...front bumper removal on 73 GT

IF you can get the bolts to back out, in dealing with that impact type bumper, the bottom two and I want to say a third on the side?

My only suggestion is make sure to safely support the bumper during removal. I speak from experiance in saying alot of metal than can break bones.

Easiest way: torch the suckers.

{And I really wish I was closer. I would take the entire front clip in a heartbeat}

Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed Restomod
Pondering: #99Problems

Another thing, Paul--

Lube the hell oput of the mounts & bolts before you even try. If you snap the bolt mounting hardware (highly likely) you can actually jam a large flat-head screwdriver up in between to stop it from spinning. It happened to me, it was a bear to take off!

Another suggestion is to have (2) 5-gallon buckets with towels (reduces slippage if they are plastic) so you can rest one side while taking the other side off.

I got mine off this way with only my wife to help, then I lifetd the whole damned assembly onto my patio for disassembly. Lots of WD40, a hammer, a breaker bar, and the reenforcement was off

Good times....

Good luck, Paul. Let us know how it goes!

~Chris

PS- those bolt retainers are not easy to find. Blue Oval6079 had a few for $15 a pop, and they were a little rough for that price, but they are not available anywhere that I could find.

Anyway, after i stripped all the crud off them, I re-enforced the corners with epoxy, painted them, and re-mounted them. Hopefully they won't snap if I go to remove them again...

Chris P. '73 GTS FastBack 351CJ-4V Triple black

"Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils." - Gen. John Stark

Well that was fun

last night with just Enrique' and I and my hand tools. As you can see we got it all apart and surprisingly with just some WD40, they didn't give us too much trouble. All of the funky bolt retainers remained intact and no broken bolts. Thanks for everyone's input on this. Let me know if anyone's interested in any of these parts. Paul~

1972 GTS 351CJ-4V black/black

There's a nut holding the bottom portion of each bumper guard that goes through to the long metal bumper support. If you can get behind the bumper support, there are four holes that you can see the nuts holding the chrome portion on; you should be able to get the nuts off without having to take it all off unless it's really rusted on or the bolt breaks off inside the bolt retainer. Paul~

1972 GTS 351CJ-4V black/black

Hey Picon, just sent you a PM on the bolt retainers.

(Steve)
73 G.T.S. Fastback, 351C, C6

Geez, 4 of those look pretty good! IMO, the engineer who designed these should be hunted down, drawn & quartered

Chris P. '73 GTS FastBack 351CJ-4V Triple black

"Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils." - Gen. John Stark

I did exactly that Crispy....I sprayed WD-40 every day on the bolts for about a week and tapped the bolts lightly. I was also fortunate to not snap any bolts, but a couple did come out stripped. I wonder if they were stripped at the factory when originally used or the corrosion got to them. My wagon is an original Texas car so I couldn't imagine the surface rust on these parts could do that, but I really don't know . Any ideas???

Paul, good job getting those off. I had my heavy bumper propped up with pieces of 2 x 4 wood and a couple milk crates.

Carlos....1975 Gran Torino Squire Station Wagon restored to look like a 1973 Torino Station

Wagon my Dad bought new from McAnary Ford on June 6, 1973 in Gary,Indiana

Thanks for this post - it was very helpful.

Here is the diagram I used, posting it to this thread for reference.

The bumper has 3 main bolts (two on the bottom, and one higher up on the side) -- I used PB blaster the day before on these and they came right off with no problem.

When reassembling P/N 384650 may have slid so you need to ensure that is back in place.

I also designed a quick fastener for the Ford nut to hold it in place - I posted to the "how-to" thread.

