'71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question

'71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:09 AM

My '71 RR project. Recently installed a rechromed front bumper. The problem is that I cannot get it tight and rigid, like I think it should be.I have tightened all the mounting bolts but it still has fore and aft travel, pivoting from the bottom. In short, the top of the bumper moves and I don't think it should. What did I miss? No mounting bolts for the top of the bumper.

Thanks for the advice.

Steve.

Attached picture 7397474-rrfb.jpg

Posted By: RSNOMO

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:16 AM

Got a service manual???

(Don't know if it matters or not, but you do know that's a '72 bumper)...

Posted By: flypaper

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:23 AM

Quote:

What did I miss?

a bracket that is very often missing and hard to find..

it is attached to the top of the bumper
with a larger phillips headed screw and it
bolts to the latch tray support under the latch tray.
if you give me a few min,
i will take a pic of what you need and post it
so you know what the animal you are hunting for looks like

there are 2 versions of the bracket and
the bracket was used in 72 also...

Posted By: shipfitter_sjd

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:24 AM

No. I didn't know that was a '72 bumper. Any difference between 71 and 72 that would affect fit, form or function?

Posted By: pinkduster

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:27 AM

Do you have the mounting brackets that go from the side of the bumper to the fender? The are accessed with the headlight bezels/grill removed. You'll get major movement without them.

Posted By: shipfitter_sjd

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:29 AM

Flypaper. I didn't see anything on the top of the bumper to attach anything to. Thanks for finding a pic for me to check out!

Attached picture 7397506-rrfb2.jpg

Posted By: 71sat440

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:32 AM

Been a long time but i Think its just the slots for the bumper jack.

Posted By: shipfitter_sjd

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:35 AM

pinkduster: The heavy rubber / steel pieces that bolt to the inside front of the front fenders? They are in, but must not be adjusted right / tight?

Attached picture 7397515-rrfb3.jpg

Posted By: shipfitter_sjd

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:39 AM

71sat440: I figured the bumper jack slots were what was being talked about. Not crazy about them. Not a deal breaker for me, but it is a long ways from LA to Maine to swap bumpers again with Bumper Boyz.

Thanks!

Attached picture 7397523-rrfb4.jpg

Posted By: DaveRS23

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:39 AM

Those bumpers are complicated! There is the center support mentioned above and then there are the rubber bumpers outside of the headlights.

And yes, that is a '72 bumper. The only real difference in the front bumpers was the jack slot added to the '72s.

Posted By: 71sat440

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:41 AM

Quote:

Quote:

What did I miss?

a bracket that is very often missing and hard to find..

it is attached to the top of the bumper
with a larger phillips headed screw and it
bolts to the latch tray support under the latch tray.
if you give me a few min,
i will take a pic of what you need and post it
so you know what the animal you are hunting for looks like

there are 2 versions of the bracket and
the bracket was used in 72 also...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-PLYMOUTH-RO...dda&vxp=mtr

or

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-BUMPER-TO-...9ef&vxp=mtr

I'm gathering parts for my can and am in the weeds as far as the grille and bumper mounting myself

Posted By: 71sat440

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:44 AM

Quote:

71sat440: I figured the bumper jack slots were what was being talked about. Not crazy about them. Not a deal breaker for me, but it is a long ways from LA to Maine to swap bumpers again with Bumper Boyz.

Thanks!

The only reason I remembered that much is I have a 72 bumper with the slot mig welded up I was going to paint body color back when I was short on cash.

Now I've been rethinking about just getting a rechromed one.

Posted By: flypaper

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:55 AM

Quote:

Flypaper. I didn't see anything on the top of the bumper to attach anything to. Thanks for finding a pic for me to check out!

there should be a hole in the top of the bumper for it

the screw theads into a retainer thats on the bracket
that goes on the opposite side
most cars i have looked at are missing this bracket
yeah, its a stupid detail i look for
when checking out a 71/2 rr..

the curved cut out you see on the bracket
is squared off on the other version.
it was a early/late thing in 71
because both versions have been found on 71 cars
i took a rotted one off my car
and it took a long time to find.
i had wanted ads out for it
here she is....

