Bra Install

The C5 2000 and C5 Z06 2003 GM Bras are closely related.   The snaps and bend-over tabs are the same.  The instructions were very poor in 2000 and just as bad in 2003.   

If you have just purchased (or are thinking of purchasing) the C5 Z06 version I recommend that you return it (or don't purchase).  Read through this page and you will see why this is a less then desirable product. 

The C5 version is well worth the money and I do recommend it after owning one for two years (it is on the red roadster)..

Snaps:  

1.) You are given 3 male snaps that have sheet metal screw bodies - these go under the center front of the car.   You remove the existing hex head sheet metal screws (use a 9/32 socket).  There are five screws under the front at the entry into the radiator air scoop.   Remove the center and far right and far left hex head screws one at a time and install the male snap sheet metal screws

2.) And you are given 4 male snaps that have machine screw threads (fine threads) and 4 black rubber inserts (that contain threaded inserts).  These are meant to act as expandable nuts...  If you have time, go shop for and additional 4 male snaps that have sheet metal screw bodies and use these instead of following the next instructions.   

Start the car and turn the wheels full left lock and shut it down.   This gives you access to the screws in front right wheel well.   Starting at the bottom front of the wheel well, remove three 9/32 hex head sheet metal screws.   Note the black plastic inner-fender well is clamped to the front fascia bumper by these screws and every thing is pliable (meaning that you can flex this stuff quite a lot with out damaging it).   At the three screw attachment points, you need to remove the bottom and top  threaded clip from the fascia bumper portion (you do this by wedging a screw driver between the black inner fender material and the fascia bumper material (to open a gap) and with blade of a second screw driver you dislodge the clip.  The clip(s) will most likely fall into the cavity below the running lights (and remain there until you have reason to replace a DRL).  

Now with a wedge between the inner fender well and the fascia bumper material (you need about 1/4 to 1/2 inch separation) use long nose pliers to insert the rubber insert into the larger hole in the fascia bumper at the bottom and top hole locations.   Remove the wedge and using pressure on the fascia bumper (pull or push) align the holes and start the male snap screws and at the center reinstall the hex head screw (one of the three you took out above).   Tighten the three attachments and repeat these steps on the other wheel well.

insert photo of wheel well snaps

Bra Installation:

First of all, clean the car.  Grit and dirt are the enemy and should not be allowed between the paint and the bra.   

Lay the bra out full in the sun shine and let it warm up and become pliable. 

Open the hood and lay the bra across the front bumper.  I recommend that you snap the middle snap on the Bra in each  wheel well (to the  top snap)  for starters (this keeps the bra from falling off onto the ground).  Snap the lower front three  snaps.

Dress the Bra smooth and snap the lower wheel well snaps... note you will need to tug on the material to get them snapped.   If the Bra is new and this is the first time, you may want to let it set in the sun and the wrinkles with lessen and the material becomes more pliable... the fit gets better and the snaps easier to close.  

For the moment ignore the top snap in each wheel well.  

At the center top of the Bra (hood is still open), pull the bra toward the engine and bend the tab over to form a hook and catch on the center fascia bumper material.   Then do the same thing at left and right front tabs bend them into hooks and catching the front fascia material. 

This leaves the front right and front left corner tabs.  form these into roughly 90+ bends at the corners.  When the hood closes it traps these into place.

Now to the top wheel well snaps on both sides.   The tab is intended to be inserted between the black inner fender well material and the colored body material about 4 inches above the last snap.  You need to form the tab into roughly a 'U' shape, and and insert it.   I find it easier to snap the snap and then insert tab.

insert photo

All the above applies to both the C5 Bra and the Z06 Bra (if you are installing the C5 Bra, just jump to the bottom where we install the small hood section.

Z06 Bra:  There are tabs at the air intake duct openings and the corner lamps.  

Insert the tabs between the facial material and the vinyl edge of the intake screens.   And work the tabs into the corner lamp top and bottom.

This is what you end up with...

which is a really ugly fit.    The upper tabs at the screen interfere with clips behind the screen.  And the upper corner tabs are blocked by a lip on the lamp housing.

As much I as I hated doing it, the only solution that I could see was to cut the tabs...

and to use a curved tool to force the upper corner tabs around the lip on the lamp.  

This is the result... not too bad.

These are the tool that I used.

This is the left side before...

The cuts on the upper left tab (not my best work... If you do this, do a better job locating where the cuts should go and don't remove so much material).

And the final result.

And the small hood section,  slip the small bra section into place and from the engine compartment, remove the round push button and reinstall capturing the short loop.  Do this on both sides.

Pull the long loops up and catch over the upper push buttons (no need to remove them).

And that's it.   

Follow the GM instructions.   Don't use protect rants on the bra,  clean bugs off is mild soapy water,  hand dry with soft cloth.   

While on a road trip and when  you get caught in a rain storm, keep on driving.  When it stops raining and if the front is fairly clean (meaning free of grit) you can leave the bra on.  However if the car is muddy and there is any risk of grit between the paint and the bra,  take bra off the car and put it into a trash bag (that you should carry for this occasion).  At your evening stop,  take a shower with the bra and clean it of all grime on the inside... If it is not clean on the inside, do no reinstall it.  It is cheaper to throw it away then it is to repaint the front fascia.    I have found that the bra dries overnight (usually)