VE3 bumper

[Danzo]

Guys, the inner brackets that are molded into the bumper, are the body color or black?
Thanks.

[1968RSZ28]

Don't know if this helps, but lots of photos here...

http://www.camaros.org/forum/index.php?topic=3442.0

Paul

[ko-lek-tor]

Mine are black.

[z28z11]

Inners - my originals are black, from what you can see. The tops got overspray from a repaint in '75 - otherwise they have some black remaining. Try to get a shot of them today -

Outers - black, definitely, either semi flat or semi gloss, difficult to tell by the remnants on my originals. The VE3 was listed on my dealer invoice as " Spc front bumper"; about the only significant option on my X77 -

Apologize for the condition - maybe this will goad me into restoring it (off the car since 1980).

Regards,
Steve

[ZLP955]

I have 2 GM VE3s, the original one to my car and another early take-off from a Rallye Green car, and the outer brackets on both look just like those in Steve's pictures above.

[z28z11]

Pics of my original inner brackets, plus a spare (since departed for a worthy car). The backs of both bumpers were also black, I assume the base color for the urethane, or maybe painted black after the molding.

Regards,
Steve

[Danzo]

Thanks Steve for the close ups! How about pics of the bolts that attach the inner bracket to the car? Are all 4 the same?
Thanks.

[ZLP955]

The backs of both bumpers were also black, I assume the base color for the urethane, or maybe painted black after the molding.

Steve, the backs of both mine are black too (or maybe a very dark gray?), but the base urethane seems to be an orange color. There's a couple of places where the original paint has cracked slightly and you can clearly see the urethane compound below. Can post a picture if anyone's interested.

[ZLP955]

Photo showing urethane material where paint has cracked (color may actually be more of a tan than orange, but depends on lighting):

[Danzo]

Anybody have pictures of the bolts I asked about?
Thanks.

[z28z11]

The backs of both bumpers were also black, I assume the base color for the urethane, or maybe painted black after the molding.

Steve, the backs of both mine are black too (or maybe a very dark gray?), but the base urethane seems to be an orange color. There's a couple of places where the original paint has cracked slightly and you can clearly see the urethane compound below. Can post a picture if anyone's interested.

I have a couple of spots where I can see the same wierd color - I guess the black was applied afterwards.

[z28z11]

Anybody have pictures of the bolts I asked about?
Thanks.

I thought my bolts were still on the frame brackets, but they weren't when I dug them out. Buried somewhere in a bucket of bolts and nuts, I'd guess. Sorry - I'll keep looking.

[ZLP955]

The original bumper is still on my VN car, I'll aim to get some photos of the bolts on the inner brackets over the weekend. Haven't really paid them much attention before now.

[ZLP955]

OK, checked the car this morning, and the 2 bolts that attach each of the inner VE3 brackets to the bumper itself have 'RBW' head markings (as do the bolts for the outer brackets). The bolts that attach the bracket to the frame horn/extension have 'L5' on the head. Anyone seen this head marking in this application before?
(FWIW, the car had a starburst drag racing paint scheme applied over the original silver in 1971, you can see the paint overspray on the bumper and brackets, but it is evident on inspection that the front end was painted without being disassembled, so I have no reason to doubt these bolts were on the car, at least in '71, if not when it left the factory. When I eventually remove the bumper (and brackets) for repair, I'll take photos showing the length of these bolts.

'RBW' (bumper to bracket):


'L5' (bracket to frame horn extension) sorry about photo, not very clear but hard to access:

[Danzo]

Thanks Tim!