Rear bumper gaurds

[misty70]

I am in search of a set of rear bumper gaurds for my monte 

[Dtret]

11 hours ago, misty70 said:

I am in search of a set of rear bumper gaurds for my monte 

Let me look. I know I have a few sets but I’m not sure of the chrome quality. Will probably need new rubber. 

[Dtret]

IMOH   They are in decent shape but the chrome stinks. I tried a quick polish to no avail. 

[misty70]

What would you want for them

[MCfan]

14 hours ago, misty70 said:

I am in search of a set of rear bumper gaurds for my monte 

Good for you! I think first gen Montes look partially naked without bumper guards. 

I have managed to find and install three pairs (two rear; one front) on my two Montes.  One rear pair was NOS in the original box but those don't show up very often.  I got another complete set from a member here that was pretty rough but I planned to completely refurbish them with rechroming and new rubber strips anyway. 

I stripped the old rubber and attachment bolts off all four pieces and sent them to Tri-City Plating in Elizabethton, TN for rechroming. After they returned them, I cleaned and painted the insides with Bumper Chrome spray paint, installed new rubber strips from the Parts Place and installed them on my '70.  It cost $75 apiece for the replating and around $40 a set for the new rubber strips but those prices have probably gone up by now. 

I have some detailed installation photos for both front and rear guards, if you are interested. Good luck.

[willie]

Dennis B, is the part # that's on the page #3974022 a correct part # for the rear guards?

[MCfan]

3 hours ago, willie said:

Dennis B, is the part # that's on the page #3974022 a correct part # for the rear guards?

That may be the part number for the entire assembly or for the dealer installation kit for RPO V32. 

Page 893 of the 1970 Monte Carlo Assembly Manual lists all of the individual part numbers including the guard (3972331-2), cushion (3972335) and each of the attachment bolts, washers and nuts.  It does not, however, ever show #3974022 anywhere on that page.

Two things I neglected in my initial post: 

1. The guards come as a pair with an "R" (Right Hand) and an "L" (Left Hand) stamped on the lower back side so be sure you have an actual pair as they are not interchangeable. 

2. The template that came with the NOS pair was invaluable for precisely locating the holes (you must be certian the template is perfectly vertical when you mark the holes).  It is easy to make a template by simply tracing the bumper-matching edge and bolt hole positions of one of the guards on stiff cardboard and then carefully cutting it out.  I made a single template with front guards on one side and rear guards on the other.  Worked fine.

[willie]

Tkx Dennis!   I will keep my eyes open for them, just in case!

[Rob Peters]

I have a template for the rear I made up many years ago.  I will try to find it.  In reality, the front ones are much easier because, I think, the bottom mounting point attaches to a hole already in the bumper.  You can put a piece of masking tape on each side of the outer part of the bumper guard in the area where the upper mounting hold is and put a mark on the tape in the center area of the threaded hole for the mounting bolt.  Then, bolt the bottom hole of the guard to the bumper and align it vertically.  With a marker, mark a vertical line onto the bumper on each side of the guard and then a mark for the upper hole alignment.  Once you have your marks on the bumper, remove the lower mounting bolt.  Measure for the hole to be drilled into the bumper...... Measure at least 4 to 5 times prior to drilling the hole and then measure again.

rob

[Glen]

On 3/1/2024 at 11:39 AM, MCfan said:

Good for you! I think first gen Montes look partially naked without bumper guards. 

I have managed to find and install three pairs (two rear; one front) on my two Montes.  One rear pair was NOS in the original box but those don't show up very often.  I got another complete set from a member here that was pretty rough but I planned to completely refurbish them with rechroming and new rubber strips anyway. 

I stripped the old rubber and attachment bolts off all four pieces and sent them to Tri-City Plating in Elizabethton, TN for rechroming. After they returned them, I cleaned and painted the insides with Bumper Chrome spray paint, installed new rubber strips from the Parts Place and installed them on my '70.  It cost $75 apiece for the replating and around $40 a set for the new rubber strips but those prices have probably gone up by now. 

I have some detailed installation photos for both front and rear guards, if you are interested. Good luck.

I also sent a front and rear pair to Tri-City plating about two years ago.  I forget what I paid, but it was slightly more than what you paid ($100/guard?) if memory serves me correctly. I’ll see if I can find the box with the guards and paperwork and report back.  I forgot where I picked up the rubber strips from.

I recontacted Tri-City sometime last year regarding them re-chroming the housings of a set of Vigilite fender monitors. At that time they told me they were no longer doing “small jobs”/pieces but would still do bumpers if needed.  I found new/re-pop housings online reasonably priced and opted for those as opposed to having old ones re-chromed and broken studs reattached or replaced elsewhere. 

But I agree with you… I think the cars look better with them, which is why my ‘70 will wear them once again in the near future (as she did when built).  I will take you up on those installation photos when you have time, please.