When you're restoring a car from stem to stern, it's common practice to either replace the bumpers or have them rechromed. But on a '70 Chevelle Super Sport, there's an additional step that needs to be taken. The '70 bumper is unique because it has a special "SS" rubber pad glued to it. When performing a top-notch restoration, this pad will most likely need to be replaced. We'd heard horror stories about how difficult it was to get the pad to remain attached to the bumper, so we were a little nervous when we bought a new one from Year One and prepared to install it on a recent project car. But guess what? By simply following the instructions included with the bumper pad glue (which you must send for after receiving the bumper pad, because of its relatively short shelf life), we correctly and successfully attached it in the proper location. Using the original bumper as a guide, the first step is to mark the bumper pad location on the new bumper.Using the original bumper as a guide, the first step is to mark the bumper pad location on To be perfectly honest, we did cheat a bit. Although the instructions didn't call for them, we cut some 1x4-inch lengths of wood to help us clamp the pad in place while the adhesive was curing. And while we used deep-throated vise grips, there's no reason that C-clamps wouldn't work equally well. Our bumper was an N.O.S. piece that we'd purchased a few years back while such things were still available. To make certain that it looked as good as possible, our order from Year One included a new license plate lamp assembly, gas filler door, taillight lenses, and bumper bolts. We also bead blasted the attaching brackets and painted them semi-gloss black before reinstalling them. Check it out. Next, use a medium-grit sandpaper to scuff the bumper chrome, being careful to stay about a half-inch inside that marked area. Do the same to the backside of the bumper pad.Next, use a medium-grit sandpaper to scuff the bumper chrome, being careful to stay about Clean both the bumper and the pad with isopropyl alcohol and a clean rag, and repeat the procedure three times.Clean both the bumper and the pad with isopropyl alcohol and a clean rag, and repeat the p Apply the glue sparingly to the scuffed area of the bumper, and keep it inside the marked area. Putting it on too thick will keep the adhesive from setting up and bonding.Apply the glue sparingly to the scuffed area of the bumper, and keep it inside the marked The center of the pad is the first area to be bonded to the bumper. Once the adhesive is applied, pressure is applied firmly and evenly to the pad for at least two minutes. Here's where an extra set of hands comes in handy.The center of the pad is the first area to be bonded to the bumper. Once the adhesive is a After the center section has set up, you can bond the outer halves, one side at a time. Rather than applying hand pressure, we clamped the pad down, making sure that it was firmly in contact with the concave area on the bumper. We left the clamps on for a couple of hours.After the center section has set up, you can bond the outer halves, one side at a time. R New taillight lenses, side markers, gas filler door, and a license plate lamp really helped spruce up the backside of our Chevelle.New taillight lenses, side markers, gas filler door, and a license plate lamp really helpe We removed the old mounting brackets and taillight housings so we could clean and/or paint them. Don't forget to install the lower taillight housing mount/drain assemblies.We removed the old mounting brackets and taillight housings so we could clean and/or paint Have a friend handy to help you position the rear bumper and install the mounting bolts. Apply several layers of masking tape to protect any areas you think might come in contact with the bumper.Have a friend handy to help you position the rear bumper and install the mounting bolts. A Once the task is complete, it gives a Once the task is complete, the rear of our Chevelle has a factory-fresh appearance. It's well worth the effort!Once the task is complete, it gives a Once the task is complete, the rear of our Chevelle SOURCES Year One, Inc. P.O. Box 129 Tucker GA 30085 800-Yea-rOne N/A www.yearone.com/ By Chuck Hanson Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
