When I received my car the front end was already. Taken apart. Do the grilles install before the front bumper gets installed. Can anyone help me with this?
I find it best to assemble the bumper with grills and all associated hardware and then install as one piece on the car. Here is some illustrations to help you understand, http://thefirstgensite.com/library/68sm/bump/bump.html You have to scroll down pretty far for the Firebirds.
Good question. Ideally you want to install the grills from the back of the bumper before you mount the bumper. IF your grills are new or in real good shape they will flex enough to install from the front after the bumper has been mounted. If your grills are old, there is a good chance they will crack if you try to install from the front.
Just installed mine in April. Definitely assemble off the car. Also install the headlights and bumper brackets then install the whole assembly onto the car.
Then the only pain is the bolt/nut on the bumper fillers.
I'm in the middle of this exact thing. Here are the pre-disassembly pics which may help you visualize. Just got the bumper and 400 grill hockey sticks back from the chromer. That was not cheap. But, man, they are serious eye-candy... Thinking I may try to video re-assembly and post on YouTube. Just need to remember to do that and not get ahead of myself.
'68 400HO Coupe, 4 spd, 259 interior, Windward Blue. My other car's a Johnson 15 outboard on a '61 Starcraft rowboat... Just sayin'.