I noticed that the more the car is used, the rear bumper seems to be cracking more. Is this normal for this age of car? I think it is too brittle from setting or age. How much do these rear bumpers normally cost? Are they easy to take off and put back on?

 

Urethane bumpers tend to get brittle and deteriorate with age. You can get a replacement rear bumper (fiberglass) for around $350. Or a (tru-flex/E-Zee Fit) for around $400.

They have to be fitted to the car. It's not a bolt on and go thing. It will look like "poo." So if your not into body work, leave it to the pros. Plus the paint will have to be blended in. So if the car could use a total paint job, nows the time to replace the bumper.

Sarge

What do you mean it has to be fitted to the car? Are they glued on?

 

The bumpers often don't match.  Sometimes a bit of streatching and shifting of position will make it match the car.  Sometimes a small amount of filler or sanding is required on the car itself for a perfect fit.  Sometimes you need a different bumper, even from the same supplier.

Then again it may be close enought that you don't need to do anything.  This depends on luck and how picky you are.  The factory was not real picky.

There is quite a bit of fitting that needs to be done for a good look. Patience is a virtue here. I would also buy new bumper retainers. These rascals don't fair to well comming off of a 30 yr old car. Although yours may do better considering the sheltered life. (spray them down with PB Blaster or the likes well ahead of bumper removal.
I like that glass bumpers but everyone has a preferance. You might want to begin looking at front bumpers too. Yours is showing quite a bit of "wave" in it. Mine did that before she gave up the ghost too.
As far a paint goes I just helped a friend of mine put a front bumper on his 74 C3. When we removed the front bumper we took it to a local reputable body shop who took a chip of paint from the bumper. After the analized it they mixed paint to match.
We fitted the new bumper (E Zee Fit flex glass) to the car and when we were comfortable with a desired result we took it back off & had the shop paint it. When they were done we put it back on. It matched the original paint almost as perfect as you could get it (yellow). I would bet money that if a person didn't know it had been painted it could pass undetected.

That's why I have chrome at both ends.

A urethane bumper, if you can find one, will be very expensive. I've seen them for over $1500!!!
The 'glass bumper is really the best way to go. They will require some sanding/grinding/swearing to fit properly to the contours of the body. No two 'Vette bodies are exactly alike. There are variances in all of the dimensions. I put a factory urethane front bumper on my '74, but had to go with the 'glass on the rear, cause no one makes the two piece urethane rear bumper. I did get the two-piece 'glass one, tho, and it took some creative re-shaping(grinding!) on the bumpers, and the body, to get it close enough to satisfy me.
The flexible 'glass stuff is really a lot easier to work with, and they fit a wee bit better, so there's less swearing involved...
The "flexi-glass" is a lot easier to paint, also. No flex agent required.

I didn't there was that much involved in that. I hope my wifes cousin who did my Mustang can do Corvettes. He is great on other cars but not sure how he is on Corvettes. I am kind of limited on who I can go to in a small town but I am sure I can find someone good.

 

[QUOTE=Chips58]That's why I have chrome at both ends.[/QUOTE] That was bad.......ya know that chromie?

You can take your gas cap off, take it to a paint supply shop and they will match the paint for your bumper......then ya can paint it yourself!

No paint on my gas cap???? Is there supposed to be? I've never looked at anyone else's.