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I'm apparently overlooking the obvious but the suspension top rubber bumpers are proving to be a P.I.A. The retaining end has to go in the hole in the support but there is no access to the rear side to help it down or to get the lip seated so the bumper is retained. The bottoms were easy because they are retained with a clip and open access. Not the top. Surely someone has done this before. I've tried grease, silicone, a flattish tool under the bumper pushing directly on the lip area and strong words. Any other hints?

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Not sure they're the same but I've done similar "blind" front suspension bumpers before successfully and relatively easily. Dish detergent on the rubber. You might want an extra set of hands - what I did was have a friend twist them while I pushed aggressively in the center of the bushing end with something blunt and relatively small diameter to deform it a bit and help extend the lip on the other end to slip thru and seat itself. It's what we used to call a "pesky" little job.

Thanks, Dave. That did it.

For benefit of anyone else like me not able to figure out the simple things, the rubber stem was lubed. Instead of a helper, placed a large nut about 3/4 dia in the center of the bumper. Let the weight of the car upper A arm down on the nut and bumper. The nut pushed into the center of bumper and retaining section went down into the hole nicely.

Howard, Neat trick. I would have thought you would have had to jack up the front of the car so the upper A-arm would move down as the weight was removed, there by seating the bumper into its hole. I did the job on a 1939 Cadillac 60 Special years ago, and as I recall the bumper fit into the hole without any problems after lubricating it with liquid diswashing soap. One more job checked off.

(o{}o)

I would have thought you would have had to jack up the front of the car so the upper A-arm would move down as the weight was removed, there by seating the bumper into its hole.

That is exactly what I was trying to say with "weight of the car" except like everything else I write lately, can't seem to do it with clarity.

Your writing and descriptions of work are first class. The extent you go to providing text and images is impressive. Maybe you should start a column: "Howard's Garage". Not a blog, per se, but a description of projects you have accomplished. It would be great and informative reading.

(o{}o)

I fussed with those things for hours on the '50. I ended up doing exactly what you did... it worked.