[pontiacstogo]

So I've never been 100% happy with the alignment of my rear bumper - partly because when the car was painted (10 or so years ago) I didn't take the time to fix and repair the threaded studs that mount into the tailpanel/rear quarter. They were all snapped off at their base from corrosion. From memory there were 2 per side?

You can see here where the top of the bumper is not flush with the quarter when the bottom is;



I want to remove the rear bumper and take the time to get it lined up and flush with the rear quarters. What is the best way address the broken stud problem?

[sp4spd]

I ran into the same issue with my 74 bumper.
My buddy who did the body work on my Formula, fabricated metal pieces that slide into the molded area where the studs once were. With the metal in place we threaded studs into it.
It holds the bumper to the quarter panel very well and allows for the alignment you are looking for.
Nice looking T/A too!

[pontiacstogo]

Originally Posted by sp4spd

I ran into the same issue with my 74 bumper.
My buddy who did the body work on my Formula, fabricated metal pieces that slide into the molded area where the studs once were. With the metal in place we threaded studs into it.
It holds the bumper to the quarter panel very well and allows for the alignment you are looking for.
Nice looking T/A too!

That's an excellent solution - my concern is that if I try and bond in some new studs that they wont have the strength needed to pull the bumper tight to the tailpanel. Thanks for the suggestion and pictures.

What was your process for removing the old studs?

[sp4spd]

Peter,
The studs screw into the nuts that are welded onto the metal plate, no bonding needed.
The old ones either pulled out or we had to dig them out from the bumper. If you look close you can see the openings below the mating surface where the plastic was hollowed out and the welded part of the fixture slides into it.
The studs thread into the nuts, we put some loctite on it to keep from backing out.
The studs are pulling on the welded nuts/plate that is kinda buried into the bumper, so it has some real strength to it.
Hope that helps.

[400 4spd.]

Nice fix!

[yahooskidoo]

How I did mine. http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=694675

[pontiacstogo]

Thanks for the links and ideas. I can't believe it was only 10 years ago I put this car back together - you'd think I would remember this stuff.

Took the bumper off this morning but after I removed the 8 frame bracket bolts it wouldn't budge. Looks like I have the top mounts on both sides, it's just the bottom mounts that are missing;

[pontiacstogo]

I took a quick trip to the hardware store for some supplies for this project and found these;



I drilled a pilot hole next to the broken off stud but ran into something metal about 1/2 inch or so down. I guess the original molded in studs had some sort of flange at the end to give them some bite. I drilled a small pilot hole the full depth of the new stud then used a larger drill to get through the metal part. Double-nutted the new studs and wound them in. Because they had to pass through the metal part, they are rock solid.



Now to drill the bottom mounting holes in the tailpanel. They are MIA as well.