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What are the correct head markings for 72 rear bumper bolts?
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Re: 72 Rear Bumper Bolts
I have seen M.Lyle
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Re: 72 Rear Bumper Bolts
I am with Lyle on the M bolts. I cannot remember seeing anything else, but then again I can't remember what we are talking about either.Dick WhittingtonComment
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Re: 72 Rear Bumper Bolts
I concur...except for those long bolts that attach the very front end of the bumperettes. On my car, those had, uh, (I am not making this up)...RSC headstamps.Comment
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My Mistake...
Not RSC...RBW. I also had a couple of A headstamps on the rear bumpers and on the front bumper/front cross member area. Also, note that my car is a 70, but the headstamps should be about the same.Comment
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Re: 72 Rear Bumper Bolts
I just evaluated a 1972, bumpers and bolts appearing to be original. M head markings.Dick WhittingtonComment
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Re: 72 Rear Bumper Bolts
The only thing surprising is that they were ALL uniformly the same head stamp without exception.Comment
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Re: 72 Rear Bumper Bolts
I did NOT say they were all the same, just that M is what I am used to seeing. Could probably be TR's, M's, A's plain what ever.Dick WhittingtonComment
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Re: 72 Rear Bumper Bolts
John, to give you a complete and thorough answer to your question, several bolt manufacturers were used by General Motors for most of the fasteners on these cars. There is no ONE correct head stamp for most applications.
On 68-72 Corvettes, you will observe a lot of M headstamps, and you may see some A headstamps in the exact same application. Headstamps are NOT JUDGED except as being contemporary to the period...minor deducts are likely if the fastener is clearly a late replacement or Home Depot fastener.
When the assembly line workers mounted the bumpers, one man would work fastener bins from one side of the line. and another would work fastener bins from the other side of the line. Those bins were constantly being replenished with whatever approved manufacturers' fasteners were in stock at the time. You might have a container of A headstamps dumped on top of the remaining M headstamps. At some point, a handful of fasteners might have a mix of both headstamps. You might have M headstamps on one side of the car and A headstamps on the other side.
Having said that, it is more typical to find more M headstamps attaching the bumpers as all responders have said...perhaps M was the primary supplier. You may also see A headstamps in the same size/length on the bumpers. On my 70, I had 7/16" X 1.25" M w/three lines (14 ea) and A w/three lines (2 ea) used for rear bumper/brace/bracket assembly. I also had 7/16" X 1.5" RBW w/three lines (2 ea, front bumper end), and 7/16" X 0.875" RBW w/three lines (2 ea, bracket assembly).
The best headstamps to use are the ones that are original to the car if they are still there and are re-useable. Decide to replace fasteners with discretion...correct period headstamps are hard to find and expensive when you can find them.Comment
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