Replacing 1960's Buick Frtont Bumper

[JanusW]

Is this something I can do myself? Can anyone offer and advice? I have a 1964 Buick Lesabre and I want to swap out the front bumper for a new one I have. How involved is it?

Thanks!

I hope to hear from you guys.

[Guest brh]

As with any bolts and nuts under the car it will dictate how hard this job really is. Short answer is yes you should be able to do it yourself, these bumpers are not that heavy. However, if sometime during its life the car was hit, or the new bumper is skewed, or you put three men, with a pipe and a breaker bar and snap off a nut, then ya got a problem. I was fortunate as I took mine off from the frame. Even with all that hardware it was not too heavy. Soak the bolts as much as possible while you are pondering this, no matter who does it you'll make their life easier. Clean the threads as best as possible so the nut does not start to freeze up as you are loosening it. If you feel resistance as its backing off, tighten it back up again, spray and start to loosen, remember years of crud are coming off when ya loosen the nuts. Just my 2.

[JanusW]

Hi there and thanks so much. The car was in an accident. The bumper is kind of pushed down a bit. You know, that point the front of the buick bumper? that middle fork? Well it is pushed down a bit. You think that will affect how hard it is to put the bumper on? My fear is that I will take it off and not be able to get the new on one

[imported_buick5563]

You will have a much easier time if you get a friend to help. You can also use a hydraulic jack to assist in positioning the new one if you can't find a helper. You may want to wrap the ends of the bumper in towels so you don't scratch your paint. Also, you may want to buy some new bumper bolts ( 6, I think) so you don't have to use the old ones.

A lot of 63 and 64's have that bent down center like you describe.

Mike

[Bill Stoneberg]

So does my wife's pickup truck. Darned poles just keep jumping out in front of her <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[Smartin]

Yes, find a friend! I just installed my front bumper by myself yesterday, and it's just as heavy as the last one was <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I used a spare tire to hold one side up while I muscled the drivers side into place.

The towel over the edges of the bumper is a good trick. If nothing else, use masking or duct tape over the bumper indentions on the fenders to avoid scratching and rubbing.

[imported_buick5563]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You will have a much easier time if you get a friend to help.

</div></div>

...and since all of my car friends live in Seguin, Athens, Katy, St. Louis, etc., you might want to try the car jack thing <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Mike

[Dave@Moon]

I was able to replace mine on a 1960 by lying on back in the center, raising one end of the bumper with my arm and the other with my shins using a gardener's knee cushion. (The car was up on ramps.) My grandfather would install transmissions this way!

I kept one had free to insert the bolts. Be sure to cover the ends and anyplace else that might hit paint with a heavy cloth (I used hand towels.) It was easily the heaviest bumper I ever tackled, with long wrap-around ends that threw it out of balance easily. Be careful and go slowly so as not to drop it or damage the sheet metal. It ain;'t easy, but it can be done.

Good luck! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[JanusW]

Mike, youre AWESOME! thanks so much! I feel like a lil kid being guided by wise men!

[JanusW]

adam, those are AWESOME cars. Thanks for your advice!

[imported_buick5563]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mike, youre AWESOME! thanks so much! I feel like a lil kid being guided by wise men! </div></div>

Don't believe the hype. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Mike