Bent Rear Bumper

I backed my Grabber into a tree last year, and it put a small dent into the bottom of my rear bumper. It didn't show up too much, but the bumper had been replaced with a smaller one (inside it says 1971). I wanted the 1973 bumper on my 1973 Grabber.

So I bought a 1972 bumper on eBay. The brackets that came with it are too short for my car, and one on my car that was near the dented part is slightly bent. So now my bumper is crooked.

Is there a difference between the 1972 and 1973 rear bumper? I know the '74s are bigger, but I didn't think there was any difference between '72's and '73's. Not only are my 73 brackets a little longer, they have black covers over them. The '72's didn't.

How can I straighten out the bent bracket, and/or take the dent out of my bumper. The '72 I bought is not straight either. The guy on eBay is willing to swap it for a '74, but I don't want that. He doesn't have a '73 anymore. I'll try posting some pics later. Both bumpers have good chrome, and look OK, except for being crooked.

Roz

 

use a hammer to straighen out the bracket... or a torch and a hammer and some vise grips

or take it to a body shop and have them align it

 

I think the 70-73 rear bumper is the same. But in '73 only, the bumper was mounted with different brackets, plastic covers and spacers so the bumper sat further from the car.

Fix the brackets or replace with '73 brackets.

 

I have 73 brackets

 

1970-1973 rear bumpers are the same. Bumper guards are different from 1970-1972 and 1973....so the holes are different for those.

 

For the bracket, try putting it in a vise and either prying on it with a prybar, larger pliers, or hitting it with a hammer a little at a time until it's back in shape. For the bumper, turn it over so you're looking at the back side and place it on a piece of cardboard (or similar padding) on the floor. Find or make a piece of wood that will fit over the dent and hit it with a heavy hammer. Take your time and make small corrections until the dent is gone. Be careful not to hit it too hard or you'll turn the dent into a bump. You may go through several pieces of wood for this but it's safer than using something harder. It would help to heat the area first with a torch if you have one, as this will make the metal more plyable.

 

PM Sent

 

I'll pass this on to the guy who put the bumper on for me, and see if he can straighten the bumper and dent out. Thanks for the directions.

Roz

 

I would like to see a pic of the plastic cover that goes over the bracket. I stripped a few 73`s and don`t remember them.

 

Here is one on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-...458QQitemZ320044640414QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

 

Yup that's it, with the cover and all. But he sure wants a lot of money for it.

Roz

 

Look at the picture on eBay. It's better than any picture I could take.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NOS-...458QQitemZ320044640414QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Roz

 

Thats not a bad price for NOS. If it was for small bumpers it probally be more.

 

Cover is bracket

OK, now I figured out why everyone is confused by my calling the bracket a cover. I thought the bracket went inside the black triangular piece.

After looking at the photos Bullhead sent (Thanks), now I see that it's all one piece and the triangular shaped piece IS the bracket too. I thought the arms used on earlier Mavericks went inside this thing, and that it was a cover. No wonder everyone keeps asking, "What cover?"

Sorry about that guys.

Roz