Topic: '76 rear bumper with a 77 cover?

[cobray]

It's that time of year again!!

I saw a Rear bumper cover for 1977-1978 Trans Am models on the year 1 web site.

Does anyone know if this will work on a '76 if I removed the urathane or if I need to get an old  '77 and recover it.    I think the 77 will bolt up to the 76 ok, right?
I am not sure if the steel iner bumper is the same for 76 and 77.  I know the 76 was different with the molded urathanet that liked to rott.

"This reproduction rear bumper cover is constructed of fiberglass and attaches at the factory mounting points. When mounting the cover, the steel inner bumper will need to be retained but the non-structural styrofoam will need to be removed. For front bumper cover "

Will the 76 steel frame the same as a 77?
If not, will a 77 bumper bolt up to the 76?

Thanks,
Jeff

[RENOVATIONS]

Maybe someone else will chime in but I'm not aware of any difference between '76-'78 rear bumpers.

[Hitman]

Yes, they are the same.

[logikfive]

I could have sworn I read somewhere that there was indeed a difference, mostly with the thickness of the urethane?

Visually though they are the same.

[cobray]

So they would be the same and interchangable.

I guess the metal frame would be the same maybe?  I was thinking they would be different since the construction was so different.

I think that 76 was the only year that it was a molded soft urathane.  then they went with a hard cover/shell that would not rot like the soft molded urathane.  The paint easaly cracked and pealed away.
On my 76 I had canyons 1/2 deep caused by where the paint pealed away and then the rain and sun did the rest.  I did my best to fill the low spots with rubber bumper filler butr it was real bad and hard to sand it smooth.  I did my best but I would likew to do somthing.

Has any one reworked the 77/78?  Do they rot at all like the soft urathane?  easy to paint?  Maybe it would be cheapeer to rework a used one than to buy a fiberglass shel from year one.  I was thinking the new fiberglass may hold up the best.

Thanks for the help

Jeff

[brian c]

Look about half way down this thread and you'll see what Keystone Automotive did for my 78 rear bumper...

http://transamcountry.com/community/index.php?topic=2873.30

I've heard through the grapevine that Keystone in Buffalo is getting a little cranky about doing these. I don't think its an issue elsewhere as Jason D has been using them to do bumpers for his clients.

[Joker (§ir£Ğragon)]

So they would be the same and interchangable.

I guess the metal frame would be the same maybe?  I was thinking they would be different since the construction was so different.

I think that 76 was the only year that it was a molded soft urathane.  then they went with a hard cover/shell that would not rot like the soft molded urathane.  The paint easaly cracked and pealed away.
On my 76 I had canyons 1/2 deep caused by where the paint pealed away and then the rain and sun did the rest.  I did my best to fill the low spots with rubber bumper filler butr it was real bad and hard to sand it smooth.  I did my best but I would likew to do somthing.

Has any one reworked the 77/78?  Do they rot at all like the soft urathane?  easy to paint?  Maybe it would be cheapeer to rework a used one than to buy a fiberglass shel from year one.  I was thinking the new fiberglass may hold up the best.

Thanks for the help

Jeff

There's nothing hard or shell-like about my bumper.
Here's where it tore coming off the truck.

[cobray]

Yea,  they all can need work but I think the '76 would be the worst to have being so soft.
I bet year 1 uses the fiberglass covers on the new bandit cars.

Also Brian thanks for the link.

I am not sure if I can use my metal frame so maybe I will see if I can pick up a 77/78 frame and then get the year1 cover.  I had great luck with the fiberglass flares so I think I may like this too.

Thanks,
Jeff

[Joker (§ir£Ğragon)]

Yea,  they all can need work but I think the '76 would be the worst to have being so soft.
I bet year 1 uses the fiberglass covers on the new bandit cars.

Also Brian thanks for the link.

I am not sure if I can use my metal frame so maybe I will see if I can pick up a 77/78 frame and then get the year1 cover.  I had great luck with the fiberglass flares so I think I may like this too.

Thanks,
Jeff

But that's my point. As far as I can tell it's the same urethane as the nose. My rear bumper isn't hard at all. It didn't crack or "break", it tore. the pic showing the rip in the lower side doesn't show it well, but the rest is rolled up undermeath like a sheet of rubber.

[brian c]

Well out of the two, I'd go with the original GM bumper over a fiberglass repop. Here's why...In an accident the fiberglass will shatter when struck so you'll have to replace the whole thing whereas the urathane has some give to so as long as there's not major damage a repaint would be all that's required.

[Rick]

Yeah, I agree with Brian.  The factory bumper covers can take some decent whacks and really not show anything besides a little scuffed paint, but fiberglass would be all over the parking lot.  There's more low-speed stuff like that than you'd think, including the moron who pulls forward behind you until he sees your car rock, then backs up 6" when he's pulling into the parking place.

[cobray]

yea I see your piont.  Maybe there is one out there in good shape for sale. 

As far as the 76 vs the 77/78, my neighbore has a 77.  The 77 is much harder and stiffe and more uniform in thickness all over.  It is like a cover where as the 76 is a one piece molded unit that is solid and not a cover.  You could not smash a hole in it if you tried because it is inches thick soft urathane.  Yoi could take a knife and cut out a chunk.  It must be 3 or 4 " think in places.

Thanks,
Jeff

[RENOVATIONS]

If by chance you have your '76 bumper cover off, could you post some pix of it?
Thanks