How the heck do you get to the front bumper bolts on a '74L?
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The bolts that hold the shocks are accessed by removing the splash shield in front of the wheels. The ones in the bumper are under the caps.
What "caps" are you referring to?
On the front of the L car bumpers there are two small round caps, about the size of a .50 cent piece. Take a small flat screw driver and carefully pry off the caps.
Good Luck
Good Luck
After you remove the caps ... then remove the inner fender well sheet metal panel ... and reach your arm in there ... your arms will have to be as long as Dr. J's to reach ...but there are some small bolts that hold the bottom in place also.
Ron
Ron
Hmmm...I must have an aftermarket bumper, 'cause there ain't no caps! It appears the previous owner(s) used self-tapping sheet metal screws to hold the bumper to the body. I'll pop off the inner panels and take a look-see.
Thanks all.
Thanks all.
if you don't have caps and you see sheet metal screws than you probably do have an aftermarket bumber. What is it made of? the original bumper was a flexible rubber piece over a plate of steel. problem was moisture got between the rubber and the steel and the steel rotted away. If you have an aftermarket bumber they are usually painted rigid fiberglass. The dealers sometimes leave it up to the customer to figure out how they attach to the car. We used "lag" screws into "lag" shields epoxied into the bumper . We used large fender washers and used the holes that the original bumper mounts passed through.
It may help to remove the inner shield and remove one of the headlight assemblies and you should be able to see and access the bumper.
gary #06984
It may help to remove the inner shield and remove one of the headlight assemblies and you should be able to see and access the bumper.
gary #06984
quote:Originally posted by fordgt:
if you don't have caps and you see sheet metal screws than you probably do have an aftermarket bumber. What is it made of? the original bumper was a flexible rubber piece over a plate of steel. problem was moisture got between the rubber and the steel and the steel rotted away. If you have an aftermarket bumber they are usually painted rigid fiberglass. The dealers sometimes leave it up to the customer to figure out how they attach to the car. We used "lag" screws into "lag" shields epoxied into the bumper . We used large fender washers and used the holes that the original bumper mounts passed through.
It may help to remove the inner shield and remove one of the headlight assemblies and you should be able to see and access the bumper.
gary #06984
Yes, it seems as you describe. One-piece fiberglas. It also seems the headlight buckets are in the way of the bolts.
quote:It also seems the headlight buckets are in the way of the bolts.
Turn the headlights on.
Ron
My fiberglass bumper had studs that matched the mounting holes of the old rubber bumper & was held on from the back with washers & nuts. These could be easily accessed from the front of the headlight opening once the headlights were opened up about halfway. If yours are attached with sheet metal screws from the back it may take a stubby screwdriver to get at them in this same way. With the headlights partially up there should be enough "wiggle" room to get your hand into the front of the headlight opening and get at them. Good Luck!
quote:With the headlights partially up there should be enough "wiggle" room to get your hand into the front of the headlight opening and get at them
No need to squeeze your hand in a restrictive opening.
Turn on your ignition - turn on your headlights - turn off your ignition - turn off your headlights.
Jack up the front end of your car - remove the wheels/tires - remove the front splash shields -VOILA!!!
Total, complete and much easier access to the back of the bumper.
Larry
And a lot more work Larry,IMHO.