getting the tube bumpers closer to the car

[81SPIDERMATT]

saw something and now i can not find it.... looking to pull the tube bumpers in closer to the car.... how would you accomplish this.... thanks.... matt.... 81 spider

[velozi]

Never done it but I think you drill the posts to release oil and pressure and then slowly force them in.

May need to slowly bonce it to a concrete wall or something strong.

Sounds crazy but that is what I heard one time.

[baltobernie]

ga.spider (Craig Nelson) has performed this modification. Search his posts, or PM him.

[TX82FIAT]

There is a post out there someplace with more details. The basic idea is referenced above. Wear some old clothes and put a nice size pan under where you will drill the holes. If you are lucky the fluid is still fluid and will run out. After measuring drill the hole through the outter tube, drain, push in the bumpers... yes, you may need to back into something or apply some even pressure with repeated attempts. Once you get the inner tube to where you want it drill new holes through the inner tub using the outter holes you drilled and set an appropriate sized bolt through the bumper to fasten the position. I helped do this once with a guy in Vegas. The fluid ran out easy making a mess on his garage floor. The two of us were able to push and pull on the bumper until it started to move. Once it started to move, it took us about 30 labor intensive minutes to get it to the depth he wanted. I can't recall Frank's last name. I think he pulled the bumpers off and painted the car a cool nimbus grey after that. Iterior and wheels were awesome. Engine was strong but could have used a little clean up.

[Daniel]

i did this once drilled a hole in all the bumper shocks then with the bottom of my foot while facing forward
kicked the bumpers in i was able to push one side at a time in .

[81SPIDERMATT]

awesome... thanks very much.... gotta love a cheap effective mod like this... will let you know how it turns out

[courtenay]

Agree it's a cheap mod - not sure about the effective part, particularly if someone bumps into you...

[81SPIDERMATT]

ok ... drilled drained and bumped the bumpers... front bumper broke loose with a slight nudge against the phone pole out back (not recommended ) just how i did it.... once it started to move could move it by hand... back bumper one side moved with a kick and the other side nothing... pole bumping ... nothing.... so i drilled another weep hole or 2... nothing.. that thing will not move.... gonna squirt it every other day and give a bump every now and then... sooner or later it will go.... i do love the way that it turned out... thanks for the advise and encouragement ,,,, love this site and everyone on it

[Daniel]

try pulling the 1st side back out that you pushed in the off set maybe hanging/ binding up the other side so
you might want to start over and move the bumper in a little bit at a time from side to side .

[htchevyii]

I just got done doing mine, no pics yet. Here's a link to Craigs thread:
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... per#p45276

[geno58]

I did my 1980 Spder, had to lay on my back, on a creeper, and kick the Crap out of the bumpers, one side at a time.
Sprayed a little W.D. where they slide together, and finally they did move in.
Looks so much better, I'll try to post a pic.
Good Luck