Spring is almost here and I'm itching at getting started on repainting the front end/hood/fenders on our 87GT vert. The bumper cover has seen better days, has a crack on the lower passenger side, and its fair share of road rash. I picked up a new aftermarket cover while in Dallas a couple of weeks ago.
I had read somewhere (corral probably) about using bolts to attach the bumper covers instead of the factory rivets. The underside of the chin area is attached by bolts, but not the upper portion by the radiator/headlamp/eyebrow area. The (inner) bumper that houses the headlights is fiberglass. It looks as if the inner portion can be tapped for a fine thread bolt/screw, alleviating the use of rivets.
Anybody remember stumbling across an article, or has done this before?
TIA

 

I would recommend using the rivets.

 

What about using the plastic push pin type, or push fasteners like on retaining ground effects?

 

I wouldn't recommend it....the design is that the header panel rivets to the bumper cover and then bolts to the car....this needs to be somewhat secure and the push pins would allow movement. The SN95 is different because the header panel bolts to the car and then the cover bolts on to the fenders and you can use 2 push pins on that one....but the Fox needs to be secure to the header panel.

 

We also have a 00GT, and I meant to refer to that type of setup. Thanks for elaborating!