1970 Bumper woes

sixty9olds · June 13th, 2009, 12:43 PM

I am trying to install my front bumper on my 1970 Cutlass Supreme and I can't get the bumper to adjust high enough to match the fenders. Does anyone on here have any installation tips? Here is link to my album which contains pictures of the bumper installed and the best fit that we could
get to the fender.

http://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/album.php?albumid=5

Allan R · June 13th, 2009, 04:49 PM

[quote=sixty9olds;86270]I am trying to install my front bumper on my 1970 Cutlass Supreme and I can't get the bumper to adjust high enough to match the fenders. Does anyone on here have any installation tips? Here is link to my album which contains pictures of the bumper installed and the best fit that we could
get to the fender.

http://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/album.php?albumid=5[/quote]

Is this the original front bumper, or a repro? If it's the original, did it need straighening when it was rechromed? It looks a lot like its bent down on both sides which is consistent with your mounting problem.

sixty9olds · June 13th, 2009, 07:32 PM

Allan R,
Thanks for the reply.
The bumper is a rechromed original, but I exchanged it for my core, so I don't know what it looked like before it was straightened. I can't tell if its bent, like you said, it gives the appearance of "drooping" on the outside edges.

jensenracing77 · June 13th, 2009, 07:40 PM

[quote=Allan R;86295]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sixty9olds

I am trying to install my front bumper on my 1970 Cutlass Supreme and I can't get the bumper to adjust high enough to match the fenders. Does anyone on here have any installation tips? Here is link to my album which contains pictures of the bumper installed and the best fit that we could
get to the fender.

http://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/album.php?albumid=5[/quote]

Is this the original front bumper, or a repro? If it's the original, did it need straighening when it was rechromed? It looks a lot like its bent down on both sides which is consistent with your mounting problem.

i hate to say it but i think you are right. i think it is bent.

Allan R · June 13th, 2009, 07:58 PM

[quote=jensenracing77;86325]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan R

i hate to say it but i think you are right. i think it is bent.

I'm positive that if this bumper is put into a jig and straightened again it will cause the chrome to break or flake on the stress points. When you got this bumper did you save the reciept or can you go back to the shop you got it from on good will? If you show them the pics of the bumper on your car, they should be able to do something for you at NO COST TO YOU. Seeing as how you already gave them an OEM core, there's no reason they should be charging you extra to fix a bumper that appears to be flawed.

2blu442 · June 13th, 2009, 08:09 PM

It's raining outside right now so I can't check my 1970, but what about running a string line from the top right to the top left? Try putting a level across the piece under each set of headlights. Visually, mine looks straight and flat in those areas. If we can give you something to compare it to you might be able to go back to the plater with it. John

sixty9olds · June 13th, 2009, 08:11 PM

Thanks guys, my gut feeling when I first got it installed was that it was bent, but it never hurts to get a second opinion.
Is straightening a bumper difficult? Also, when you are looking at a rechrome, how can you tell if it is bent without installing it on a car?
I have my receipts and the guy is reputable, so no worries there.

jensenracing77 · June 13th, 2009, 08:35 PM

i do not know the answer to that question. i wondered the same thing. i had a bumper that i thought was strait as an arrow and painted it for my Rallye 350 just to discover that it was bent when i installed it.

BLUE72RAGTOP · June 14th, 2009, 07:17 PM

Sorry to hear your new bumper may be bent. Your pics caught my eye since your car looks almost the same blue as mine. Then I noticed you live in High Point. We're practically neighbors. Let us know how you get this resolved and post some more pics! Maybe we can check out each others' cars sometime.

sixty9olds · June 14th, 2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLUE72RAGTOP

Maybe we can check out each others' cars sometime.

Sounds good, I am getting closer to crusing every day. Do you drive your car often? Have you ever been to the car show up in Pilot Mountain? We were there for the June cruise and it was simply awesome.

scrappie · June 15th, 2009, 04:58 AM

It looks bent to me. I once sent my 70 442 rear bumper to Desert Dog. The bumper was straight as an arrow but had faded chrome. They take your core and give you a re-chromed piece from their stock. The ad said they have the factory dies to straighten. When I got the new bumper the chrome looked decent but when I put the bumper on, one side stuck out about an inch more than the other. I tried every adjustment with no luck. I ended up sending it back and they gave me another but I was out the shipping costs. The short of it is: These bumpers are sometime bent and not perfect so if you have a straight core it is worth it to wait the extra time to have the actual piece re-chromed in my opinion. Good luck.

