QuestionI 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?
AnswerHello Danny,
You have a energy absorbing bumper mounted onto shock absorber-like mounts. If the bumper is pushed-in, you need to:
1) Replace the bumper if it's dented--some shops can pull it back out but on some of these cars, they were Aluminum, difficult to repair properly. In any case, it will probably be cheaper to locate one in a wrecking yard that caters to old cars.
2) Check the energy absorbing bumper mounts--if it's pushed in, bent or otherwise damaged, replace it: same source.
3) Check the frame for damage behind the bumper mounts--you may need a body shop to help on this in order to keep things square.
4) As you know, the body to bumper fill pieces were made of a plastic that did not stand the test of time. While I'm aware of some being reproduced for Eldorados of the '70s, I not aware of any for your car. Check hemmingsmotornews.com and call some of the folks doing the Caddy's--they may be able to give you a source or even may be making some themselves. While '74 Caprices are not yet big collector cars, they made a lot of them so don't despair!
In summary, because these bumpers telescope, frame and mount damage may not be immediately apparent. Just check!
Good luck to you,
Bob
