Hi,

I need to get new front and rear bumpers for my 1976. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which ones are best and easiest to install.

Any other info or experience on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

|UPDATED|1/1/2003 11:31:02 AM|/UPDATED|

I replaced my rear bumper last year. From that experience I would recommend that unless you are planning on keeping your Vette all original equipment, that you buy the better grade of material. I opted to buy the 2 piece (74 was the only 2 piece rear fiberglass bumper) fiberglass and it was a real job getting the alignment and body match. I would also suggest that you buy all new replacement fasteners. Over half of the studs broke on mine while being removed. You can buy just the stud clips for around $30 per bumper cover. You need to be very careful when removing the bumper supports. They are only fiberglass to and they will break easily. They are around $30 each. Can you tell by now that I have had all the learning experience that I want. I am planning to replace the front bumper cover this spring. I have spoke with guys that have replaced them also. This is going to be fun. You need a flex driver with lots of extensions to reach into the corner of the front bumper. A working knowledge of obsenities is not necessary. You will gain experience in this area while changing these covers. Good Luck.

Sounds like a job that I don't want to get into myself. I plan on having a professional install it. I would like to find which option would be the less work to fit. I have found several different ones: urethane, fiberglass, and flexible fiberglass. I am not worried about originality so to me the flexible fiberglass sounds like the best option. Besides the retainers I think that I am also going to need a new emblem. It seems that the new bumpers for the 76 don't come with the indentation that mine has.

Thanks for the advice.

|UPDATED|1/7/2003 8:11:03 PM|/UPDATED|

The flexible fiberglass will probably be your best bet if you arent going for factory. I have seen quite a few of them and they are very good replicas. I used fiberglass to maintain the factory 2 piece. It had the same indents for the lettering that the factory bumper had. I plan on replacing the originals as one of the final details on my vette. The originals are almost 30 years old and it shows, some of the chrome plating is not as perfect as I would like. Again good luck.