Hello,
The name is Omar and I am a total newbie when it comes to restorations. I recently started work on my '71 bird. I am currently in the process of removing the rear bumper. I removed the gas tank, the license plate holder, and the taillight lenses. I can get to the two bolts closer to the center easily, but how do I get the ones on the outside? Should I remove lower valance or do it from inside the wheel well?
Also, I am in the process of removing my dash, and the steering column has to come out for that. Do I need to disconnect the gear linkage or does it slip through it?
Finally, I got the lower trim piece of the windshield, but I can't seem to figure out how to remove the trim that goes around the top. Do I need a special piece of equipment for that?
Thanks,
'71 Rear Bumper, Steering Column, and Windshield Removal
Moderator: Site Administrators
-
steved
- GTX (RS)
- Posts: 354
- Joined: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:28 pm
- My Cars: 1971 Plymouth GTX, GY9 Tawny Gold
2000 Nissan Xterra
2016 Fiesta ST
other stuff - Location: Atlanta Area
Re: '71 Rear Bumper, Steering Column, and Windshield Removal
Welcome!!
The first rule of restoration: DON'T GET DISCOURAGED. Rely on the forums if you can't figure something out, or something goes wrong.
Your steering column should disconnect from 3 places. 1. at the steering box. there's a spring pin that needs to be hammered out. 2. at the firewall (3 bolts) 3. under the dash. 3 more bolts.
As a newbie to restorations here's a couple tips I learned in the past 6 years of working on my car:
- Buy ziploc bags that you can write on and take the extra minute and write a good description of EVERYTHING that goes in each bag.
- Take pictures, they're pretty much free, you can't take enough pictures to remind you of how things go together.
- Stick to the plan. whatever plan to whatever level of build you plan to do, do that. "while I was in there" syndrome ran pretty rampant in my build.
- it will take longer than you've planned. I'm currently double my estimate of how long I thought this was going to take me (mostly due to the cost of "while im in here, i'll just order and replace...")
- it will be more expensive than you've planned. (did I mention "while I was in there...")
as for your windshield, there's a "windshield trim removal tool" it's like a funny shaped arrow with a handle.
sjd
The first rule of restoration: DON'T GET DISCOURAGED. Rely on the forums if you can't figure something out, or something goes wrong.
Your steering column should disconnect from 3 places. 1. at the steering box. there's a spring pin that needs to be hammered out. 2. at the firewall (3 bolts) 3. under the dash. 3 more bolts.
As a newbie to restorations here's a couple tips I learned in the past 6 years of working on my car:
- Buy ziploc bags that you can write on and take the extra minute and write a good description of EVERYTHING that goes in each bag.
- Take pictures, they're pretty much free, you can't take enough pictures to remind you of how things go together.
- Stick to the plan. whatever plan to whatever level of build you plan to do, do that. "while I was in there" syndrome ran pretty rampant in my build.
- it will take longer than you've planned. I'm currently double my estimate of how long I thought this was going to take me (mostly due to the cost of "while im in here, i'll just order and replace...")
- it will be more expensive than you've planned. (did I mention "while I was in there...")
as for your windshield, there's a "windshield trim removal tool" it's like a funny shaped arrow with a handle.
sjd
1971 GTX, GY9 Tawny Gold.
-
redline337
- Satellite Sebring (RH)
- Posts: 70
- Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 4:55 pm
- My Cars: 71 Satellite Sebring RH
Re: '71 Rear Bumper, Steering Column, and Windshield Removal
The rear bumper brackets unbolt from inside the trunk. I can't remember off the top of my head is there are 4 or 8 bolts and/or nuts that hold it on.
-
GTX158
- Satellite Sebring Plus (RP)
- Posts: 79
- Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2013 7:24 pm
- My Cars: 71 Plymouth GTX (FC7 In-Violet)
Re: '71 Rear Bumper, Steering Column, and Windshield Removal
The rear bumper comes off the best with bumper brackets, there should be 3 bolts on the right and left side, and 1 nut on the right and left side in your trunk. The studs on the brackets help support the bumper as you remove or install it. Hope this helps.