Any bumper filler install tips?

[Dan SS2471]

My set of four will be here Thursday. I've found a few posts but none that really detail an install. Some say bumpers on, some say just loosen them, some say take them off.

Any advice?

Here they are. Not sure if it makes a difference between NOS, Fiberglass, etc:

http://www.turbobuicks.com/forums/pa...0-shipped.html

Appreciate any info.

Dan

[Aaron B]

OK, here's a step by step:
1. Give me the keys
2. I take it to HOOBERFEST on July 4, 2009.
3. All sorts of Buick nuts who know everything about these damn cars help change them out.
4. I return the car to you on say July 16, 2009.
5. You enjoy the new fillers without even getting your hands dirty.

Joking aside, I can't help with the rears, but the fronts can be swapped with the bumper on. One of those fillers up front was a donor filler from the 84 GN I once had. I'm sure someone else will chime in on the rears...I think the bumper is supposed to come off for them.

[Tire Burner]

well i know when i put mine on i did not have to take the bumper off and i did reasearch before i bought them and have heard mixed reviews on fiberglass people saying they dont line up right but i just put out a little extra money and got them from a gm dealership and they fit perfect body lines match and everything

[Dan SS2471]

4th to the 16th? DAMN. That IS one helluva a party!!

[Tire Burner]

but the rear bumper does need to come in order to slide the 2 peices in t each other under the tag sorry forgot to say that last time

[Dan SS2471]

Thanks. Appreciate it.

[gbsean]

take your time....paint them before install...the gelcoat finish is not the best....

[Raist103]

took my front bumper off to do mine and it was cake. i also taped mine up with painters tape when reinstalling the bumper with two people and still nicked the one side. go slow and use horses to hold the bumper.

[Dan SS2471]

Thanks, guys. I'll be doing the install on either Friday or Saturday and will post back with the results.

[Aaron B]

Originally Posted by Dan SS2471

Thanks, guys. I'll be doing the install on either Friday or Saturday and will post back with the results.

Damnit

[3.8junkie]

I was told for the originals to paint both sides for longer life. Not sure about the fiberglass ones however. Seems that on the originals if they are painted on both sides the flex materials decompose less rapidly (which causes them to split).

[fireberd350]

You definitely want to paint them if they only have the factory gelcoat on them. Also, you need to drill them yourself. Get yourself some sharp bits and use painters tape to help prevent chips/cracks.

1.remove bumpers. You should be able to do this yourself using a floor jack and a piece of wood to support the bumpers.
2. remove old fillers
3.line up and mark holes
4. drill holes. mights be more effective to to one hole at a time. the last thing you want is a off center hole because you cannot go back and enlarge it without cracking the fiberglass.
5. de-bur holes
6. *optional* install fillers and leave on car for a day or more. This will try to 'teach' the fiberglass what shape it should be in. You want as little flexing as possible once they are painted.
7. send off for paint
8. install
9. grab a case of beer
10. invite over 2 friends to hold the bumpers for you while you tighten them down
11. make sure the bumper is lever, centered, and clears the top and bottom of the fillers at the corners. Unfortunately mine do not clear the top and bottom but theres nothing I can do about it, they were just built incorrectly.
12.drink some beers and admire your shiny new fillers

[G. Price]

The rears must be pre-fit before paint. Also you may want to think about using additional fiberglass and make the center seamless.

[Dan SS2471]

Originally Posted by fireberd350

You definitely want to paint them if they only have the factory gelcoat on them. Also, you need to drill them yourself. Get yourself some sharp bits and use painters tape to help prevent chips/cracks.

1.remove bumpers. You should be able to do this yourself using a floor jack and a piece of wood to support the bumpers.
2. remove old fillers
3.line up and mark holes
4. drill holes. mights be more effective to to one hole at a time. the last thing you want is a off center hole because you cannot go back and enlarge it without cracking the fiberglass.
5. de-bur holes
6. *optional* install fillers and leave on car for a day or more. This will try to 'teach' the fiberglass what shape it should be in. You want as little flexing as possible once they are painted.
7. send off for paint
8. install
9. grab a case of beer
10. invite over 2 friends to hold the bumpers for you while you tighten them down
11. make sure the bumper is lever, centered, and clears the top and bottom of the fillers at the corners. Unfortunately mine do not clear the top and bottom but theres nothing I can do about it, they were just built incorrectly.
12.drink some beers and admire your shiny new fillers

1) Jack Daniels - check - oh..you meant floor jack..ok - check

This is great. Thanks very much.

Dan

[Dan SS2471]

Installed the rears today. Took everything off (bumper, taillights, license plate bracket) and old fillers of course. Used painter's tape to tape them up in place to mark where to drill the holes. Got them drilled and fitted which took some doing. As mentioned they don't come with anything to slide them together in the middle like the OEM ones so I'll come up with something for that. It doesn't look too bad with the bumper on.

For those that did yours with the bumpers in place, you're smart for paying the extra scratch for the OEMs cause all of that hardware is out the window with the fiberglass fillers. You have to unbolt everything and reuse all of the nuts to fasten them. No sliding in place with these.

I did not paint them because frankly, the car needs to be painted so I didn't bother.

Fireberd350...would you say the fronts were on par with the rears from a difficulty perspective?

Dan