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Topic: Which replacement front bumper is best?

in Forum: C3 Body

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Which replacement front bumper is best? (1/6)
10/5/17 9:54pm

BillHanna
Standard Member
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Cana, VA - USA

Vette(s):
1975 Stingray 71 350 engine Flat top pistons Sniper fuel injection Hyperspark ignition Vintage Air air conditioning Borgeson power steering box

Joined: 7/3/2016
Posts: 319

My '75 coupe's front bumper is pushed back a bit. I'm assuming that it cannot be fixed, so I'm looking at new front bumpers.

Can someone help me understand which type would be "best?"

I see the following are available:

Original

Fiberglass

Flex fit

Ez-fit

And I'm sure there are more.

What do they mean by "flex fit" and "Ex-fit?"

I was thinking fiberglass, which I assume would be easier to fix if it was bumped again.

I'm beginning to strip the old paint (it was painted about 10 years ago) so I can paint it this winter.

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Re: Which replacement front bumper is best? (2/6)
10/6/17 3:03pm

73shark
Limited Member
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Overland Park, KS - USA

Vette(s):
1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day.

Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 866

When I faced the same decision a number of years ago, I decided to get the OEM urethane bumper as mine had become so brittle it was popping off and falling on the floor. From what I could tell all of the Tru Fit, Flexfit, fiberglass, etc were going to require some or a lot of fitting to get them to mount the way I wanted them to.

|UPDATED|10/6/2017 12:03:36 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

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1973 L-82 4 spd

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Re: Which replacement front bumper is best? (3/6)
10/6/17 4:38pm

73shark said: When I faced the same decision a number of years ago, I decided to get the OEM urethane bumper as mine had become so brittle it was popping off and falling on the floor. From what I could tell all of the Tru Fit, Flexfit, fiberglass, etc were going to require some or a lot of fitting to get them to mount the way I wanted them to.

What you say makes sense. I had assumed that it was more then a bumper "cover" but after looking at it more closely, I think you are right that the original style will be easier.

Thanks!

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Re: Which replacement front bumper is best? (4/6)
10/6/17 4:56pm

If your car has seen much salt in the winter time, chances are you will need to replace the reinforcing bar with the studs on it that holds the bumper cover on. Be prepared for sticker shock if you do decide to get the OEM urethane cover. I believe I paid $280 for mine a number of years ago and that was with my dealer discount.

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1973 L-82 4 spd

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Re: Which replacement front bumper is best? (5/6)
10/6/17 5:52pm

73shark said: If your car has seen much salt in the winter time, chances are you will need to replace the reinforcing bar with the studs on it that holds the bumper cover on. Be prepared for sticker shock if you do decide to get the OEM urethane cover. I believe I paid $280 for mine a number of years ago and that was with my dealer discount.

The frame on this car is in quite good shape. Just surface rust.

I'm looking at a Corvette America reproduction urethane front bumper for $249.99 -- hopefully it is good enough quality that it will fit well.

If anyone has experience with this, please let me know.

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Re: Which replacement front bumper is best? (6/6)
10/6/17 7:05pm

Since the paint had to have flex agent added to it, I removed mine for painting the original back in the 80s. That eliminates having to mask it off and everything.

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1973 L-82 4 spd

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