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Front bumper added support ?

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Old Dec 10, 2017 | 09:39 AM
  #1  
LittleFranks's Avatar
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From: South Florida
Car: 92 Z28 Hawaiian Orchid
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Posi
Front bumper added support ?


4 out of 7 thirdgen a that I’ve owned all had this problem with the front bumper. The plastic becomes “indented” in a way on each side of the front badge on the bumper. I’ve heard rumors of played that can be mounted to bring back the look. Has anyone heard of this ?
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Old Dec 10, 2017 | 11:48 AM
  #2  
sonjaab's Avatar
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From: Syracuse NY
Car: 84 Z-28
Engine: 305 HO
Transmission: r-700
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Re: Front bumper added support ?

Thats just old age/heat/sun on that ol' girl.
Common on southern cars.

You really can't do much except cobble a support behind that part of the
bumper cover.

My 84 NC. car is suffering the same issue.
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Old Dec 10, 2017 | 12:29 PM
  #3  
Tibo's Avatar
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From: Desert
Car: 1991 Z28 Vert
Engine: 383 single plane efi
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 8.8 with 3.73s
Re: Front bumper added support ?

There is an egg-crate plastic material behind the nose piece that acts as a support and low speed bumper. Any added bracing to make the nose piece flat would mean removing that support and making your own custom bracketry. Other option would be a fiberglass nose piece but I thought those were all meant for off-road use. Even if the were for street driving I would be nervous about cracking it.
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Old Dec 10, 2017 | 12:44 PM
  #4  
88Greg's Avatar
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From: Vancouver, Canada
Car: 88 Trans am
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: C4 IRS 3.42
Re: Front bumper added support ?

What you can do is take some thin sheetmetal, eg 1/16" aluminum, cut it and form it (slight crown in that area) so that it fits on the backside flat. Then use some urethane adhesive to glue it on with some clamps etc to hold it flat till its cured. Does not need much adhesive, just a thin skim.
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Old Dec 10, 2017 | 03:35 PM
  #5  
LittleFranks's Avatar
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From: South Florida
Car: 92 Z28 Hawaiian Orchid
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Posi
Re: Front bumper added support ?

Thanks fellas ! I’m going to remove the bumper soon and see what I can come up with. Might go with the aluminum idea mentioned, seems the easiest to do ! Getting her painted mid 2018 so I’m trying to figure out all the things to keep her shape in check for years to come
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Old Dec 10, 2017 | 04:31 PM
  #6  
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From: Desert
Car: 1991 Z28 Vert
Engine: 383 single plane efi
Transmission: T-56
Axle/Gears: 8.8 with 3.73s
Re: Front bumper added support ?

If that area of the nose piece has actually sunken in then it has slowly stretched over time. If it has indeed stretched and you put a flat piece of metal behind it then it will cause that sunken in area to now bump outward. Its the same principle as if you make a dent in metal and the metal is now stretched. You can't just push it out flat again.
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Old Dec 11, 2017 | 08:07 AM
  #7  
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From: Syracuse NY
Car: 84 Z-28
Engine: 305 HO
Transmission: r-700
Axle/Gears: 3:73
Re: Front bumper added support ?

The eggcrate bumper pieces are mounted lower than the angle
in the nose so they won't be in the way.
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Old Dec 13, 2017 | 08:02 AM
  #8  
LittleFranks's Avatar
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From: South Florida
Car: 92 Z28 Hawaiian Orchid
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.23 Posi
Re: Front bumper added support ?

Originally Posted by Tibo
If that area of the nose piece has actually sunken in then it has slowly stretched over time. If it has indeed stretched and you put a flat piece of metal behind it then it will cause that sunken in area to now bump outward. Its the same principle as if you make a dent in metal and the metal is now stretched. You can't just push it out flat again.
I pushed it out and looked pretty flat to me. It’s not over stretched at all, just needed a better support system
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Old Dec 30, 2017 | 10:54 PM
  #9  
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Car: 85 Z28
Engine: 93 LT1
Transmission: Auto
Axle/Gears: 3.73 01 SS
Re: Front bumper added support ?

Once bracing, if you still have warping or weird spots you could sand the high spots down and use some of the poly flex flexible body filler, it's made for bumpers and I had great success repairing some significant damage to a 98 Bonneville bumper, most likely the same warpy wavey material.
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