I’m replacing the bumpers on my ‘81, with new old style ones.

The front bumper done.
However, I can’t figure how to get to the old bumper shocks to removal them, on the rear.
I see a big bolt in the trunk, on both sides. Do I just remove it?

What am I missing?
Dave.

On the right rear just remove the bolt and withdraw the shock rearward
On the left rear you have to loosen the fuel tank and move it out of the way, this way you can undo and pull out the bolt, then pull out the shock rearward

To add a little flavor to the left side. Try to get the fuel tank down to a couple gallons to make movement/management easy. When you move the tank get a 2X4 to prop the tank to the side. Then you typically have enough play in the filler hose to get a wrench in there and fully extract the length of the bolt. DO NOT do this if your filler neck is brittle. Just not worth the trouble you will have. Some would argue and I might agree that just take the tank out and have full access. However, I would also say it is really easy if you have enough play in the filler neck and good pliability of the rubber to do it with the tank in the car.

Thanks guys!
The more I looked at it, the more I saw a ‘can of worms’ I did not want to open!

So I made brackets that bolt onto the shocks, and then onto the new bumpers. Worked out perfect!

Thanks again!
Dave

Frog2Spider wrote:Thanks guys!
The more I looked at it, the more I saw a ‘can of worms’ I did not want to open!

So I made brackets that bolt onto the shocks, and then onto the new bumpers. Worked out perfect!

Thanks again!
Dave

I would be really interested on seeing some pictures of what you've done instead of removing the left shock...

QuebecFiatSpider

With flat steel, I made adapters, that bolted to the shocks and then to the bumpers. Worked perfect, and with none of the issues I could imagine around moving or removing the gas tank! The shocks had been drilled, as I had pushed the original bumpers in, closer to the body.
FYI - Although I’ve lived in the US for 30 years, I’m a Canuck from New Brunswick.
Dave
pro-frog@comcast.ner