I'm looking at a car that has a couple of shims between the fiberglass and the bumper attaching tab where the bolt holds the bumper in place along the side of the car. It is the same on both sides. I'm not sure whether this is just an installation error, or an indication of a problem. Since it's the same on both sides, I'm inclined to think it is an installation problem. I'm not in a position to see the car now. I looked at the rear bumpers on mine, and I don't see how they can be flush to the fiberglass at the other attachment points, but need shims in the forward one. I'd like some opinions...I need to make a decision on purchasing the car very soon, and it's on my mind big time. The frame appears unhit as well as the body.
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MORE ON REAR BUMPER FIT...
The only reason I can think of that would create the need for the shims at that location would be if there were shims used at the other mounting locations as well...just a guess, I should have checked for that when I was examining the car. -
Re: MORE ON REAR BUMPER FIT...
Rob,
My 64 uses shims between the rear frame rail and the body at the inboard bumper mount location. Lots of them. Maybe as many as 7 0r 8 on each side. Long Island Corvette and Paragon both sell these shims. I believe all of the mid years are the same, but I'm not positive. If you don't place enough shims at this location, it will cause the bumpers to roll in at that point, which will cause the forward mount on the bumper to move away from the body. At the other bumper mount locations you have movable bracing. The bumpers on the car may just be mis-installed.
PhilComment
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Re: MORE ON REAR BUMPER FIT...
Phil,
Thanks, sorry if I wasn't clear. I'm aware of the shims used in the area you mentioned. The shims I'm referring to are on the outside of the body between the bumper and the fiberglass, where the bumper tapers and points to the front. There is a bolt (no brace) at this location that screws into the threaded tab in the bumper. There are normally no shims used there.Comment
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Re: MORE ON REAR BUMPER FIT...
Rob,
You were clear. I know what you are saying. I must not have been clear in my explanation. If shims are left out of the back it will cause the front of the bumper to pull away from the body (the body is actually being pulled in at the rear when you don't use enough shims). The shims that you see placed at the narrow, forward part of the bumper (between the bumper and the body) were used to fill the "gap" left when the bumper rocks in toward the rear crossmember.
Using the shims between the bumper and the body at the forwad mount location is not correct, but without doing this the bumper could not have been tightened down at this point without pulling on the glass to the point that it would crack. However, if the forward bolt and shim were removed at the forward bumper mount, you could then add shims to the inner rear mount and move the forward part of the bumper back (it shold rock back if you losen all of the bumper braces) towards the body. I know this because this was what I did to make my bumpers fit.
My bumpers fit correctly prior to removing the body. After I reinstalled the body I had to add a few additional shims to get the bumper fit back. I think the body must be slightly rearward from where it use to sit. I thought about using shims in the forward location, but after studying the situation I saw what needed to be done to get the correct fit.
I think that you might be having a hard time understanding how the bumper can "rock". If the bumper were simply bolted to the glass it would fit fine. It's when you start pulling the bumper and the body towards the frame and braces that you get the fit problems.
I hope this helps. PhilComment
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Re: MORE ON REAR BUMPER FIT...
Phil,
Now that I understand exactly what you mean, I'm satisfied it is probably the reason for the improper fit, Thanks Again...(guess I'll have to think of another reason to not buy the car)Comment
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