#1  
Old 09-30-2022, 10:15 AM
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Default 76 Firebird #@%! Front Bumper

Hoping someone could offer some advice on getting this thing to look right again. Due to attachment limitations, I'll break this up into three parts.

I had the car painted and assembled some years ago and the front bumper looked pretty good. Pass side didn't quite mesh up with the fender but that could have been fixed.

No idea why the photos are upside down, not that way on my PC.
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Last edited by TA76; 09-30-2022 at 10:24 AM.
  #2  
Old 09-30-2022, 10:19 AM
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I ended up having to pull the original engine and my engine hoist was just a bit too short so I disassembled the front end (big mistake). After reassembly I ended up with this mess:
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  #3  
Old 09-30-2022, 10:24 AM
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I ended up taking the car to a local shop to align the doors, fenders, hood and nose. They did a great job except for the front bumper, which they couldn't improve on.

I noticed the center of the bumper was about 1/4 inch off from the center of the upper nose, I shimmed the bumper bracket on the PS and now it is centered but still each side is still off a bit. I know these 76 bumpers are notorious for not mating up because there are not mounting brackets/bolts to tie them to the fender.

Last body shop guy said it might need some heating to bend the ends back in.

This is how it looks currently. Ugh another weird rotated photo on the DS.
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  #4  
Old 10-03-2022, 07:26 PM
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In 76, IIRC, the front bumper cover sits on a shelf on the fender ( one year only). Maybe yours are not on this small shelf ?

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  #5  
Old 10-04-2022, 11:34 AM
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Thanks Bruce, do you mean a groove that runs vertical where the fender and bumper join? I've owned this car since 1985, I'm pretty sure the PS fender was replaced at one point (has the four fender flare holes) but the DS is original. Both have the same inner lip design where the fender and bumper meet. Maybe there is a trick to installing the bumper so that it mates up to the fenders?

  #6  
Old 10-04-2022, 11:37 AM
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I had a similar issue on my old bird but it was a subframe bushing mishap.

In regards to your photos, someone on here helped me - open your photo on your PC, then crop it slightly, then re-save it - then upload it - for some reason it "resets" the image settings or something...

  #7  
Old 10-04-2022, 05:54 PM
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I thing this Grove runs horizontal, but I could be wrong.
After talking to Rocky, seems these are 1 year only fenders, will try to get a pic of a driends fender

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  #8  
Old 10-05-2022, 08:15 AM
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kingbuzzo, thx for the tip on the photos. Can't seem to edit my original post now though.

Bruce, that would be greatly appreciated. I agree, I think the 76 fenders are unique to that year. It is possible both had been replaced prior to my buying it in 1985. I know the car was in an accident at one point.

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