Posted By: shipfitter_sjd

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 01:56 AM

Thanks for the eBay links. I am goin to have to do some research to find what I am missing and how it goes together. Fun, fun, and more fun!

Thanks again!

Steve

Attached picture 7397552-moparts.jpg

Posted By: flypaper

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 02:06 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

What did I miss?

a bracket that is very often missing and hard to find..

it is attached to the top of the bumper
with a larger phillips headed screw and it
bolts to the latch tray support under the latch tray.
if you give me a few min,
i will take a pic of what you need and post it
so you know what the animal you are hunting for looks like

there are 2 versions of the bracket and
the bracket was used in 72 also...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-PLYMOUTH-RO...dda&vxp=mtr

or

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-BUMPER-TO-...9ef&vxp=mtr

I'm gathering parts for my can and am in the weeds as far as the grille and bumper mounting myself

nope! strike 1 and 2..

neither of those is it..
like i said before, it is not easy to find ...
took me a good while.

you can see the retainers on both ends of the bracket
on this other rusty/crusty one..

Posted By: moparmarks

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 03:06 AM

In addition to the center brace that Fly has shown that are also braces on each side going to the fender next to the rubber bumpers. Flat 3" strap with an offset. With the 3 braces the bumper should not move.

Posted By: moparmarks

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 03:17 AM

Heres a pic of one of the side braces. Mounts with the upper rubber bumper mounting bolt. Actually is 5" long. One each side next to headlight.

Attached picture 7397670-DCP_0001.JPG

Posted By: flypaper

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 03:19 AM

Quote:

In addition to the center brace that Fly has shown that are also braces on each side going to the fender next to the rubber bumpers. Flat 3" strap with an offset. With the 3 braces the bumper should not move.

that is where this bracket goes..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-BUMPER-TO-...9ef&vxp=mtr

opps.. got beat out by mark

Posted By: moparmarks

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/28/12 03:20 AM

Quote:

Quote:

In addition to the center brace that Fly has shown that are also braces on each side going to the fender next to the rubber bumpers. Flat 3" strap with an offset. With the 3 braces the bumper should not move.

that is where this bracket goes..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-BUMPER-TO-...9ef&vxp=mtr

Yeppers. need 2 of them.

Posted By: 71sat440

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/29/12 12:02 AM

Rather then start a new thread since this one seems pretty related, I went through some of my stuff today.

Can anyone tell me if I have a complete set some where in here for both the bumper and grille mounting stuff?

(Other then the 6 main bumper brackets of course of which one of the smaller ones is MIA

)

Posted By: 71sat440

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/29/12 12:03 AM

Opps, forgot to mention I think that one piece in there is a battery tray brace.

Posted By: flypaper

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 09/29/12 01:19 PM

Quote:

Opps, forgot to mention I think that one piece in there is a battery tray brace.

if my memory is correct
the bracket to the left of the batt tray brace
you might need one more,i think there is one of those for each side on the headlight buckets?
i only see one there.
after that, you look like you have it all covered with some extras.

Posted By: shipfitter_sjd

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 10/07/12 04:42 AM

Quote:

Heres a pic of one of the side braces. Mounts with the upper rubber bumper mounting bolt. Actually is 5" long. One each side next to headlight.

So, I bought one of these, and then I found the two braces that came with my car, but are not attached. So I have three.

Anyway.

I have a service manual, and the mounting directions are not very clear or all that instructive. I understand that the one side mounts to the rubber mounts on the inside of the fender by the headlight buckets. But where does the other side mount? There isn't a bumper bolt in that vicinity.

HELP!!!!

Steve

PS: THANKS!

Posted By: moparmarks

Re: '71 Plymouth B-Body Front Bumper Question - 10/07/12 06:11 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Heres a pic of one of the side braces. Mounts with the upper rubber bumper mounting bolt. Actually is 5" long. One each side next to headlight.

So, I bought one of these, and then I found the two braces that came with my car, but are not attached. So I have three.

Anyway.

I have a service manual, and the mounting directions are not very clear or all that instructive. I understand that the one side mounts to the rubber mounts on the inside of the fender by the headlight buckets. But where does the other side mount? There isn't a bumper bolt in that vicinity.

HELP!!!!

Steve

PS: THANKS!

There an ear with a hole on the inside of the bumper next to the head light.