Front bumper bent, how to fix?

[Veedonfleece]

I was in a giant Dodge Ram cargo van moving my bands gear yesterday. My 1979 210 wagon was in the parking spot to the right of the van. I pulled out and turned right, and the bumper of the van rolled over the bumper of Old Blue, and pushed it downward. Thankfully it wasn't worse, I'm so mad at myself! I forgot the wagon was next to the van, it's amazing how small and low to the ground the wagon is compared to modern cars. Anyhow, a friend suggested using a floor jack to try and bend it back. I'm not sure if that's a good idea. Any suggestions on what to do? I'm not sure what they are called, but the tubes behind the bumper that collapse when impacted seem OK other than being bent downward, and the bumper seems OK, not creased or bent. 

 

 

[datzenmike]

The bumper is twisted. The bumper shock is well bolted to the body so likely the body mounting area is tore up too. If the bumper shock is bent it will never go back into place.

 

It will look better without it on there.

[Draker]

Take it off remove the bumper shocks.. then re-assess. The bumper is probably twisted, but maybe you can get it bolted back up. I'd just try to find a pair of bumper mounts and see if you can get it back on.

[Veedonfleece]

The bumper is twisted. The bumper shock is well bolted to the body so likely the body mounting area is tore up too. If the bumper shock is bent it will never go back into place.

 

It will look better without it on there.

 

It would look pretty sweet without it! However, in Ohio "No person shall operate upon a street or highway any passenger car, multipurpose passenger vehicle, or truck registered in this state without a bumper on the front and rear of the vehicle if such vehicle was equipped with bumpers as standard equipment by the manufacturer."

 

I'll try and pull it off this weekend. Thanks guys, I'll report back....

[datzenmike]

If that is the wording you could hang a broomstick across the front and call it a bumper.

[fisch]

The bumper is twisted. The bumper shock is well bolted to the body so likely the body mounting area is tore up too. If the bumper shock is bent it will never go back into place.

 

It will look better without it on there.

I agree it will look better without, but I shudder to think what you would be looking at if the bumper hadn't been on there to protect it this time! Sourcing a junkyard bumper and shock might not be too hard with this year, but the real question, like mike says, is if spot where the bumper bracket/shock attaches to the car is messed up?

[Veedonfleece]

Here is a pic of the shock/bracket where it mounts to body : 

 

[fisch]

Huh looks like mostly the shock to me. If there is warping you might be able to overcome any bending on the sheet metal by attaching a new shock and using it to bend it in place.

 

Use this link to search nearby salvage yards for the shock. Replace that first and see what happens? http://www.car-part.com/

[fisch]

Or maybe you can straighten out the current one. Folks often compress those shocks, draining the oil, so the bumper sits closer to the body. Good reason to try it since it is already messed up.

[Veedonfleece]

Another angle

[tr8er]

Junk yard solution

[heywier427]

Jack it up with a floor jack and hope for the best :)

[datzenmike]

I only have slight experience with 710 bumper shocks.. and they do not mount like that. Yours look like you could just replace it.

[Veedonfleece]

Thanks for all the replies guys....I think I'm going to try the floor jack approach and gently lift up the corner in an attempt to reverse the damage caused by the downward push of the cargo van bumper. I doubt it will untwist the bumper, but maybe. I'm a bit nervous of causing damage to the body where the shock mount is bolted...maybe it's safer to find a replacement shock first that isn't bent and try and straighten the bumper off the car.

[fisch]

I think you will need to find a way to strap down the front of the car to resist the jack, otherwise it will just lift the entire front end like you are changing a tire?

[Draker]

Just get a new shock mount. Find one in the classifieds.

[tr8er]

Thanks for all the replies guys....I think I'm going to try the floor jack approach and gently lift up the corner in an attempt to reverse the damage caused by the downward push of the cargo van bumper. I doubt it will untwist the bumper, but maybe. I'm a bit nervous of causing damage to the body where the shock mount is bolted...maybe it's safer to find a replacement shock first that isn't bent and try and straighten the bumper off the car.

Just go to the yard(pick n pull) and grab another. Bending it back seems like the wrong approach