Well, like any good Bonneville owner, I whored up pictures of my car in my other thread. Well, Like any good beginning mechanic, once I got home, i decide it was time to work on some of the blemishes.

First, I decided to remove the rear bumper cover as I have a couple things to fix there. Can anyone tell me what I was trying to fix?



If you couldn't see it in the above picture, my bumper support is crooked with the driver side in a lot further. The reason for this is shown below.



That'* right. The top screws on the 5mph piston are through the sheet metal of the trunk. This is what i wanted to fix. Well, it is not making itself easy, and after 25 minutes of pounding on it with everything imagineable, it is still in there. I have settled on removing the whole bumper assembly and replacing it. Will Luck like Bill'*, I just happen to have a 93 parts car in the back yard which will be relinquishing it'* bumper.

As I was looking around under there, i happened upon more surprises.


This appears to have been collateral damage from when the previous owner got hit on the other side. It stresses the metal and cracked the paint allowing it to rust. Thankfully, it looks like this piece just hangs down and could be cut out and replaced with ease. Randy, I might need your body guys to do a quick fix for me one of the times I am out there.

And the last suprise, which i think is more damage from the same incident, is below where one of the openings is bent a little much.


more pictures: http://bizio.homeftp.org/geoff/BC/rearbumper/

Well, tonight was disassembly and making a list of needed parts. Tomorrow is when I start removing and replacing the parts. If anyone is in Binghamton, and wants to stop by, I'll have some Corona in the fridge and be working all day probably. I've got this, an oil pressure sender, a center console, and some interior work to do tomorrow and help is appretiated. Just PM me if interested and I'll send you the address tonight.

so how good are you at body work?

Damn.................

A "TORE UP *****"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Too bad there isn't a "Truth" in private sales law!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck with the repairs, she'll be better than ever

Geoff...if you were only heading this way...

Looks like you have your hands full with that project.

Well, I was told that it was hit, just didn't realize the magnitude of it. Oh well, what are you going to do for $400 anyways... I can't complain so far, just got to save up some money to get 3 spots fixed for minor surface rust on the underside and then some paint.

And yes, if I could have somehow managed to get both Bonnevilles to your house bill, i would have. I really could have used that tool you have to rmove those plastic press in holders...

well, Since i am on a break, I decided to updatee status. Break was called due to wasps taking up residence in the doors of the red car. Sprayed them good, just waiting a bit for the little buggers to die.

In a vain 25 minute attempt last night to pound the screws from the trunk, they were still there. I stepped back and then it dawned on me... the screws were not holding it in, it was the Piston that was stuck shut. Well, this means that the whole inner bumper has to come off. I removed the 3 screws on the busted side and it didn't move. Not seeing how it was still in there, i decided to consult the manual for advice. Turns out there is one screw on the rail that holds the back of it. Undid this screw and it shot forward. Then I moved over to the other side. About half way through removing the other side, I realized that the bolt I was removing also held up the muffler. So I propped that up with a jack stand and continued.

Once I had it off, I took the time to clean it. I then took a wire brush and removed some of the rusty spots. Then i used a spray over rust primer on the big spot and then Rustolium on the other spots. the white was a little brighter than the rest of the car, but since it is under the bumper, I had no worries. Just can't use it on the rear bumper. Also while out, I washed the rear bumper cover. Might pick up some GM paint for it from autozone tomorrow just to get it all one color. Do I need bright white, or Arctic white?

I picked up a couple screws to hold the heat shield for the mufflor up as it was hanging down on one side. I also used the air compressor and blew out the frame rails since I had the pistons off. There was a lot of dirt in there.

As for the body work, I was able to use a rounded head hammer to pound out the dent left from the piston and it is better than it was. A little later tonight I will be removing the bumper assembly from the red car and swapping it onto the white.

I have pictures, but they will get posted later. Dinner time now.

you will need bright white for your car Jimmy.....paint code 16U

Geoff, it'* actually a vacuum hose removal tool that I was using. Planning on finding a door panel remover which is perfect for those plastic tabs.