My rear bumper filler panel has finally deteriorated to the point I need to replace it. It seems to have been made from some type of rubberized material and now has cracks in it with small chunks falling out. The problem has spread to the extent that every 4" or less large cracks have opened up. Having noticed the beginning of the problem 20 years ago I purchased and aftermarket fiberglass replacement.
I now am looking for advice on whether I need to mount the fiberglass to the original metal backing that held the rubberized material? If I do then what have others used to bond the fiberglass to the metal backing strip? Attached are pictures to illustrate my conundrum.
Still not entirely sure what I should do with my filler panel? I fit it to the rear bumper without bonding the fiberglass piece to the old frame the original attached to. I could just paint the fiberglass piece and call it "good enough." Does anyone know someone with this vintage car that I could talk to to see what they have done?
Happened upon my old post and see I never updated it. I ended up just installing the fiberglass strip without using the old metal mount. I predrilled everything on the fiberglass then took my car to a local auto parts store and they ID the color (my hot rod is not painted its original color) and purchased the paint. Then off to the body shop to have it painted, The fit is not perfect because of the thickness of the original part, but good enough. The paint match, after 20 years, was also a tiny bit off, less metal flake, but 99% would not notice.
I feel pretty good about finally doing a job I procrastinated to do for over 20 years.
They offer reproduction fillers i ordered a set for our original unrestored 19k mile 74 Caprice unfortunately they are on back order. I had a customer bring in a set a long time ago at the shop I work at for a G body in my honest opion they are not the best looking as they are fiber glass and just dont fit as nice but look better then the holes that have broken off on our caprice.
33yr member/3rd generation member Andy Jurski #42092 Family collection: 26 collector cars: 20 Chevrolet's 2 Ford 1 Oldsmobile 3 Pontiac's
on the different interwebs sites there are guys in the habit of finding parts for 74 /76 Caprice /Impala cars, as these cars have been growing in the deep Southern states as a custom, and in Western states in the low rider world. they have now spread into the later "box" caprices 1977 and later impalas , and the same parts guys have expanded their inventory to meet that demand also Who would have guessed that the "box" Chevrolet would be collectible? my mother rip Mom when she bought her new Impala 2002 she had the 2 door light green Caprice 44,000 Actual Miles to trade in
