front bumper removal 72 delta 88
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Joined: Jun 2009
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From: southeastern Michigan
Dynamite comes to mind as one possibility. Another is hacksaws.
But I'm guessing most people would do it with wrenches.
There isn't a "best" way to remove the bumpers, there's just an "only" way, and the best way for you to see what that is is to get under the bumper with a flashlight and look around.
The '72 factory service manual, which is available for free at www.wildaboutcars.com, shows that the front bumper is a three-piece system, with the main attachment between the bumper assembly and car by means of six horizontal bolts, three on each side, that attach the left and right-hand mounting brackets to the "frame horn", which is the part of the frame the bumper attaches to.
If you don't have the service manual, go to that website, register (it's free), and hunt up the '72 Olds factory service manual. You want section 14, page 14-2, Figure 14-2A which has a nice, exploded-view diagram of the front bumper assembly.
This manual shows the rear bumper assembly on page 14-5, Figure 14-6. The rear bumper attaches to two brackets, one on each side, that in turn are attached to the frame. It appears that you can remove just the bumper from the brackets or the bumper and brackets together from the frame, depending on how much you actually want or need to remove and how it easy it is to get at the various bolts.
Keep in mind that bumpers heavy, so you'll want to have them supported before you start loosening bolts so that the weight of the bumper isn't all on the bolts as you try to take them out.
Also keep in mind that loosening the bolts could be a bear depending both on how easy it is to actually access them and get a wrench on them with any room to turn it as well as how covered with crud or rust they might be. It might be a good idea to spray the bolts thoroughly with PB Blaster or something like that a day or two before trying to loosen them.
I've removed and reattached bumpers a couple of times in my life, and sometimes it can go pretty quickly while other times it seems that only an impact wrench can loosen a stubborn bolt. With luck, your operation will go smoothly.
Good luck.
But I'm guessing most people would do it with wrenches.
There isn't a "best" way to remove the bumpers, there's just an "only" way, and the best way for you to see what that is is to get under the bumper with a flashlight and look around.
The '72 factory service manual, which is available for free at www.wildaboutcars.com, shows that the front bumper is a three-piece system, with the main attachment between the bumper assembly and car by means of six horizontal bolts, three on each side, that attach the left and right-hand mounting brackets to the "frame horn", which is the part of the frame the bumper attaches to.
If you don't have the service manual, go to that website, register (it's free), and hunt up the '72 Olds factory service manual. You want section 14, page 14-2, Figure 14-2A which has a nice, exploded-view diagram of the front bumper assembly.
This manual shows the rear bumper assembly on page 14-5, Figure 14-6. The rear bumper attaches to two brackets, one on each side, that in turn are attached to the frame. It appears that you can remove just the bumper from the brackets or the bumper and brackets together from the frame, depending on how much you actually want or need to remove and how it easy it is to get at the various bolts.
Keep in mind that bumpers heavy, so you'll want to have them supported before you start loosening bolts so that the weight of the bumper isn't all on the bolts as you try to take them out.
Also keep in mind that loosening the bolts could be a bear depending both on how easy it is to actually access them and get a wrench on them with any room to turn it as well as how covered with crud or rust they might be. It might be a good idea to spray the bolts thoroughly with PB Blaster or something like that a day or two before trying to loosen them.
I've removed and reattached bumpers a couple of times in my life, and sometimes it can go pretty quickly while other times it seems that only an impact wrench can loosen a stubborn bolt. With luck, your operation will go smoothly.
Good luck.
Last edited by jaunty75; Apr 29, 2012 at 06:12 AM.
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