Bumper Bolt delete on 1st Gen Camaro

[resto-mod]

Does anyone out there have a "how-to", hopefully with photos, on the do and don't of shaving the bolts of the front and rear of the 69 Camaro bumpers? I've checked the old threads and can't see anything specific.
The rear seems fairly "straight forward" (I think). Remove the bumper and brackets as 1 piece, smooth, paint, then remount the bracket to the mounts in the trunk. Not sure though.
The front seems a little more difficult, or can it be done the same way. Any help, links, and/or process photos, would be GREATLY appreciated.
Both bumpers are metal and will be painted to match the car.

[gmjj13]

you would need to weld the bolts to the bumpers inside and out and grind them smooth, then prep for paint. no need to remove the bumper brackets.

[JRouche]

I suggest welding a large (2" dia) section of 1/8" steel to the back of the bumper (make sure the contour is right) where the new studs will be. If you just weld up the area where the bolt head was and rely on that to take the strain of supporting the bumper you will have paint cracking at that point. Weld the large washer completely then weld the stud completely to that washer. Then fill in the front with weld and sand to smooth. It distributes the load to a wider area. And this is REALLY needed if you were to re-chrome, I know, yer painting. JR

[ammoyer]

I have shaved a few bumpers in a past job at a street rod shop. The backing plate is a great idea and is usually how I did it and saw it done. The biggest problem I've had doing this is getting ALL of the plating off to get a good weld that won't crack. Since the plating process is a chemical process, it gets pretty deeply etched into the steel.

The only way I know of to get all of the plating off is to have a chrome shop "dechrome" or chemically strip to bare metal prior to your metal work. Also, some of the high end chrome shops will shave the bumpers for you as an addition to the chroming process, but what fun would that be?

Adam

[resto-mod]

Thanks guys for the help and advice. Does anyone have step-by-step photos that I could show the bodyshop guys the "proper" way to do this so I dont' have to post on here a horror story of how not to do it?

[MirandaBuilt]

its really simple take the bumper off the car with the brackets attached weld the edge of the brackets to the bumper. take the bolts out and plug weld the holds. just make sure the bumper fits 100 percent before you start welding.

[69keith]

I needed a bumper anyway so I bought a smooth steel bumper from YEARONE.

[jpdeuce]

Yeah, I was checking out Yearone's site the other day and noticed they had a smooth steel bumper. I don't know how they fit but I think the retail price was like $199 or something. They are also just coated black so you could paint or have them chromed.

[Northeast Rod Run]

when I did mine, I just ground the chrome off of the front of my bumper, then with the bumper on the car, I tack welded the bolts in place.

I then took the bumper off the car finished grinding, welding and bodywork. now 10 years later (as of this summer) it still looks perfect

[JRouche]

when I did mine, I just ground the chrome off of the front of my bumper, then with the bumper on the car, I tack welded the bolts in place.

I then took the bumper off the car finished grinding, welding and bodywork. now 10 years later (as of this summer) it still looks perfect

Cool. Glad she is holding up. Im gonna assume its not re-chromed? The problem with the lack of support from the back side comes into play when you have chromed bumpers. Painted bumpers are more forgiving with flex. Chrome is not, it will chip. The soft steel bumper will flex and the hard, unflexing chrome wont. And the small welded joint, say its 7/16" in diameter will apply more force in a concentrated area when flexing comes into play. Like when that unknowing person puts his boot on your bumper to tie his shoe LOL But with a large plate or washer welded firmly on the back side it transmits the load across a larger area. Leverage, it will take more to flex the sheet metal of the bumper. And for a visual think if you could actually weld a foot long plate (both sides) on the backside of the bumper. It isnt gonna flex the bumper at all when bubba puts his boot up there. JR