Switching my front bumper cover today, questions - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

killlthelightt · 08-07-2009, 12:29 PM

Today i'm finally going to put my 90' rs bumper cover on my ugly 84'. I have no idea how to go about doing this, i was just going to improvise as i went on with it, haha. any one done this before that can help or tell me what i have to do to get the old one off? I hear its a pain, but i hope not, will post the pics when its done! Please give me some hints if your experianced in this!!

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92RS_Ttop · 08-07-2009, 01:24 PM

Its not hard. My 92 has an 84 front bumper cover on it. I've had it off and back on about 5 times in the last 2 years I've owned the car. Make sure you can get at it from the bottom. You're gonna need some long socket extensions, I use a 6" and a 10" as well as a swivel/u-joint. The bottom 2 bolts that hold the cover to the fender are easy enough to get to. The top 2 however usually involve a lot of colorful language the first couple times you do them. Ground effects bolts/double-sided tape on the bottom of the fenders. Are you using the 90 ground effects or none? The 84 ground effects won't line up right on the 90 bumper. Oh, and don't forget about the plastic retainers that hold the bottom of the bumper to the impact bar. You'll need a large slotted screwdriver to remove them if you want to reuse them, or wire snips if you don't.

killlthelightt · 08-07-2009, 01:32 PM

I'm going with no ground effects, do I have to use the impact bumper or can it just stay off?

92RS_Ttop · 08-07-2009, 02:32 PM

You don't have to have it, no. The bumper cover doesn't bolt to it. However, your car may not pass inspection depending on how thorough the guy is. Also, you lose all low-speed impact protection for the radiator without it. You also lose some protection in a high-speed crash as well.

killlthelightt · 08-07-2009, 02:58 PM

what inspection?

92RS_Ttop · 08-07-2009, 04:29 PM

I assumed you were in the US and subject to an annual safety inspection.

bradley23150 · 08-07-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 92RS_Ttop

I assumed you were in the US and subject to an annual safety inspection.

Not every state in the US performs a safety inspection. Atleast Florida doesnt.

killlthelightt · 08-07-2009, 07:05 PM

Yeah, i dont think michigan does them either. But anyways i got the front end on, just on, It took 4 hours to get the old one off and then the impact bumper wouldnt let the new one fit so i had to drill the pop rivets out and go without it. I didnt bother bolting it on, it took 4 hours just to get the old bumper off. I said some colorful words when doing this today, it really was a big hassle but it looks great.

killlthelightt · 08-08-2009, 10:46 PM

This is before and after the bumper switch-
before-

after-

cdoyle · 08-09-2009, 08:51 AM

Just curious, why would you want to remove the impact bar?

It only takes a little bit of trimming here and there, and the newer nose will fit right over your old one.

killlthelightt · 08-09-2009, 11:42 AM

I removed it because the bumper cover i bought came with an impact bumper that fits and was for that bumper cover, so i bolted that one on where the pop rivets went.

cdoyle · 08-09-2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killlthelightt

I removed it because the bumper cover i bought came with an impact bumper that fits and was for that bumper cover, so i bolted that one on where the pop rivets went.

ah OK. I thought you were wanting to have no impact bumper at all, and it was confusing me to why

brockrodgers · 08-24-2009, 10:48 AM

i'm getting ready to do the same thing. Actually thought I could just replace the grill. Cant find one for an 84 cover. I see you are not going to use ground effect? How did that turn out, it looks like you have to have one. Did you find a 85+ without the previsions for one? I wanted to avoid GE too but cant find a replacement without the holes.