Bumper Crop

Face Lift done, the Rear needed similar treatment. With the Bumper looking tired and the Tailgate having its lower section covered in shitty Underseal, again it was going to be a case of Doing Anything Is Better Than Nothing. Bumper removal is straight forward, then it was a case of White Spirit and Elbow Grease to remove the Gunk.

It was already looking better. The Rear Bumper is a job all by itself, with That Dent and some Rust Treatment needed.

Bumper Bar

I had the Dent knocked out of it for £60 by a Local BodyShop, and they did a superb job. It was a tricky one, since the Bollard [I presume] had pushed up the top of the Bumper, creating a lump, so not just a case of smacking it out from behind etc.

Once home, I set to preparing it for Paint..

..but even as good as the repair was, it needed a little bit of Filler..

I wanted to protect the inside of the Bumper too, so Wire Brushed it down. Yes, I was intended to Soda Blast, but things change, and I really didn’t think Soda Blasting was appropriate when a bit of Elbow Grease was going to get the Job done.

A Baking Hot Summer’s Day sorted Paint Drying time, so I could tackle the front on the same day..

Side Returns

Of course, I treated the Side Bumper Returns to the same inside & out attention.

Little bit of Repair required on one of them.

Then onto Inside Rust Prevention Treatment..

..and then the Satin Black finish on the outside..

..with all three Pieces looking great in the Late Afternoon Sun.

Footplate

Whilst the Paint was curing, I tackled the Plastic Bumper Cover too, which is NLA to order new [although I did find one in Europe, but as damaged stock] and mine was in great condition albeit Weather Worn.. Used some magical Meguiars Ultimate Black, and bingo..!

Reunification Part 1

New Bolts, Washers and Threadlock Nuts throughout for the reassembly, with the Footplate and Reflectors going on as finishing touches.

Reunification Part 2

Lying in the dirt, blood draining from my arms and two Stools keeping the Bumper in place, the four securing Bolts finally went it. It felt like more work than it should have been. But were the results worth it; oh yes..

Did somebody say “Paint the bloody Doors..!!”..?