hi all,
i am trying to remove my rear bumper on my '79 280ZX. i know this should be a no-brainer, but some peanut ran into me years ago and although the damage was minimal, it never theless caused problems. as the securing nut that is welded to the bracket on the car has come loose from the accident, and when i try to turn the bolt to remove it, the bolt and nut turn as one.

how the hell can i remove it? as clearly there is little to no working room?

any ideas would be great
thanks
carl



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit was 2009:07:03:00:00:15.

Are you trying to remove just the bumper or the bumper with the shocks?
If its just the bumper, it is held to the shocks by 8 nuts - the top two on each side hard to get to but can be removed with an open end wrench - just slowly.

Have you removed the bumper cover? Maybe that will give you access to the non-stock bolt you are trying to remove.

---

Blue 83zxt coupe .. Eibachs , Tokicos , GReddy stuff, B&M sts, Magnaflow
Orange 77 280z coupe ..

Seattle WA

The shocks are held but 2 (I think) bolts from the front of the shock as you look at it and one bolt from inside the trunk under the 2" mat. You should be able to gain access of to the retaining nut by slipping a wrench behind the body.

---

Chattanooga, TN
82 white w/ red n/a coupe 120,000 miles.
83 2+2 314,395 miles at college AGAIN
96 Pathfinder, 96 Maxima
90 300ZX 2+2, 82 ZXcoupe, 81 200sx, 72 Camaro SS, 68 Mustang, 1950 Chev PU fully restored
Pics:[www.zcar.com]

hi guys,
thanks for the replies.

just trying to remove the bumper itself.

cheers
carl

just to let you guys know, i removed the bumper but cutting a small hole just above the bracket through the chrome side, and slid a spanner in and undone the bolt slowly from below.

i have a spare ready to go on after rust work is complete


thanks to all who posted and helped
Carl

Was the bumper bent in to where you couldn't get at it? I took 2 rear bumpers off on a 79 zx in about 10 minutes each.It was all from underneath and very simple. I quess i'm confused why you had such a hard time getting at yours.

---

western Nebraska
1979 280zx coupe parts car
1980 280ZX coupe
1980 280zx 2+2 gone to z heaven
1991 maxima
2001 maxima
2002 maxima
1994 F150 4x4 van works custom pickup


Where are the old guys?
Sometimes you don't miss them until they're gone!
Nobody to whine and cry to-
I kept telling you not to poke the bear
Better get an FSM, learn how to read it and keep it handy children...

yes, from when someone ran into me years ago and 'pushed' the bumper towards the body. knocking loose the securing nut from the welding in the bar itself.

turning the bolt from underneath was like a 5min job for the drivers side (it was intact).

the passenger side was the difficult side. the bolt and nut turn together.


thanks

Ah! That explains it. I thought that, that was the case . These cars weren't made to have even a minor bump on their bumpers. Now get that new bumper on and drive around enjoying your zcar!!

---

western Nebraska
1979 280zx coupe parts car
1980 280ZX coupe
1980 280zx 2+2 gone to z heaven
1991 maxima
2001 maxima
2002 maxima
1994 F150 4x4 van works custom pickup


Where are the old guys?
Sometimes you don't miss them until they're gone!
Nobody to whine and cry to-
I kept telling you not to poke the bear
Better get an FSM, learn how to read it and keep it handy children...

LOL
yea thanks man!!!
:-)


cheers