My wife has a 82 911 sc. It is a very nice car with only 54K miles. The rubber lip on top of the bummer has started to lift and I want to replace it. Since I don't know what it is called, I can't search for it.

If anyone can get me started on how to replace this, I would be grateful for the help. I wan't to have this fixed prior to the Porsche's in Pinckney event next month.

 

It's called the Front Bumper Smile. You should be able to get one for about $100 or less.

You'll have to remove the front bumper to get to the mounting screws.

- Remove and/or disconnect lights in bumper
- Remove front bumber impact strip
- Remove bellows mounting nuts in wheelwell
- Remove 4 large nuts that hold bumper on
- Slide bumper off
- You'll now have access to the bottom of the smile, which is
held on by 6-8 screws. You may have to replace the clips that hold the srews to the body.
- Reverse the steps to get it back together

It's not hard. I think the biggest PIA part is the lights.

If you need more specifics, get the Bentley manual. Just kidding...
Email me if you want more details.

Good Luck.

 

George has it about right - be prepared for some real bad language when trying to remove some of the screws/nuts/bolts. Use plenty of loosening oil and keep your temper! The bumper is reasonably heavy and I always use a trolley jack to lift it into place. I have had problems in the past getting it over the shock absorbers - my solution is to apply a rope tourniquet around the two and pull them together slightly. Good luck.

PJC

 

Thanks for the help,

Is the rubber impact strip held on by clips, simply lift it off?

I will get the parts on order today so that I can tackle the job next week.

Ell

 

The impact strip has a screw on each end. Remove them, then slide the strip off of the clips. Be careful not to break them. I think you can pop them off like a door panel, but they'll probably break. You'll need to bend back the edges of the strip as you slide it out to clear the bumper attachment nuts.

There are rubber pads between the bumper and the bumper shocks, which you may have to tape on to the shocks to hold them while you're mounting the bumper back on.

It's not adifficult job, but PJC is right about the small bellows attachment nuts. They're probably covered with dirt too.

Be patient...

 

Four large nuts that hold the bumper on. Here is my problem. I got three of the four off with no problem, but the last nut just spins and spins. I cannot loosen it or tighten it. Not really sure what to do. If the bolt itself is stripped somehow, will I need a new mount?

 

The bumper is bolted to either a crush tube or impact shock absorber on each side, the studs are captive so yes, if the thread has stripped a new tube or shock absorber wil be required.

PJC

 

Well I will be attempting to replace my "Smile" this weekend. I found someone here in Seattle that has done it as well and he said he would assist if welding, re-threading, fabricating is needed. Lol, hopefully this will not be the case, but as with many things we try to repair, once we get in there, we find other things wrong as well!

 

If one of those threads is striped you should be able to cut new threads on that bolt sticking forward. Have your metric tap and die kit ready.