C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

[Ronald L.]

Has anyone noted the difference in these two front C2 bumper braces - that is the one lower corner is chopped off at an angle?

The top one - with the correct factory 'D' I think is 67 only.

The lower 66 and prior model years.

What do you guys have on your original cars???

[Russ S.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

My originals from my 66 have the corner cut off.

[John H.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

June '67 - corner cut off.

[Ronald L.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

Russ, is your car a very late June July 66 production?

The part number did not change in 1966 3848217 - 8.

[Scott S.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

Ron,

Corners are cut on Jan. 11, 1967, both stamped "D".

[Ronald L.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

Both versions of the original will have the D stamped into them.

Does any one know why they changed, and when?

[Bill H.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

Both versions of the original will have the D stamped into them.

Does any one know why they changed, and when?

Steve, above has cut corners on Jan, 67.
Working on mine today, no cut - Dec. 27th, 66.
Not much difference in those dates.
Pic of them:
And a pic of the rough finish on the mating bracket.

[Scott S.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

Steve, above has cut corners on Jan, 67.
Working on mine today, no cut - Dec. 27th, 66.
Not much difference in those dates.
Pic of them:
And a pic of the rough finish on the mating bracket.

Bill and Ron,

I should point out that it is possible my RH brace was replaced circa 1971, when the car had right front-end collision damage. Based on the damage discovered with the body off, I don't think there would have been any reason to replace the LH brace, but I don't know for sure.

Both RH and LH braces have the "D" stamp, and both have the cut corner. They also have a circular stamp that looks like a waffle pattern (picture #2 below). I don't know if early service replacements might have had these markings or not.

[Ronald L.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

Scott, that is a new twist on this, the originals I have seen were so rusty that that waffle spot would not be visible. I expect that was a keeper so the blank was not sliding around when the metal was bent and punched.

[Scott S.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

Scott, that is a new twist on this, the originals I have seen were so rusty that that waffle spot would not be visible. I expect that was a keeper so the blank was not sliding around when the metal was bent and punched.

Ron,

The same waffle spot is on the other brace, but it's a much lighter stamping (picture 1 below). I also found this same (or very similar) marking on the radiator support (pics 2 and 3).

[Ronald L.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

Any other thoughts on this, no notch 66 (except perhaps late cars) notches for 67?

[Scott S.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

Any other thoughts on this, no notch 66 (except perhaps late cars) notches for 67?

What was the purpose of cutting the notch into the end of the brace? Something was probably added or the configuration of an associated part may have changed, requiring a change to the bumper brace.

If we figure out what cause led to the change, we might find it in the Revision Record and get a good idea of the approximate date.

[Russ S.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

[quote=Ronald Lovelace (50931);576858]Russ, is your car a very late June July 66 production?

The part number did not change in 1966 3848217 - 8.[/quot My build date is March 14th.

[Ronald L.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

We would need the print to know why the difference.

Both were made by the same source and at such a low volume its certain they only had one set of blanking - forming dies for these parts.

[Russ S.]

Re: C2 Bumper Braces 66 & 67

My originals from my 66 have the corner cut off.

I have just discovered that my braces aren't the originals as I had thought.I went thru all my many receipts for parts and learned that I had bought new GM ones in 1980. Sorry for the inconveniences I caused. Russ