Chris
Fairview, PA
'1973 Ford Gran Torino

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picon3 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-February-2007 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 2106	Post Options Post Reply Quote picon3 Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Topic: ...front bumper removal on 73 GT Posted: 27-August-2009 at 3:18AM
	Hey 73ers, I've never taken the bumper off one of these beasts. Here's a photo of the underneath area. Do I just take out the three bolts and it'll slide off? Any other tricks to it? Paul~ Edited by picon3 - 27-August-2009 at 3:26AM
	1972 GTS 351CJ-4V black/black

Eliteman76 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 20-March-2006 Location: Nebraska, USA Status: Offline Points: 5450	Post Options Post Reply Quote Eliteman76 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27-August-2009 at 7:44AM
	IF you can get the bolts to back out, in dealing with that impact type bumper, the bottom two and I want to say a third on the side? My only suggestion is make sure to safely support the bumper during removal. I speak from experiance in saying alot of metal than can break bones. Easiest way: torch the suckers. {And I really wish I was closer. I would take the entire front clip in a heartbeat}
	Andrew:GTS.ORG admin, '72 Q code 5 speed Restomod Pondering: #99Problems

picon3 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-February-2007 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 2106	Post Options Post Reply Quote picon3 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27-August-2009 at 7:49AM
	Andy, That's what I figured. Take the three bolts out and get some serious lifting help to deal with the whole bumper. Enrique' and Eddie are coming over to help me tonight. Man, I wish you were closer too. Hope you're doing better. Paul~
	1972 GTS 351CJ-4V black/black

crispy23c Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10-November-2007 Location: New Hampshire Status: Offline Points: 1100	Post Options Post Reply Quote crispy23c Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27-August-2009 at 12:34PM
	Another thing, Paul-- Lube the hell oput of the mounts & bolts before you even try. If you snap the bolt mounting hardware (highly likely) you can actually jam a large flat-head screwdriver up in between to stop it from spinning. It happened to me, it was a bear to take off! Another suggestion is to have (2) 5-gallon buckets with towels (reduces slippage if they are plastic) so you can rest one side while taking the other side off. I got mine off this way with only my wife to help, then I lifetd the whole damned assembly onto my patio for disassembly. Lots of WD40, a hammer, a breaker bar, and the reenforcement was off Good times.... Good luck, Paul. Let us know how it goes! ~Chris PS- those bolt retainers are not easy to find. Blue Oval6079 had a few for $15 a pop, and they were a little rough for that price, but they are not available anywhere that I could find. Anyway, after i stripped all the crud off them, I re-enforced the corners with epoxy, painted them, and re-mounted them. Hopefully they won't snap if I go to remove them again...
	Chris P. '73 GTS FastBack 351CJ-4V Triple black "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils." - Gen. John Stark

crispy23c Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10-November-2007 Location: New Hampshire Status: Offline Points: 1100	Post Options Post Reply Quote crispy23c Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 27-August-2009 at 12:42PM
	Okay, here's what the restored/reenforced bolt bracket looked like when I finished & installed it on the bumper insert. See how I reenforced the corners with epoxy? I did it on the inside as well. Hope this helps!
	Chris P. '73 GTS FastBack 351CJ-4V Triple black "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils." - Gen. John Stark

picon3 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-February-2007 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 2106	Post Options Post Reply Quote picon3 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28-August-2009 at 4:27AM
	Well that was fun last night with just Enrique' and I and my hand tools. As you can see we got it all apart and surprisingly with just some WD40, they didn't give us too much trouble. All of the funky bolt retainers remained intact and no broken bolts. Thanks for everyone's input on this. Let me know if anyone's interested in any of these parts. Paul~
	1972 GTS 351CJ-4V black/black

occupant Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23-October-2006 Location: Lawton, OK Status: Offline Points: 1975	Post Options Post Reply Quote occupant Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28-August-2009 at 4:54AM
	I noticed you got the bumper guards off, did you have to do that with the bumper off or can they be removed with the bumper still attached? All I really need to do is swap inserts, how do you get those in/out?
	15 Cruze LT, 145K, for the wife 08 Uplander LS, 280K, broken again 08 Explorer EB, 248K, backup work car still looking for another something

picon3 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-February-2007 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 2106	Post Options Post Reply Quote picon3 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28-August-2009 at 5:25AM
	There's a nut holding the bottom portion of each bumper guard that goes through to the long metal bumper support. If you can get behind the bumper support, there are four holes that you can see the nuts holding the chrome portion on; you should be able to get the nuts off without having to take it all off unless it's really rusted on or the bolt breaks off inside the bolt retainer. Paul~
	1972 GTS 351CJ-4V black/black

