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Classic/Antique Car Repair/Front Bumper Repair 1974 Caprice Classic

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Expert: - 12/31/2010


Question
I have a 1974 Chevy Caprice. I was in an accident and rear ended another vehicle. This caused no damage to the car other than pushing the bumper in and breaking the fillers. What needs to be done to bring the bumper back out?

Answer
This car was equipped with the 5 mile per hour crash safety bumpers that were mandated on all cars beginning in 1972. The bumper is attached to a shock like device that attaches the whole thing to the frame of the car. These devices collapse when bumped at over 5 miles per hour. They were made not with a spring loaded device that would pop back out after the incident. Once collapsed they are supposed to be replaced. Check Hemmings Motor News, the old car hobbies classified ad bible, www.hemmings.com. for replacements. A while back we were working on a car that had collapsed these items. The owner did not want to replace them and we jacked the bumper back out using a port-a-power and then welded the pistons in place. Not the proper repair, but it worked.

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

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