In the process of restoring the frame of my Heavy Chevy I have run into the following problem that others may have resolved already. I bought new rubber bumpers to install into the slotted brackets on each side of the rear axle housing. The one on the left side of the housing inserted into the slot with a little muscle and some lube in the form of hand cleaner (the type that has a little lanolin in it). However, the right bumper block won't go into the slot regardless of what method I try. Any success stories out there or suggestions that I may have overlooked? I'd hate to resort to cutting off the tab and glueing this rascal on!:confused:
Chiz Chisholm
Easton, Maryland

Don't give up the ship!

Had the same problem in reverse, took 5 min. for the pass. side, 2 hrs. for the driver side! :eek: In the 90 degree heat, I looked like I had just ran a marathon.

What worked:

Placed it in the sun to warm it up/soften it up.
Relubed
Worked one end in (not side, end, only about a 1/4" of it was "in") and kept pressure on it
Slid a 3 ft long 2X4 in above it and used the frame as a lever point, keeping pressure on it. It popped out a few times, but repeating and keeping downward pressure on it, it began compressing the tab until it stayed in place without the 2X4.
Grabbed a rubber mallet and gave it a couple of wacks.
Done

If your chassis is newly refinished (like mine is) use a towel over the area that touches the frame. 2X4 is smooth, so there in no "bite" on the tip of the snubber. If I had to do over I would have duct taped a wrap of a towel over the area that pressed on the tip of snubber so it wouldn't have popped out so easily.

yeah, don't give up i know it can be a pain. Lube and pressure, lube and pressure. l:)

when i did mine i used a small screw driver to get it started (carefull not to stab your own hand though, it hurts), then I was able to get some pliers on the bottom side to help pull it through the slot while applying pressure to the top.

good luck

Thank You Fred and Kyle!
I will tackle the installation again adding Heat to the lube and pressure approach (and being wary of the ever lethal rampant screwdriver). These new bumpers are probably a little less flexible (Pakistan's best) than the original GM vendor's were, although now, 36 years later, the originals are like granite also.
Chiz

[QUOTE=350_Malibu;1931979]yeah, don't give up i know it can be a pain. Lube and pressure, lube and pressure. l:)

We're still taklin' 'bout snubbers...right? l:)

I can remember it was a real pain on mine. I remember making a wooden form to fit the contour of the frome to somehow force it into place. I was about to give up when that finally worked.