Bumper guard dilemma

[FireTruck1984]

There were 2 designs. Look towards the bottom of the page. GM 1155103.

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Excellent find Craig !

 

[bucket]

The 1st design must have been getting phased out while the 2nd design was already in use. My '78 was was built in Nov '77 at Flint and it has the 2nd design.

 

[FireTruck1984]

It seems that no one repops the pads with the threaded attaching bolts. You may have to find the other style bumper guards or as stated before, cut slots in your guards.

 

[80BrownK10]

Got my hands on a pair of bumper guards. They didn’t have pads, so I ordered a pair through LMC. Just got the pads and they’re not quite plug and play.

The pads each have 4 compression plugs on the back, designed to be pressed into rectangular shaped holes on the bumper guards. But the bumper guards have round holes or no holes where these rectangular holes should be. Pics:

Bumper guards:

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Pads:

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Plugs on back of pads:

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Close up of a plug:

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Got a few options, curious to hear your thoughts:

1) Use a Dremel to drill out rectangular holes in the bumper guards. Seems tedious and easy to mess up.

2) Use a Dremel to modify the plugs so they fit in round holes. Also tedious, also easy to mess up, and not all plugs have a corresponding hole.

3) Cut off the plugs and instead attach the pads with carriage bolts. Seems like the easiest solution, but then I’ll have carriage bolt heads showing on the front of the bumper guards. Slight aesthetic drawback. Could paint bolt heads black to make them blend in.

Thoughts? Other ideas?

And, are these bumper guards not OEM, or are the LMC parts just not made to fit? Had this problem with plenty of LMC parts before, so would t be surprised.


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Cut off plastic plugs and use epoxy to attach them to the metal bases.

 

[Rusty Nail]

Wrong pads, keep lookin.

 

[FireTruck1984]

Here’s another solution, cut off the tabs and make your own mounting bolts.
A quality epoxy should hold the bolts to the plastic pads.

 

[FireTruck1984]

Wrong pads, keep lookin.

He knows they’re the wrong pads, the RIGHT pads are not available

 

[Rusty Nail]

*not with THAT attitude, you're right.

But

K..
I'd cut the nipples off and glue em on then since you got em already. But Wtf.
Bumper thingys eww.

Try some Turtle Wax Chrome Polish mebbe will keep you busy, sheesh!

https://www.ebay.com/i/223915870296...MInqC-4I606AIVCKvsCh0YCwNTEAQYAiABEgLQV_D_BwE

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[82sbshortbed]

Cut rectangular holes. Remember to measure twice.

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[EastAustinSawdust]

Plan is to cut rectangular holes using a Dremel. Let me know if you have other tool suggestions. Will let you know how it goes. The real battle will be me vs. my impatience.

I'd cut the nipples off and glue em on then since you got em already

You nasty.


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[bucket]

It will be tedious work with a dremel. If you have compressed air available, a cheap 3" cutoff tool (like from Harbor Freight) will make quick work of it.

On the other hand, I have limited experience with a dremel. I own one, but haven't used it in at least a decade. Maybe there's better attachments than the tiny little fragile cutoff discs I was using.

 

[80BrownK10]

Carbide bits in forstner tool or whatever there called?

 

[EastAustinSawdust]

On the other hand, I have limited experience with a dremel. I own one, but haven't used it in at least a decade. Maybe there's better attachments than the tiny little fragile cutoff discs I was using.

I got like 40 different bits for the Dremel and I reckon something in there will work. Also got a drill press.


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[EastAustinSawdust]

Well that was easy. In case anybody else runs into this issue, here’s what I did:

Before. Holes don’t line up. At some point somebody sprayed flat black on the front of the guards, which came off around the edges easily with. Scrub brush and some Barkeepers Friend:

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Marked where the holes should be, drilled pilots with the drill press:

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Drilled out the pilots to about 5/16.

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Only jigsaw blade small enough to fit in the holes was a wood one, so I just used it. Got through all 8 holes and then just tossed it because it was so dull.

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Finished hole. Filed the edges smooth.

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There’s all 4 done.

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Pad on front, not pushed in, just showing the alignment.

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Also took the opportunity to polish the chrome with 0000 steel wool and vinegar. Before:

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After:

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Will post a pic once everything is installed. Also refurbishing the grille, which I’ll share in a separate post.


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[EastAustinSawdust]

Boom.

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