Weird Recall For Regal

[turbofish38]

I ran across this recall campaign for the 1984 Regal coupes. Funny, I must have looked at this a million times and never saw it. Bet you guys didn't know about it either. Anyway I guess the 84 Canadian Regal got the light weight rear bumper according to this. A lot of you guys call the front version of this the Canadian or export bumper but in all reality it was available on 84-85 Regals sold here in the 50 states. I've been JY diving all my life and I have never ran across one of these rear bumpers.And I do see a few Canadian spec cars down here. I've got a lot of the front ones and even a few aluminum full reinforcements but never one of these. I guess it would be a rare find to see one 20 years after the fact.
Here is copy and paste:
CAMPAIGN: FUEL TANK PUNCTURED BY REAR BUMPER #5A20 - (Apr 24, 1985)
Models: All 1984 and Early Production 1985 Regal and Regal Limited Coupes

DEFECT INVOLVED:

General Motors of Canada has determined that the rear bumper on 1984 and early production 1985 Regal and Regal Limited model Coupes may fracture during a rear end collision, puncture the fuel tank, and cause a fuel leak. Should this occur, the possibility of a fire exists which could cause burn injuries to persons in or near the vehicle.

To prevent the possibility of this condition occurring on vehicles involved, dealers are to replace the rear bumper brackets and "L" shaped reinforcement with a "U" shaped full reinforcement part number 25505110.

VEHICLES INVOLVED:

Certain 1984 Regal (Model J47) and Regal Limited Coupes (Model M47)

Certain 1985 Regal (Model J47) and Regal Limited Coupes (Model M47) with VINS from FH400001 through and including FH443242.

ALL REGAL "T" TYPE (MODEL K47) AND OTHER MODELS EQUIPPED WITH THE FULL ALUMINUM BUMPER REINFORCEMENT (VD7) ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

All affected vehicles have been identified by the VIN listing provided to involved dealers with this bulletin. Any dealer not receiving a listing was not shipped any of the affected vehicles.

DEALER CAMPAIGN RESPONSIBILITY:

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this campaign at no charge to owners, regardleas of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Whenever a vehicle subject to this campaign is taken into your new or used vehicle inventory, or it is in your Dealership for service in the future, you should take the steps necessary to be sure the campaign correction has been made before reselling or releasing the vehicle.

Owners of vehicles recently sold from your new vehicle inventory are to be contacted by the Dealer, and arrangements made to make the required modification according to instructions contained in this bulletin.

CAMPAIGN PROCEDURE:

Refer to section 4 of the Service Policies and Procedures Manual for the detailed procedure on handling Product Campaigns. Dealers are requested to complete the campaign on all transfers as soon as possible.

OWNER NOTIFICATION:

All owners of record at the time of campaign release are shown on the attached computer listing and have been notified by first class mail from General Motors. The listings provided are for campaign activity only and should not be used for any other purpose.

PARTS INFORMATION:

Parts required should be ordered through regular channels as follows:

Description Number Required Part Number ----------- --------------- ----------- Full Rear Bumper One (1) per Vehicle 25505110 Reinforcement Torx Head Bolt Three (3) per Vehicle 561023 Rear Bumper Rub As required 25505733 Strip

PARTS AND LABOUR CLAIM INFORMATION:

Credit for the campaign work performed will be paid upon receipt of a properly completed campaign claim card or RAPID terminal transmission in accordance with the following:

Repair Code Operation Time Allowance ----------- --------- --------------- 1A Inspect for Bumper .3 Reinforcement

2A Inspect and Install New 1.2 Bumper Reinforcement

3A Inspect and Install New 1.2 Bumper Reinforcement and Rear Bumper Rub Strip

SERVICE PROCEDURE:

A. Inspection

If there is a question as to a vehicle being involved in this campaign, inspect the rear bumper attachment. If the bumper has a full reinforcement (aluminum or steel) as shown in Figure 2, vehicle does not require campaign change.

B. Installation of full reinforcement - part number 25505110.

1. Hoist vehicle.

2. Remove rear bumper assembly from EA's (energy absorber). If shims used between brackets, note location and reuse on assembly.

