TL-DR: I'd like better access to the engine and was trying to find the best way to remove the bumper on my 1957 Super 88

Good Morning All,

My current project is doing a basic detail job on everything under the hood along with putting new gaskets and paint. I've been slowly noting everything and removing components all around and on the engine. The issue that I am running into is access. I'm 5'8 with a gut and hanging over the fender is a pain trying to reach some areas. So I've been thinking about removing the front bumper and radiator. Sadly there is only one diagram in the manual and it doesn't give the best information. The bolts holding the primary bar to the chassis are to large for any of my tools, so I started removing the bolts holding the bumper to the primary bar but of course one wont budge. All in all, is removing the bumper and radiator a good idea? Is there an easier way or suggested way of removing it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm still very novice in all of this and I know that removing the engine is my best bet but I don't have the equipment for that and it would be a larger undertaking then I might be comfortable with.

As always, thank you everyone for advice and information. I'm enjoying working on this car and learning a lot.

 

I've two "food for thoughts":

1. The bumper may be very heavy, possibly requiring two strong people especially to install, and
2. Do a search on truck tire step stools, they may help your situation.

Good luck!!!

 

Thanks for the input, might be why the bumper is budging right now because it weighs to much. I'll look into the tire step stools, thanks for the suggestion.

 

The bumper is 'the primary bar'. The pieces holding the bumper to the car are 'brackets'. If you remove the inner fenders and with the front tires off, you can roll right in.

 

Hmmm interesting, I might have to give that a try.

Thank you,

 

The bumper is very heavy, as you already surmised. I used a floor jack, some shoring, and a piece of ply wood to support the bumper underneath while I removed the bolts. It also helped as I removed the load from the bolts. I did use my 18-year old son to help reinstall it, but I think I could have done it on my own using the floor jack. I did the exact same thing you are doing. It worked out great. Restored all the pieces forward of the firewall.

 

I like the idea of using a floor jack, thank you! I'll give it a try.

 

Thanks for the great idea. I used the lift with a 4x4 and a dolly. I removed the nuts (1 took me longer then the other 5, absolute pain in the a**) and let the bolts hold the bumper with dolly/lift holding everything up slightly. Then raised it more, pulled away, lowered the lift and rolled the dolly with bumper to the side of the garage. I was able to do it by myself without ruining my back. Thanks again for the suggestion.