, I just hope that the corner repairs were well done and the holes are located properly. Again, I assume you have everything loose and moving freely a bit.

Does the internal bracket behind the hole come close (touch ?) to the inside of the panel at the hole ?
Are the bumpers original ?

[Jack J.]

Re: Midyear lower front bumper braces

Frank, bumpers are replated originals but NOT mine. Internal side brackets do butt up against comer panel's fiberglass near holes, which probably are not in right location? When you think about, the center bottom brace is in a fixed position. The only adjustment with that bracket is the forward and back movement in the slotted 2 holes in the bumper. As far as the thru grill bracket, again it's in a fixed position with minor movement up or down. Not much flexibility for proper fit. Appears I'll need a lot of shimming and tweaking. When I get the bumper corner to butt up against the outside, it' not level. So when I hand pull the corner down to level, naturally the bumper pulls away from the body about 1/2 inch. Jack J.

[Frank D.]

Re: Midyear lower front bumper braces

On my 63 the bumper braces had slotted holes and provided quite a bit of adjustment...
I think I might leave the center -thru-the-grill brace off while working things out..
Try to strike a balance between the bottom brace (shim as needed) and mating the outside brace/hole/bumper as close as possible..
All the while trying to keep the bumper level as viewed from the front....if you can get that decent then deal with the center brace...

[Jack J.]

Re: Midyear lower front bumper braces

Frank, my BIGGEST problem is the HUGE gap between the corner bracket and the glass (1/2 to 5/8). Relatively level UNTIL the corner is pushed up to mate with glass then everything is uphill.

[Curt S.]

Re: Midyear lower front bumper braces

You may already be doing this,but I find it helpful to install all parts as loose as possible so you can have as much fudge factor as possible. I loosely install all the braces first then the bumper halves and lastly the brace. Hope this helps.

[Ken R.]

Re: Midyear lower front bumper braces

I remember talking with body man a long time ago about my 65 left side front bumper. The fender had been replaced at some time. He said that you need to mount the bumper(s) first then fit the fender onto the car making sure it is right with the bumper. Mine must have been done reversed. Maybe yours was done that way and now you have the misfit. I just had to live with the misfit bumper not aligning properly.

[Jack J.]

[Frank D.]

[John F.]

Re: Midyear lower front bumper braces

Pictures, pictures, pictures!

[Frank D.]

Re: Midyear lower front bumper braces

Pictures, pictures, pictures!

I agree....hard to help troubleshoot otherwise.
It SOUNDS like that, with everything loose, the bumper can't be made straight horizontally AND mate with the outside brace hole in the fiberglass.

[Jack J.]

Re: Midyear lower front bumper braces

Pictures, pictures, pictures!

Pics after snugging up bolts/nuts.