3. Lay bumper assembly on a protected surface to prevent damage to face plate and remove rub strip, "L"-shaped reinforcement, right and left brackets and both bumper guard lower attaching bolts. Refer to Figure 1.

USE CARE WHEN REMOVING RUB STRIP ATTACHINC NUTS TO PREVENT BREAKING STUDS. REMOVED BOLTS AND NUTS IN STEP 3 WILL BE REUSED ON ASSEMBLY.

4. Remove mounting plates from bumper brackets. Discard brackets and "L"-shaped reinforcement.

5. Install mounting plates in new full reinforcement. If rub strip studs are broken, use a new rub strip on assembly.

6. Assemble new reinforcement and rub strip to bumper. Refer to Figure 2.

Nine (9) torx head bolts used - Bottom edge of bumper to reinforcement - (will require three (3) additional bolts from Parts Department to complete assembly.)

Ten (10) round head bolts used - Vertical surface of bumper to reinforcement -

Eleven (11) stamped metal nuts to rub strip used.

FULLY SEAT RUB STRIP ATTACHING NUTS -- BUT DO NOT STRIP

7. Install bumper assembly onto EA's, placing any removed shims in their original location. Centre bumper on vehicle and tighten attaching nuts to 25 N.m (19 ft. lbs.)

INSTALLATION OF CAMPAIGN IDENTIFICATION LABEL

Clean surface of radiator upper mounting panel and apply a Campaign Identification Label. Make sure the correct campaign number is inserted on the label. This will indicate that the campaign has been completed.

Dear General Motors Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accorddnce with the requirements of the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

General Motors of Canada has determined that the rear bumper on 1984 and early production 1985 Regal and Regal Limited model Coupes may fracture during a rear-end collision, puncture the fuel tank, and cause a fuel leak. Should this occur, the possibility of a fire exists which could cause burn injuries to persons in or near the vehicle.

To prevent this from occurring on your vehicle, please contact your GM Dealer to arrange a service date. Your dealer will replace the rear bumper brackets and the "L"-shaped reinforcement on your vehicle with a "U"-shaped full reinforcement. This service will be completed for you at no charge.

[Brutal Buick]

I used to have an 84 Limited. I remember that recall paperwork too.

Jamie

[turbofish38]

What I thought was strange was that this was the only gas tank recall that I could find from GM from the 80's. Other models of Buicks,i.e. RWD LeSabre and Park Ave used the same style of 3 piece bumper reinforcements as these Regals but yet they were never recalled. One other strange safety bulletin I can remember reading was how the G-body was deemed safe enough that rear seat shoulder restraints weren't offered for them. In the late 80's rear shoulder belts were just coming into play as standard equipment and GM offered upgrade kits for a lot of cars but the G-body wasn't one of them. If anything it just goes to show that GM was still doing a lot of testing on these cars if they ran across problems like this rear bumper. I'm sure there is a lot of BS to weed through but I'm also guessing this ties into why a lot of turbo cars got aluminum reinforcements and weight restrictions and CAFE requirments. Lots of boring information in other words.

[Bweavy]

I actually have new 3 piece rear canadian bumper support.I have only seen 2 others like it but the were on junkers.

I found a weird re-call in an 84 also the cruise lever had to get a bushing installed.Paper work was in the glove box.

[turbofish38]

I got a copy of that one to if you want it. Not to many recalls on the G-body. IMO it puts a new Toyota to shame. And people are stupid enough to believe they are built better. The Toyota I mean.

[TexasT]

Originally Posted by turbofish38

I got a copy of that one to if you want it. Not to many recalls on the G-body. IMO it puts a new Toyota to shame. And people are stupid enough to believe they are built better. The Toyota I mean.

It's all about perception. people believe things for various reasons. many times repitition is the key. If you hear it enough it begins to become the standard or the norm. The urban myths are a good example. No rice for me no matter where they are built. If GM folded I guess I'd have some soul searching as Ford pi$$ed me off back in the early ninties and i've never had a Chrysler either.