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There are only four bolts that hold the whole bumper assembly to the car. It is relatively easy to remove once you unplug the headlights and vacuum lines. If you want to remove your bumper, I'll tell you how in the next photo caption...
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I am sanding the cracked white paint off the Endura bumper. Here's how I removed the whole thing:
(1) Took off the filler panel above the bumper.
(2) Took off the valance panel below the bumper.
(3) Removed the grilles.
(4) Disconnected vacuum lines from hideaway actuators.
(5) Unplugged the headlight wires.
(6) Removed four big bolts holding the bumper assembly to the frame.
(7) Took bumper assembly off and laid it across a couple little
stepladders.
While it's supported by ladders, that's the time to take off the other stuff. Remove the headlight assemblies, actuator bracket assemblies and actuator rod brackets.
Now I'm sanding off all the old paint down to the primer. Cough, cough! Start with 80 grit, don't go down to the rubber with that. Then get 120 grit and sand to the rubber. If it's real black and sticky, you're rubbing too hard! Rewind.
Don't sand the square edges till they're round.
Now I gotta figure out what kind of primer and paint to use on this bumper. How do you make it last a long time without cracking? Feel free to give SPECIFIC paint formulas or brands if you can. CLICK->
Vintage picture of Milner Pontiac dealership in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This was our Picture Of The Week for 9/29/03. This one was sent in from David Collie. CLICK->
Verdoro Green 1968 GTO hardtop owned by Ron Bastura from Connecticut taking flight. This was our Picture Of The Week for 10/12/03. Ron's car is runing the original 400ci engine which was mildly reworked by Nitemare Performance. It has a TH400 automatic transmission. The picture was taken at Lebanon Valley Drag track just prior to a 13.48 second run at 102 mph.
Do you remember some of the events of the year 2003? That was the year the Concorde made the world's last commercial passenger carrying supersonic flight. CLICK->
Here's another shot of Ron's Verdoro Green 1968 GTO hardtop at the Lebonon Valley Drag track. CLICK->
Frostbitten Flambeau Burgundy 1968 LeMans owned by Stan Kaminski from Newark, Delaware. This was our Picture Of The Week for 2/8/04. We have more pictures of his 1968 LeMans. Click here to see them. CLICK->
This is from Milner Pontiac in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1968. This was our Picture Of The Week for 5/16/04. CLICK->
1968 GTO owned by Lee and Kathy Stagni as seen at the 2004 Ames Tri-Power Nationals at the Norwalk Ohio Raceway. This was our Picture Of The Week for 8/22/04. This car has some 1969 GTO parts on it. Lee tells us about the body of this car, "The front clip is a single fiberglass piece that is easily removed making it very convenient to work in the engine compartment. Small panels behind the front wheel wells are interchangeable to accommodate the two styles of headers that are included - traditional under car style or dragster straight out the side style. Both doors and the trunk lid are fiberglass and can be easily removed for storage. The roof and quarter panels are steel, providing rigidity and additional safety. The rear quarter panels have been stretched to fit the large drag tires into the stock position. The hood is pinned making it quick and easy to remove. A low-profile hood scoop makes it easier to see the starting tree and other cars. The car weighs 2800 pounds without driver. The original VIN plate verifying its originality as a GTO remains on the firewall. The front and rear windshields are glass. Door and side windows are lexan. There is no lettering on the body. The car was repainted in 2004." Click here to see other pictures of this car with the Advanced Picture Searcher (use year of 1968 and owner of Stagni). CLICK->
Close-up of the Ram Air intake on the Stagni beast. In December of 2005, Lee filled us in on the chassis, "The 2 x 3 mild steel chassis components were purchased from A.R.T. engineering and custom assembled by S&S. The car is presently NHRA certified to 7.50 seconds, which is valid until January 2007. Rack and pinion steering, Strange struts and vented brakes are used up front. The driver is protected in the funny car style roll cage with extra rear bracing. The engine is mounted eight inches back from stock position to provide exceptional weight transfer. The Fab-9 rear end, equipped with Koni double-adjustable shocks, houses 456 pro gears, gun-drilled 42 spline axles, 4 link and wheelie bars." CLICK->
Looking at the passenger window. It's got 1969-style doors with no vent windows - but then they would only add weight. In December of 2005, Lee filled us in on the car's interior, "The interior of the car is fully carpeted and nicely finished. Two extra-large Kirkey race seats accommodate a large, tall driver. The steering wheel is removable for easy driver entry and exit. Gauges are installed in a custom finished dash. The Dedenbear Command Center delay box and Painless Wiring electrical control box are mounted on the roll cage above and in front of the driver. The Cheetah shifter operates manually or using the Dedenbear RPM-activated air shifter. The billet parachute release handle is mounted on the roll cage. A fire system is installed in the engine and driver compartments." CLICK->
Verdoro Green 1968 GTO hardtop owned by Larry Metzger from Columbus, New Jersey. This was our Picture Of The Week for 11/7/04. Larry completed the restoration of this GTO early this last summer. Here's some of the stats: 462ci engine with 1966 Tri-power, Ram Air HO exhaust manifolds, 2.5' X-pipe exhaust system, M-20 4-speed, 3.08 Posi 12-bolt rear, power steering, power brakes, electric trunk release, and an AM/FM radio with factory 8-track tape player. Larry also has a Palladium Silver 1969 GTO. Click here to see it using the Advanced Picture Searcher loaded with year=1969, model=GTO, owner=Larry Metzger. CLICK->
Verdoro Green 1968 GTO hardtop, right front view. CLICK->
Verdoro Green 1968 GTO hardtop, right side view. CLICK->
Verdoro Green 1968 GTO hardtop, front end view. CLICK->
Here is Larry's Verdoro Green 1968 GTO in the colors of fall. PICTURE SET CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE ...