crispy23c Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10-November-2007 Location: New Hampshire Status: Offline Points: 1100	Post Options Post Reply Quote crispy23c Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29-August-2009 at 1:22AM
	If rusty, WD40 it and tap it (not too hard) with a hammer- then repeat a few times. Let it sit for a couple of days. Before removing the bolt, WD40 AGAIN. It keeps the bolt cooler so it won't snap as easy. If it still doesn't come off, you can heat the nut & bolt with a torch, then cool the bolt down (ice cube) to make it contract faster than the nut- just don't overheat the bolt, it's attached to the rubber bumperette- and it should loosen up. ~Chris Edited by crispy23c - 29-August-2009 at 1:23AM
	Chris P. '73 GTS FastBack 351CJ-4V Triple black "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils." - Gen. John Stark

mule323 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 12-September-2005 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 602	Post Options Post Reply Quote mule323 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29-August-2009 at 3:58AM
	Hey Picon, just sent you a PM on the bolt retainers.
	(Steve) 73 G.T.S. Fastback, 351C, C6

picon3 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-February-2007 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 2106	Post Options Post Reply Quote picon3 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02-September-2009 at 6:57AM
	Here are the "famous" bolt retainers off the 73 front bumper. Umm, Umm, good.
	1972 GTS 351CJ-4V black/black

crispy23c Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10-November-2007 Location: New Hampshire Status: Offline Points: 1100	Post Options Post Reply Quote crispy23c Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02-September-2009 at 9:35AM
	Geez, 4 of those look pretty good! IMO, the engineer who designed these should be hunted down, drawn & quartered
	Chris P. '73 GTS FastBack 351CJ-4V Triple black "Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils." - Gen. John Stark

picon3 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-February-2007 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 2106	Post Options Post Reply Quote picon3 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02-September-2009 at 10:23AM
	Until I pulled these out, I had never seen anything like it and suspect I won't in the future. Just a weird way to hold stuff together. The metal on these parts is wafer thin as you can see a couple of them cracked when I removed them. But your right about the other four a little media blasting/POR 15, they'll last another 36 years. P~
	1972 GTS 351CJ-4V black/black

gpd294 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 18-September-2008 Location: Dallas, Texas Status: Offline Points: 2255	Post Options Post Reply Quote gpd294 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02-September-2009 at 1:31PM
	I did exactly that Crispy....I sprayed WD-40 every day on the bolts for about a week and tapped the bolts lightly. I was also fortunate to not snap any bolts, but a couple did come out stripped. I wonder if they were stripped at the factory when originally used or the corrosion got to them. My wagon is an original Texas car so I couldn't imagine the surface rust on these parts could do that, but I really don't know . Any ideas??? Paul, good job getting those off. I had my heavy bumper propped up with pieces of 2 x 4 wood and a couple milk crates.
	Carlos....1975 Gran Torino Squire Station Wagon restored to look like a 1973 Torino Station Wagon my Dad bought new from McAnary Ford on June 6, 1973 in Gary,Indiana

picon3 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 20-February-2007 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 2106	Post Options Post Reply Quote picon3 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03-September-2009 at 1:52AM
	There's no way I could have gotten the whole front bumper assembly off without my good friend, Enrique' so the credit really goes to him. In regards to parts damaged at the factory, I suspect that may be the case. These guys were knocking these cars out as fast as possible. My 72 GTS didn't have a factory hole drilled into one of the sail panels and I've found some other interesting stuff as I've torn down other cars like my 70 mustangs/torinos. Frankly, I'm amazed that the line guys were able to manufacture as many cars as they did back in the day as ergonomic engineering wasn't even in the big threes lexicon. Paul~
	1972 GTS 351CJ-4V black/black

spriegel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 28-September-2021 Location: Fairview, PA Status: Offline Points: 992	Post Options Post Reply Quote spriegel Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 29-September-2023 at 9:48AM
	Thanks for this post - it was very helpful. Here is the diagram I used, posting it to this thread for reference. The bumper has 3 main bolts (two on the bottom, and one higher up on the side) -- I used PB blaster the day before on these and they came right off with no problem. When reassembling P/N 384650 may have slid so you need to ensure that is back in place. I also designed a quick fastener for the Ford nut to hold it in place - I posted to the "how-to" thread.
	Chris Fairview, PA '1973 Ford Gran Torino