Taking rear bumper facia off for paint

[Viper Fever]

Going to take the rear facia off to repaint.
Need to know is it pretty straight forward.
any hidden bolts.Reason for taking it off
one of my white stripes is off and it always
bothers me.So rather than have the viper sitting
in a body shop thought I'd take them the rear facia.
Who sells the stock rivets underneath buy the exhaust.
Thanks for any advice .Carl

 

[Bonkers]

There is a row of plastic push rivets in the crease of the bumper cover and tailpail. I asked here before about how to get them off and didn't get a response, BUT WHATEVER YOU DO do not pull on the bumper before removing these. The tabs on mine snapped like twigs.

The rivets holding the second heat sheild in place were damaged beyond repair so I replaced them with SS bolts. Tator or JonB should have them in stock.

 

[JimT 99RT]

Viper Fever I have my battery cover off and looking up inside there are bolts holding the bottom piece on, so you will have to remove the battery cover and the cover on the passenger side to get to those bolts. There are also a couple of pop rivets used around the exhaust that will have to be drilled out. The parts manual for your car may help; it has a picture in the frames and bumpers section. There may also bolts behind the taillights.

http://www.mopar.com/viper.html

 

[patgilm]

Why do you have to take the rivets out when taking off the rear bumper? Is it attached to something other than the heat shield?

 

[JimT 99RT]

Patgilm,

You're probably right, about those rivets, but I didn't look very close at the heat shield.

 

[Bonkers]

Why do you have to take the rivets out when taking off the rear bumper? Is it attached to something other than the heat shield?

No, actually its best to leave them in place as that little piece of tin foil is a $170 part if ripped. You have six bolts on both sides hold the fascia to the well covers and two going striaght up into the fenders. You'll then have the 8-10 clip bolts holding the bottom on (careful - if these are rusted or corrodied in any way they'll rip apart the plastic undercarrage peice before breaking free.) Then there will be five push rivits mounted above the heat sheild and four push rivits under the tailpanel. The fasica itself is very flexable and difficult to hold properly - make sure you have a good sized flat spot to put it once its off.

 

[kverges]

I found it MUCH easier to simply remove the fascia with the core attached. Leave all the plastic rivets in place - 4 nuts (way deep inside) hold the rear fascia just like the front fascia. Much like the front fascia - I take it off with the core, rather than just pulling the skin off.

 

[patgilm]

I guess I'm a little confused, I removed mine the way Kverges mentioned and it was pretty easy. No push rivets, etc. Just bolts.