TodB
Well-Known Member
Drilling straight through should be just fine as long as you don't not take out the impact and torque on the the nuts to some silly level (its certainly not an impact job).
Front bumper mounting question
- Thread starter TodB
- Start date
VSR’s bumper retrofit uses long bolts going all the way thru. Super easy to use this system to remove/install the Euro style 2972 bumper.
I’ve never had a problem over tightening the nuts and distorting the stub rail. But maybe this is due to the thick plate VSR welds to the rail to bring the surface flush with the wider rail ends (about 6-8mm).
If you were worried about it use Nyloc nuts.
John
That must be for a 74.
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I am about to start installing my front bumper (a 1972), and was wondering if anyone has a brief step by step with the correct order of assembly so I don't have curse the car gods figuring it out? Any other tips like "don't install the brackets until you do this first..." Thanks.
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Just remember to install the oblong bracket grommets in the apron first.
Yes, as Doug wrote, install the apron rubber first.
Your frame rails will have the key hole slots for the carriage bolts, like mine does. Note: Stainless Steel without anti seize will gall & seize. I needed a nut-splitting tool to remove the seized nuts from the brackets on the frame rail.
If you are doing this yourself alone.
Push in the bracket, then the carriage bolts washer & nuts the tighten.
Assemble the bumper & the put chamfered spacers on the bumperette bolts. Recommend wrapping & taping the curved sections to protect your fender paint.
Install the bumper on the brackets, install washer, thread nut enough so both curved ends are still able to move.
Install the fender carriage bolt, spacer with the washer & nut inside the fender loosely so it's easier to get the bolt head in the curved end slot.
Lastly tighten all the bumper fasteners. FYI, an air dam increases the installation difficulty of the curved ends due to the tight tolerances.
Your frame rails will have the key hole slots for the carriage bolts, like mine does. Note: Stainless Steel without anti seize will gall & seize. I needed a nut-splitting tool to remove the seized nuts from the brackets on the frame rail.
If you are doing this yourself alone.
Push in the bracket, then the carriage bolts washer & nuts the tighten.
Assemble the bumper & the put chamfered spacers on the bumperette bolts. Recommend wrapping & taping the curved sections to protect your fender paint.
Install the bumper on the brackets, install washer, thread nut enough so both curved ends are still able to move.
Install the fender carriage bolt, spacer with the washer & nut inside the fender loosely so it's easier to get the bolt head in the curved end slot.
Lastly tighten all the bumper fasteners. FYI, an air dam increases the installation difficulty of the curved ends due to the tight tolerances.
Thanks for this, it answers many questions, including if to attach the brackets to the frame first vs. installing as a complete assembly like it came off.
So there is anough room to tweak the final geometry/fit of the bumper to the body of the car when loosely attached to the installed brackets?
Yes.
Excellent pics @autokunst , these demonstrate there is actually a steel spacer tube to reinforce the frame as @jmackro wisely said
good to see this
apparently no other ways…these are facts
we should try to say That we have an opinion when we are not sure about it, and there are so many times we are not sure….
now also mount the long black steel plates and start there, insert the plates in place, fix the 4 bolts, and now go to the corners
once done this you set all nuts and bolts, tight them and you are done
Right side in, is this correct with the end of the bracket pointing towards the center?
excellent information guys! it makes sense to put the brackets on then mount the bumper to the brackets. i figured it was the opposite of taking it off - remove the bolts from the brackets and pull off the front.
not in my expereince
works best to put brackets on bumpers as a complete assembly
and install all that to the body, first the brackets and then the corners
finally tight all in the proper place alignning correctly
steve
i see the rest surface of the bracket not very perpendicular to the travel direction
IMHO it should be perpendicular
maybe the angle of photo ?
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I’ve also always removed and installed mine as a complete assembly but I think that would be very difficult with a front spoiler like Andrew has.
that is a good point, sorry Andrew
Oh ok I misunderstood you. My brackets are on so will try Andrew’s way first. The bracket fronts aren’t perfectly perpendicular to the nose but they fit nicely before taking them off. I suspect this will be another me vs. coupe gods process.
looking forward to hearing of your experience. i am also hopeful i will be doing this in the NOT-TOO-distant future.