chrome bumper (filler)
 

I have been reading threads about the different front bumper versions for the last few hours now, but couldn't find a concrete solution to my problem. As far as I understand there were

- chrome bumpers only for the 68 LeMans
- normally an endura front bumper for the 68 GTO
- a delete option for the endura, so the GTO would get the chrome bumper (rare)
- bumpers from LeMans and GTO are interchangable (same bumper brackets, only other holes used) if you change the headlights too
- only changing the bumper without changing the headlights is a lot of work
- the endura bumpers have fitting problems.

I have a 68 LeMans, that had painted bumpers when I bought it (see pictures) and I want to keep it that way. But as these bumpers seem to have been chrome bumpers, there is this distance between bumper and fender (as all chrome bumpers have). So here are my questions:

1. When the bumper dimensions are the same for LeMans and GTO - is there any chance, that I can close the gap by positioning the bumper right without buying the endura bumper and GTO-headlights?
2. If not, ist the black plastic filler the same as the one in a GTO with chrome bumpers? I want to buy a new one and can't find one for the LeMans.

I would try to play around with the bumper settings, but my car is totally into pieces for a frame-off...

Thanks
Dan

Hi,
This is what my 68 GTO with Endura Delete Option, Chrome Bumper looks like.
Bumper to fender fit is fine. There is a black plastic piece between the bumper and the fenders.
Mike

If you need the black rubber pieces I see them on eBay once in awhile. Not sure if they are repro'd.

Good question if there is enough adjustment to bring the chrome bumper to the fender.

Problem is if you can (at worst a bit of enlarging of the adjusting slots will surely allow you to) is that as you drive the bumper (bolted direct to frame) and the fenders (bolted to the body on rubber mounts to the frame) move and your hard bumper will chip the heck out of your fenders and vice versa.

• There is a different filler from radiator support to bumper on top
• There are rubber fillers that attach to the leading edge of the fenders to "close" the gap

I may have a spare top filler

i have the rubbers for fenders & a mint upper filler for behind the bumper under hood
if interested
ive never seen a chrome bumper up close or butt against the fenders & i think the reason is body flex as the hard chrome bumper would crack the paint of the fenders on any good pot hole

While you are at it, buy a new chrome front bumper (or have yours stripped and re-chromed). The chrome bumpers look AWESOME on 68's - I think it's the best-looking LeMans ever made (with apologies to 1964).

I almost bought an Endura-delete '68 before I bought my '69. In fact I was towing a trailer to go pick it up in another state, but blew up the transmission in my Suburban on the way. I went back home, but found my '69 before I could go back to pick it up. :)


Chris

I have a mint filler from radiator support to bumper that I took off of my Dad's 69 LeMans before he sold it. I would hesitate to ship it though.

Thanks to all for your advice. Seems that I have to live with a gap between bumper and fender or I will have to buy a new bumper and new headlights. The chrome bumper is not really an option for me as I like the race more than the classic style. My plans were to paint the front and the rear bumper (black). But I will think it over.
I'll try to take a photo of the original filler and post it here.

I've got pic s at home of a local guy who did a chrome bumper modification to his 68 gto. He liked the weight savings of the chrome over the endura. Painted the body color you'd think it was an endura. He told me he had to modify the bumper mounts and it was "not that hard"- his words not mine.
I'll post them later
Howard

Anxiously awaiting these!! Thanks.

Me too. Anything new?

Sorry guys, our desktop and laptop both took a crap on us right before christmas. Still trying to find all the stuff that was saved and getting it all reloaded on this new pc. Whole bunch of stuff got mixed up. Soon hopefully.
Howard

Well after searching for a half an hour I can't find Sh*t.
Then I realized there are some on the clubs web site. Thank goodness our clubs web site dude is better organized than me.

here's the car I was talking about - owners name is Joel

http://www.sixnationspoci.org/photog...20(Medium).JPG

I had some better close ups but damned if I can locate them right now. Would you have 's thought that Joel's car had an endura right?
You'll also notice he working in a set of hide-a-ways too.
And his own style fuel injection rails on a Victor intake.

Howard

Howard, thank you for your time spent digging up the picture to post, much appreciated. That car looks fantastic, the hood is up obviously so hard to tell the overall fit, but it sure looks like he matched the leading edge of the fenders well. The best part is that he managed to use hideaways with this setup. I'm now certain I will do this with my '69, using either the '68 lemans bumper or fiberglass. Just too many disadvantages with the endura..

Do you have any information on how to contact this guy Howard? I'm really curious now what all he had to do to run the hideaways.

Thanks again, Nate

Nate, Sorry I haven't checked back here in a few days,
I'll say I was real inpressed with his work. Very nicely done. I do think the hide-a ways look super as well. I'd like to do this to mine as well. I'm never going to have a GTO - just a sweet Lemans!! Better then Pontiac ever made it! LOL!!

I've emailed our POCI club to see if they keep the registrations from last years show. I remember his name and town but when I tried to search it on the net I came up empty handed. I'll let you know when I find it, probably best to PM you with it. Might be a day or so.
Howard

i put hideaways in my chrome bumper, but it was far from 'easy'. i had to weld studs onto the inside for mounting, custom side fillers cut from lemans grills, cutting up perfectly good brackets from the hideaway setup to match the steel bumper, special grill mounts, to name a few of the things. i also cut my grills to be 'flush' with the headlight portion, like on a 69, i think it looks much better than the grilles being set back from the headlights.........

i absolutely love the look of hideaways in a chrome bumper, they should have offered it........

enjoy,

davey

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...roftheyear.jpg

Nate and 68Lemans-ger
PM's sent with tel number for Joel
Howard