1967 Camaro Upper Control Arm Bumper

[red67]

Below are pictures of an original 1967 Camaro upper control arm bumper from my 75,000 mile car on the right and a replacement GM bumper on the left. I purchased the replacement from a GM dealer in May 1998. Both of these bumpers have casting numbers on them of 384220. The original also has casting numbers of FO-63 and the replacement has a casting code of AU 107. Are these date codes? Both appear to have bases of 1.8". Did the original bumper start out life looking like the replacement and collapse to its current state? If so it sure seems like a lot. I'm just trying to make sure I use the correct part for replacement.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/02/full-11162-39557-img_1354r.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/02/full-11162-39558-img_1355r.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/02/full-11162-39559-img_1356r.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/02/full-11162-39560-img_1357r.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/02/full-11162-39561-img_1358r.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/02/full-11162-39562-img_1359r.jpg

[m22mike]

I have seen this before on cars I tore down, if the car was on jack stands for extended periods of time could cause this along with the rubber being deteriorated too.

Mike

[resto4u]

Most of GM replacement parts have a design change from the factory parts. Usually the first couple years will be factory assembly line parts, then they become replacement parts. It would be correct, but not assembly line correct.

[red67]

Do you think the replacement bumper would work okay given it is quite a bit longer than the squished original one? Just working with the original one it seems hard to believe it actually compressed from the size of the replacement.

[x77-69z28]

It did! Mine was up on jack stands for years, and when I took it apart, they looked just like yours.the new ones will be fine.
Buddy

[m22mike]

They also get squished if sitting without the engine.

Mike

[red67]

Thanks for the replies. All makes sense. My car sat without the engine for quite some time while I had the engine and transmission rebuilt. It has also sat for a long time without all of the front end sheet metal on it.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to get the new ones in without dismantling the front end. The old ones came out easily. Actually how I noticed it was one of them fell out (the tab broke away from the bumper) when I rolled the car. There was clearance between the bumper and the control arm so I could stick my hand in there and pull it out when the car was sitting on the tires. The rest of the front suspension was all rebuilt quite a few years ago. The bumpers looked okay back then.