How To Install 2004 Bumper Cover...i'm Confused, Please Help?

[mlb585]

I am replacing my front bumper (painted cover) along with a mach 1 grille delete kit on my 2004 gt (because my current one is damaged) and I'm confused about bumper install hardware kits and bumper install instructions on the web. All the kits show replacement rivets but I don't see any on my current bumper of see them mentioned in several of the bumper install instructions and videos online. Am I missing something or is this bumper cover suppose to install with just nuts and plastic push pins. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Mattstang04]

I take mine off and on with only push pins around the grill and on the bottom, 2 nuts on each inner fender and a screw on each side that connects the cover to the inner wheelhouse liner.

 

[mlb585]

Hey Mattstang, that's exactly what I thought was involved with the bumper removal/install. So many websites and install kits keep talking about rivets which is so confusing...is that because the car original had rivets in those locations or they recommend them for some reason? I'm assuming that this is a two person, right? And I'm guessing there isn't really any alignment or adjusting that has to be done as it only really goes on and is fastened one way, right? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Mattstang04]

I do it as a 1 man job. Just do a little on each side until you get it on there straight. Make sure the tabs go into the slots underneath the headlights. The only rivets I am aware of are used to mount the inner fender brackets to the inside of the bumper cover. That's the bracket with the threaded studs that get fastened to the inner fender.

 

[1987stangman]

Yep no rivets on the new edge mustangs. The Fox bodies header panel is riveted in tho. I just repainted the front bumper cover on my car after I had to repair what appeared to be someone with a truck back into my car in a parking lot and split. I didn't notice it until I went to wash it one day but it bugged me enough to fix it and repaint the whole thing since it had some chips in the paint here and there.

 

[TeamCaffeineGT]

I found it easier to take the headlights off before removing the cover as well. These come out by removing the 2 slide retainers on the back side and disconnecting the wiring plugs. Be careful with the header panel when installing the Mach 1 grill delete.

That push pin is a pain to get out and if you pry too hard, the tab on the header panel below it will break. You then have to replace the entire header panel or get creative with a fix.

Best of Luck!