Bumper repair query

[njoconnor]

With the major resto/improvement work out of the way (and working well), I figured it's time to address something that's been niggling for attention since I bought the car. Pretty as it is, the Blue 72 has a front bumper issue which makes it look like it took a upper cut to the chin: the bumper appears slightly tilted up,and the clearance gap is absent on the passenger side of the car. Pix:





Driver side gap:



Passenger side "no-gap":






I'm thinking new brackets, but thought I'd ask the forum for thoughts on what else might be needed, or what I can expect once I start disassembling things this fall (rear bumper is also coming off then for some needed paint/finish work on the rear quarter panels).

Thanks, as always....

Neil

[Broadsword]

The bumper is fixed at each end to each front quarter panel as well, but it doesn’t look like your bodywork is out of shape?
That leaves the main bracket, or the part inside the rear of the bumper it fixes to, as the cause.
Either way it should be simple to rectify.

[njoconnor]

Nope, body panels on both sides look smooth and unwrinkled. The passenger side bracket on the front quarter panel looks a tad bent in the direction of the likely strike, but no distortion to the surrounding sheet metal. I'll focus on those main brackets once the car is up on the jackstands this week for the triennial brake fluid flush and fill.

I'm not surprised by the bumper issue; the car lived most of it's life in the PO's equipment shed....he was in the concrete business...and I suspect quite a few things bumped into the car over the years.

Thanks....

Neil

[spidernut]

The brackets are pretty flimsy. I had to remove mine and hammer them into the correct shape and reinstall the bumper. It is now nice and straight.

[njoconnor]

Thanks, John. I'd assumed they were too substantial to hammer out. I'll give that some thought.

OTOH, new brackets aren't that expensive. On the Fall list of things to do.

Neil