bumper removal

[89blkvet]

I have an 89 vette and I need to remove the rear bumper to take it to the paint shop. has anyone removed one and if so, how difficult? Thanks

 

[JonM]

Not all that bad...the first thing you need to do is take the gas lid off along with the licence plate. Remove all the nuts that connect the braces under the car. Through all the holes you just created remove the lens for the rear lights. Now you can use a 1/4 inch drive #10 socket to take out the remaining nuts around the seam.

 

[89blkvet]

do the lenses come off from the rear, or from underneath?? Again, thanks !!!!!!!!

 

[JonM]

If you have Loooooong arms you can get them from under the car (two nuts per lens) You may also want to unbolt the mufflers so you can shove your arm up from under the car. You can also reach them from the licence plate hole. Once you get one lens off you can reach the other from the lens hole. Sorry, but like every other thing on a Corvette, you need to be a contortionist.

 

[Eagle85C4]

Why remove the lenses?

Just reach up and twist the bulb socket out of the lense.

 

[89blkvet]

so I can actually remove the bulbs from the lense, then remove the bumper, and finally remove the lenses from the bumper??

 

[JonM]

Ray...it is easier to remove the lenses in order to get at the #10 nuts (I think there are about 16 of them) holding the bumper to the rear of the car.

Why remove the lenses?

Just reach up and twist the bulb socket out of the lense.

 

[Eagle85C4]

Interesting...I have not had the pleasure of removing the rear bumper...but have replaced a fuel pump and replaced bulbs...
it is kinda tight back there....I got a wing I have never put on and it was suggested that you have to remove the bumper to install it correctly. Being always on the lookout for an easy way to accomplish things I am hoping I can install it without going through all that. Thanks for the info Jon....