Urethane Bumber Repairs

[Robert B]

Does anyone have any leads on materials or kits to repair a 4 inch rip in an urethane bumber and also how to strip the paint and prepare for repainting?

[Joe L.]

Re: Urethane Bumber Repairs

Robert-----

General Motors has available (or, at least, used to have available) a urethane bumper repair kit. I will provide the part number later.

[Joe L.]

Re: Urethane Bumber Repairs

Robert-----

Well, it turns out that it's "USED to have available". The GM kit is discontinued.

In that case, I'd check with a local automotive paint and body repair material supply house. Such repair material must be available. The only problem is that you might have to purchase a fairly large size conatiner of the stuff (which probably has a short shelf life), but you'll get the "real deal" and not like the stuff that you may be able to buy in auto parts stores in blister packs.

[Patrick T.]

Re: Urethane Bumber Repairs

I had a rip like yours several years ago on the front of my '85 Z-28. Took it to a reputable Chevrolet body shop and since the insurance company was paying, I thought I'd get a new bumper. Instead they used the GM urethane repair kit. It looked good for about a year, and after that it was all downhill. Patrick

[Karl Bugman]

Re: Urethane Bumber Repairs

first a caveat that I have never worked on a non-chrome-bumper Corvette so I don't know the exact material for your application. However, if it is like most late model cars/trucks that I have repaired, there are pretty good repair systems out there. If you go to an autobody supply house you will find several 2-part "gun" systems available (3M, DURAMIX, et al). These are stereo tubes of stuff that fit into the appropriate gun for the brand's system. I have used these succesfully in many cases. These work well IF you follow the instructions (grind and drill and prep...). I have had bad results trying to cheat. The drawbacks are that each has its own gun design so once you pick you're stuck unless you want to pop for another brand's gun. In addition, you're looking at probably close to $100 for the gun and materials, (of which you'll use

[Craig S.]

Re: Urethane Bumber Repairs

Lord FUSOR makes great products of this type - and they are the two part with dual tube and a mixing tube. Like Karl says, you are in to about $60 for the material, and $60 for the special gun. They do make a smaller gun tube set with about 1/3 the material or so that is less, maybe it would run about half the cost. I took a class from Al Sowash (Ecklers) at Bloomington a coulpe years ago and he swears by their product line and he is considered one of the premier Corvette bodymen in the country. IF your tear is due to impact with a sharp object and your urethane cover is very pliable, you may have reasonable luck with the repair. If it is an age crack, forget it as the cover is shot. My original 74 cover just plain fell to pieces and you could literally peel it like a zip strip on a luncheon meat package....Craig

[Joe L.]

Re: Urethane Bumber Repairs

Patrick-----

I certainly agree that a urethane repair is far inferior to replacing the bumper covers. Unfortunately, replacing the bumper covers with a stock-type cover is becoming well nigh impossible. Many of the C3 urethane bumper covers are GM-discontinued. This includes ALL 74-79 rear covers and 80-82 front covers. 73-74 and 75-79 front covers as well as 80-82 rear covers remain available until, I expect, warehouse stocks are exhausted. Those still available carry a SERIOUS GM list price.