Anyone purchased one? My '88 Formula is in the body shop getting painted right now, and the two week cross country search for a leftover (new) OEM bumper cover has turned up empty.

Was wondering on fitment/quality of the Hawk's part, and if anyone has any other recommendations on where to look for a quality, new replacement.

Thanks, cheers!

 

New GM '85-'90 Firebird/Formula front bumper covers were discontinued years ago and have been out of circulation for years too. It's pretty safe to say you'll never find one... but I think you've already learned that.

You'll either have to go with a new 'reproduction' or a used GM cover. I've never seen the repros, so I can't say how they fit. But I've been told their quality falls short of the GM pieces. So I'd look for a decent used GM cover.

Used covers are available from a few sources, including sometimes being sold in the classifieds here on TGO, as well as junkyards. As long as it's not beat-up, when prepped and painted by a body shop, it'll look like new again.

 

i was seriously considering getting one of the used covers through Hawk's... i've had good experiences with them in the past, and i hardly believe they'd sell me something extremely ****ed up.

 

always use used or new from GM. any other vender aftermarket pieces like bumprs hoods fenders etc... your goign to run into alignment problems. esp. if you mix aftermarket with old original parts. try as many junk yards as possible so you can save on shipping. go through your yellow pages.

aftermarket bumpers ive heard are thinner or made with a different material of fiber glass or plasitc.

the original are more heavy and stiff to for the proper alignment.


worst case scenario go on ebay and bite the bullet on shipping. once you see your new painted car you'll be much more happy if every part lined up trust me.


but dont have to take my word for it of course make up your mind on what you can afford and good luck.