Front bumper fit 71 before paint

[Harmon C.]

I have fit the front bumper to my 71 body that has a new front surround. I have both ends of the bumper about 1/8" gap at the corner of the fenders and towards the center to the outside edge of the head light. The corners look good with the same gaps on both sides. The gaps then get larger to about 5/16 on one side in the center and 3/8 inch on the other side. I can see the rivet heads on the 3/8 side but not on the 5/16 side. Is this as good as most factory fits?
Any up close pictures looking down from above will help.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Front bumper fit 71 before paint

Lyle,

No top-down shots in my folder.

All I can find is this one. I've looked at my bumper fit previously, and the gap is quite even all the way across. That is shown to some degree below.

Click on the picture if you want to see a larger version.

Patrick

[Harmon C.]

Re: Front bumper fit 71 before paint

Patrick

If you get a chance measure the width of the gap from the bumper to the fiberglass on the top edge of the bumper.

[Alan S.]

Re: Front bumper fit 71 before paint

Hi Lyle,
When I was in the process of painting my 71 I did pre fit the bumper even though the body was un-hit and the bumper was un-tweaked. All I ended up doing was elongating the holes for the corner bolts a tiny bit (1/8") which allowed me to slide the bumper side to side. I found that the size of the gap and reveal was not as critical as having the gaps very even.
Regards,
Alan

Here's a picture of the front clip just before primer.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Front bumper fit 71 before paint

Patrick

If you get a chance measure the width of the gap from the bumper to the fiberglass on the top edge of the bumper.

I'll be over there tomorrow.

Patrick

[Warren F.]

Re: Front bumper fit 71 before paint

Lyle,

I went out and measured the gap, I chose a spot to take the measurement right in front of the headlamp cover. Both '71's have a 7/16ths gap between the top edge of the front bumper and the leading edge of the fiberglass. They are equal on both sides of both cars.
Incidentally the point center of the front bumper to the fiberglass edge is wider, more like a 1/2 inch gap.
Both are original paint, unhit cars.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Front bumper fit 71 before paint

With that size gap can you see the flat rivet heads on the front of the fiberglass if you view it from above? Being able to see the rivet heads I wondered if that was the way they looked originally.

[Alan S.]

Re: Front bumper fit 71 before paint

Hi Lyle,
I believe the bumper can/should be close enough to the body so that you can't see the rivets. Isn't that determined by the placement of the front center brace assembly?
Regards,
Alan

[Bryan M.]

Re: Front bumper fit 71 before paint

Lyle here's a couple of shots of my 72 bumper fit. You can't see the rivets from the top side.

[Bill C.]

Re: Front bumper fit 71 before paint

The first a picture of the car before the restoration (as purchased old lacquer and al ...) . The bumper was never removed prior to me doing the body off.

The second, after the restoration.

Hope you can see the gapping okay --

[Warren F.]

Re: Front bumper fit 71 before paint

Lyle,

My measurement is from the bumper edge nearest the headlamp cover to the leading edge of fiberglass BEFORE it dips down and is hidden partially by the bumper. You cannot see the very front edge of the fiberglass nose. I think this is where one would be able to see those rivet heads.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Front bumper fit 71 before paint

I'll be over there tomorrow.

Patrick

I checked the yellow 72.

The gap is 3/8 inch from the car to the top of the bumper.
I cannot see the rivet heads no matter how hard I try when looking from above.

I hope that helps.

Patrick

[Harmon C.]

Re: Front bumper fit 71 before paint

Hi Lyle,
I believe the bumper can/should be close enough to the body so that you can't see the rivets. Isn't that determined by the placement of the front center brace assembly?
Regards,
Alan

I thought the front center bumper brace was holding the bumper out also. The two mounts at each end of the bumper are actually what determines how the center fits. I think the bumper is too ridged to be able to pull the center back to make the gap in the middle less.
With some more removing of glass at the end mounts I have 1/8 inch on each end and 3/8 in the center. If I want the gap the same I will just glass it in.