GFX- Ground Effects rear bumper valence/diffuser removal? - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

TheBrightSide · 02-11-2025, 01:15 AM

Does anyone with a 10-11 2SS or convertible with the factory GM Ground Effects appearance package/bodykit, have experience with removing the rear bumper valence/diffuser? Seems like it’s mostly 3M taped on the upper edges from the factory, but I’m not entirely 100% sure.

My sides of the rear bumper valence/diffuser, have started coming undone from the aging mounting/double-side 3M tape, and I want to take it apart and give it all new 3M mounting tape (which should hold for the next few years, I assume). I saw a video where a guy simply ripped it right off the rear bumper, so I’m not sure if the middle section has anything attached, like what the normal V8 model rear bumpers have for their exhaust valence.

I was also wondering if I removed it, if the rear bumper would have been modified in any way to accept the factory GFX rear bumper valence/diffuser? I wanted to run a factory NPP catback, but I’d need to acquire a 12-13 ZL1 rear bumper, or get a GM Performance rear bumper exhaust valence/trim, which has the open factory quad exit exhaust cutouts.

MSgt O · 02-11-2025, 08:31 AM

I just acquired a Hennessey rear bumper cover and it has an odd diffuser (which is why I wanted it). Taking it apart there were 2 screws in the lower section from diffuser to bumper cover and 2 very long L shaped brackets that run through the impact plastic piece that attaches to the bumper cover with pressure wedges held with big washers, so it is "kind of" attached to the rear bumper cover. It is also double sided taped the entire length of it as well. I would just pull your bumper cover off and look before you go yanking on the diffuser. I thought the OEM GFX has some kind of "clips" that people say are hard to come by now and break easy but maybe I am remembering that incorrectly

Aqua Blue RS/SS · 02-11-2025, 08:36 AM

Here you can see where it mechanically attaches on the front lower corners and across the rear in the middle. It uses the double sided foam tape everywhere else.
The bumper does have to be drilled for some if not all the mounting holes. The clips mentioned by MSgt O are for the front splitter, this should just use trim clips like a lot of the rest of the car. Be really careful not to damage any of the brackets on the splitter though. You will have to fab something up if you do.

TheBrightSide · 02-11-2025, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

Here you can see where it mechanically attaches on the front lower corners and across the rear in the middle. It uses the double sided foam tape everywhere else.
The bumper does have to be drilled for some if not all the mounting holes. The clips mentioned by MSgt O are for the front splitter, this should just use trim clips like a lot of the rest of the car. Be really careful not to damage any of the brackets on the splitter though. You will have to fab something up if you do.

By brackets, you mean those little plastic rotatable “platform” things that act like spacers in between the area of the rear valence with the “fins”, in the lower middle section? Yeah… I could imagine those maybe even stripping… though I’m sure there would definitely be a ghetto work-around for that. Haha It looks like once those screws are out, and the two other main side screws (or bolts) are out on the lower sides, the rest should just come undone from 3M tape…

TheBrightSide · 02-11-2025, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSgt O

I just acquired a Hennessey rear bumper cover and it has an odd diffuser (which is why I wanted it). Taking it apart there were 2 screws in the lower section from diffuser to bumper cover and 2 very long L shaped brackets that run through the impact plastic piece that attaches to the bumper cover with pressure wedges held with big washers, so it is "kind of" attached to the rear bumper cover. It is also double sided taped the entire length of it as well. I would just pull your bumper cover off and look before you go yanking on the diffuser. I thought the OEM GFX has some kind of "clips" that people say are hard to come by now and break easy but maybe I am remembering that incorrectly

Do you think I could simply attach the GM Performance or a regular rear bumper diffuser/valence after removing the GFX one, and leaving the impact stuff behind?

MSgt O · 02-11-2025, 10:43 AM

I dont see why not? Why would you take off the GFX one though? I looked for a while for one that was in decent shape. Hard to come by now!

Aqua Blue RS/SS · 02-11-2025, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBrightSide

By brackets, you mean those little plastic rotatable “platform” things that act like spacers in between the area of the rear valence with the “fins”, in the lower middle section? Yeah… I could imagine those maybe even stripping… though I’m sure there would definitely be a ghetto work-around for that. Haha It looks like once those screws are out, and the two other main side screws (or bolts) are out on the lower sides, the rest should just come undone from 3M tape…

Yeah that is the brackets I speak of. If you remove it, You will certainly have visible holes right behind the rear wheels where the front brackets attach between the bumper cover and diffuser. Also don’t be surprised if your bumper needs a repaint after removing the diffuser(if not reinstalling it) I’d bet it’s got some spots where dirt and road debris has gotten in there and rubbed the paint, I’ve seen this before on cars that have had this particular diffuser removed.

SS_Dave · 02-11-2025, 12:38 PM

I have the specific full instructions for the GFX kit at home. Let me check tonight if I have a link or could email a PDF.

Arogg · 02-11-2025, 04:43 PM

ummm hate to be this guy but if your looking to sell that factory rear GFX piece, message me. Mine was damaged a few years ago but havent found an affordable replacement yet. My factory GX kit is my favorite part of my car and what sold me on buying it

SS_Dave · 02-11-2025, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS_Dave

I have the specific full instructions for the GFX kit at home. Let me check tonight if I have a link or could email a PDF.

Here you go. You can download the complete PDF.

https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59669

TheBrightSide · 02-11-2025, 08:54 PM

I have buyer’s remorse since I was putting the car back to smog for CA testing, and came along a super cheap used SS 1LE OEM catback, and was seeing if maybe I could run it on my GFX by just removing the rear metal trim pieces?