June 13th, 2009, 12:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
sixty9olds Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: High Point, NC Posts: 79	1970 Bumper woes I am trying to install my front bumper on my 1970 Cutlass Supreme and I can't get the bumper to adjust high enough to match the fenders. Does anyone on here have any installation tips? Here is link to my album which contains pictures of the bumper installed and the best fit that we could get to the fender. http://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/album.php?albumid=5 Last edited by sixty9olds; June 13th, 2009 at 12:50 PM..

June 13th, 2009, 04:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
Allan R Just an Olds Guy Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 1,185	[quote=sixty9olds;86270]I am trying to install my front bumper on my 1970 Cutlass Supreme and I can't get the bumper to adjust high enough to match the fenders. Does anyone on here have any installation tips? Here is link to my album which contains pictures of the bumper installed and the best fit that we could get to the fender. http://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/album.php?albumid=5[/quote] Is this the original front bumper, or a repro? If it's the original, did it need straighening when it was rechromed? It looks a lot like its bent down on both sides which is consistent with your mounting problem. __________________ Allan R

June 13th, 2009, 08:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
2blu442 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Medford, Oregon Posts: 2,261	It's raining outside right now so I can't check my 1970, but what about running a string line from the top right to the top left? Try putting a level across the piece under each set of headlights. Visually, mine looks straight and flat in those areas. If we can give you something to compare it to you might be able to go back to the plater with it. John __________________ 1964 Cutlass Factory 4spd 1965 442 4spd 1967 442 Auto 1967 Cutlass Convertible 1967 Cutlass four door daily driver 1968 442 Auto 1969 442 W30 Auto 1970 442 4spd 1971 Cutlass Flat Top Wagon 1973 Che*vy 3/4 Ton 454/TH400 Tow Vehicle Only the tow vehicle is finished!

June 13th, 2009, 08:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
jensenracing77 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: brazil indiana Posts: 1,022	i do not know the answer to that question. i wondered the same thing. i had a bumper that i thought was strait as an arrow and painted it for my Rallye 350 just to discover that it was bent when i installed it. __________________ 70 Rallye 350 72 Cutlass 00 Silhouette 90 Toronado Trofeo

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

June 13th, 2009, 07:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
sixty9olds Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: High Point, NC Posts: 79	Allan R, Thanks for the reply. The bumper is a rechromed original, but I exchanged it for my core, so I don't know what it looked like before it was straightened. I can't tell if its bent, like you said, it gives the appearance of "drooping" on the outside edges.

June 13th, 2009, 08:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
sixty9olds Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: High Point, NC Posts: 79	Thanks guys, my gut feeling when I first got it installed was that it was bent, but it never hurts to get a second opinion. Is straightening a bumper difficult? Also, when you are looking at a rechrome, how can you tell if it is bent without installing it on a car? I have my receipts and the guy is reputable, so no worries there.

June 14th, 2009, 07:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
BLUE72RAGTOP Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Jamestown, NC Posts: 40	Sorry to hear your new bumper may be bent. Your pics caught my eye since your car looks almost the same blue as mine. Then I noticed you live in High Point. We're practically neighbors. Let us know how you get this resolved and post some more pics! Maybe we can check out each others' cars sometime.

June 15th, 2009, 04:58 AM	#11 (permalink)
scrappie Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: eastern MA Posts: 202	It looks bent to me. I once sent my 70 442 rear bumper to Desert Dog. The bumper was straight as an arrow but had faded chrome. They take your core and give you a re-chromed piece from their stock. The ad said they have the factory dies to straighten. When I got the new bumper the chrome looked decent but when I put the bumper on, one side stuck out about an inch more than the other. I tried every adjustment with no luck. I ended up sending it back and they gave me another but I was out the shipping costs. The short of it is: These bumpers are sometime bent and not perfect so if you have a straight core it is worth it to wait the extra time to have the actual piece re-chromed in my opinion. Good luck.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
1970 Bumper	UCF72Cutlass	Cutlass	2	July 7th, 2008 12:28 PM
1970 front bumper bracket?	big hungry	Chassis/Body/Frame	0	May 21st, 2008 02:18 PM
Free 1970 cutlass bumper in phoenix	71cuttyS	Parts For Sale	0	March 11th, 2008 11:56 AM
wanted 1970 442 rear bumper	57chevymike	Parts Wanted	2	December 28th, 2007 08:30 PM
wanted 1970 442 bumper	57chevymike	Parts Wanted	0	August 2nd, 2007 12:19 PM