Hi gang. I;ve been swapping out the original worn bumpers on my 70 cutlass supreme convertible and hit a possible issue with the front bumper. the ends droop down and i tried to adjust the mounting brackets without luck. its a GoldenStar copy. Question i have is, am i support to ratchet down the other bumper bolts to straighten the edges or is this a defective bumper? Any and all help appreciated!

Ed

 

IDK if the bumper droops, it does look like it, but the outer headlight on both sides seems to sit higher than the inside headlight, maybe the frame horn(s) have been tweaked ?

 

Can't remember who it was, but exactly the same issue. I'd bet the bumper is not to spec.

 

I would try pulling the center down, the 70-72 bumpers are pretty flexible, loosen up the bolts, then start in the center.
Just my .02

 

Grilles look out of whack, headlight to bezels looks bad. I say more than the bumper is the issue.

 

I believe the headlight, plates as I call them, can be adjusted so that the headlight bulbs are more centered in the aluminum bezels. Those are the metal plates that bolt to the radiator support. Not that it helps your bumper problem but just so you know if you wanted to adjust them.

 

I would never get rid of the originals. These after market bumpers are just terrible. I can also spot them from a mile away.

 

I remember a while back I saw a picture of a just completed 70 Vista Cruiser built by a big parts supplier (can't remember which one) anyway it had poor front bumper fit, sort of like yours. It seems like the bumper comes up from the ends and pokes up into the area where the bright lights are, instead of being flat and following the line of the headlight doors. I have since seen this a lot and now I'm wondering if it's the way the repop bumpers are?

 

It's insanely expensive these days to re-chrome bumpers but it's better than dealing with this Chinesium (hope I spelled that non existent word right) junk. You will be forever trying to keep up with the rust issues plus the ones I've seen are thinner than the originals, which aren't the best design to begin with. The slightest pressure and they flex, but they look nice.

 

I just finished straightening a front bumper on a 72. It was bowed up in the center about 3/4". Unfortunately, I cracked the chrome in the process.

But, for the OP, I think that some adjustments to the outer brackets at the frame bolts might correct your issue.