It looks like the OEM NPP exhaust tips sit just a few inches closer towards the middle of the bumper. That, and I hate how the entire exhaust is a whole entire welded section. I used to specifically get v-band clamp flanges welded on, or some traditional oval or triangle flanges with flat gaskets.

I figured I could maybe cut some sections of the exhaust where it’s straight, since it’s 2.5” OD; and then I can just use another pair of the factory 2.5” butt joint exhaust clamps for that cut section. I’d have to order more of those if I made more cuts like that. Still debating as of right now… Probably gonna end up selling and just redo-ing my rear bumper.

02-11-2025, 01:15 AM	#1
TheBrightSide Drives: 2010 Chevy Camaro 2SS coupe (MT) Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Sacramento, CA - USA Posts: 371	GFX- Ground Effects rear bumper valence/diffuser removal? Does anyone with a 10-11 2SS or convertible with the factory GM Ground Effects appearance package/bodykit, have experience with removing the rear bumper valence/diffuser? Seems like it’s mostly 3M taped on the upper edges from the factory, but I’m not entirely 100% sure. My sides of the rear bumper valence/diffuser, have started coming undone from the aging mounting/double-side 3M tape, and I want to take it apart and give it all new 3M mounting tape (which should hold for the next few years, I assume). I saw a video where a guy simply ripped it right off the rear bumper, so I’m not sure if the middle section has anything attached, like what the normal V8 model rear bumpers have for their exhaust valence. I was also wondering if I removed it, if the rear bumper would have been modified in any way to accept the factory GFX rear bumper valence/diffuser? I wanted to run a factory NPP catback, but I’d need to acquire a 12-13 ZL1 rear bumper, or get a GM Performance rear bumper exhaust valence/trim, which has the open factory quad exit exhaust cutouts.

02-11-2025, 08:36 AM	#3
Aqua Blue RS/SS Drives: ABM #93 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Lotaburger Posts: 3,188	Here you can see where it mechanically attaches on the front lower corners and across the rear in the middle. It uses the double sided foam tape everywhere else. The bumper does have to be drilled for some if not all the mounting holes. The clips mentioned by MSgt O are for the front splitter, this should just use trim clips like a lot of the rest of the car. Be really careful not to damage any of the brackets on the splitter though. You will have to fab something up if you do. Attached Images __________________ ABM #2399 2SS/RS:SOLD ABM #93 2SS/RS Black Rally stripes, Titanium Interior 4,000 miles: GM GFX side skirts and diffuser waiting on paint, GM dovetail, GM heritage, RPI ZL1 style splitter. ‘87 IROC-Z Iroc blue. all original unmolested with 50K miles.

02-11-2025, 04:43 PM	#9
Arogg A legend in his own mind Drives: 2010 2SS/RS M6 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 934	ummm hate to be this guy but if your looking to sell that factory rear GFX piece, message me. Mine was damaged a few years ago but havent found an affordable replacement yet. My factory GX kit is my favorite part of my car and what sold me on buying it __________________ 2010 2SS/RS "The Mistress" Color matched OEM GFX / VIS Carbon Fiber Hood (absolute trash quality and customer service ) / Heritage Grille / 5% Windows / 30% Windshield tint with 5% visor strip / Tinted Exterior Lights / Streetfighter LA Spoiler / Morimoto XB LED fogs / LED sidemarkers / Airaid CAI / Hurst Short Throw / TSP LT's / No cats / No resonator / Corsa Xtreme Catback / Trifecta Tune / Factory amp replaced / 2 JL Audio 12's / MRR 228 Wheels / BMR Springs / Koni Yellows / R1 Concepts Rotors & Pads 2006 Dodge Magnum RT "The daily"

02-11-2025, 08:31 AM	#2
MSgt O Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Vert LS3/M6 Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Cheboygan, Michigan Posts: 916	I just acquired a Hennessey rear bumper cover and it has an odd diffuser (which is why I wanted it). Taking it apart there were 2 screws in the lower section from diffuser to bumper cover and 2 very long L shaped brackets that run through the impact plastic piece that attaches to the bumper cover with pressure wedges held with big washers, so it is "kind of" attached to the rear bumper cover. It is also double sided taped the entire length of it as well. I would just pull your bumper cover off and look before you go yanking on the diffuser. I thought the OEM GFX has some kind of "clips" that people say are hard to come by now and break easy but maybe I am remembering that incorrectly

02-11-2025, 10:43 AM	#6
MSgt O Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS Vert LS3/M6 Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: Cheboygan, Michigan Posts: 916	I dont see why not? Why would you take off the GFX one though? I looked for a while for one that was in decent shape. Hard to come by now!

02-11-2025, 12:38 PM	#8
SS_Dave Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS/RS Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: McKinney, TX Posts: 517	I have the specific full instructions for the GFX kit at home. Let me check tonight if I have a link or could email a PDF.

02-11-2025, 08:54 PM	#11
TheBrightSide Drives: 2010 Chevy Camaro 2SS coupe (MT) Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Sacramento, CA - USA Posts: 371	I have buyer’s remorse since I was putting the car back to smog for CA testing, and came along a super cheap used SS 1LE OEM catback, and was seeing if maybe I could run it on my GFX by just removing the rear metal trim pieces? It looks like the OEM NPP exhaust tips sit just a few inches closer towards the middle of the bumper. That, and I hate how the entire exhaust is a whole entire welded section. I used to specifically get v-band clamp flanges welded on, or some traditional oval or triangle flanges with flat gaskets. I figured I could maybe cut some sections of the exhaust where it’s straight, since it’s 2.5” OD; and then I can just use another pair of the factory 2.5” butt joint exhaust clamps for that cut section. I’d have to order more of those if I made more cuts like that. Still debating as of right now… Probably gonna end up selling and just redo-ing my rear bumper.