Turn lights and "T" bars

[manoa matt]

It seams everyone has different solutions when it comes to removing the front and rear bumpers and the resulting holes and how to signal to other drivers you are turning. I like the look of bumperetts if they are smaller, but they seam to offer no protection as they are usually bolted to the sheet metal and do not stick out past the nose of the car. I also like the look of the "T" bars some of the VW crowd installs, but would ultimatly like to fit something similar to an AC cobra. My solution was to use the existing bumper shock holes and mounting brackets to mount a custom T bar made from 1 5/8" diameter exhaust tubing. The diameter is the same as the bumper shock. The vertical piece of the T bar is the same relative angle of the existing tube bumpers that is also parallel to the front of the car. The T bar slides into the existing bumper bracket and is secured with the existing large bolt. The rear bumper shock rubber trim rings are used where the T bar passes through the sheet metal fender. Since the existing bumpers have two separate mounting points at each side, the T bar can be centered in the oval fender hole by adding washers between the front mounting bracket and the frame rail. Once the T bar is installed and centered the rubber trim ring is tightened around the T bar with a hose clamp.

I spent a good deal of time on the NAPA website looking at the various lights they offer. I initially found a few that were rectangular with a rubber gasket surround that looked like they would fit flush in the existing square hole, but when I bought a few they were too big. I found some lights that looked similar to the early turn signal lights. Napa part No. 60302Y . The lights come with dual filament turn signal bulbs and are wired as such. The housings are white plastic. I spray painted mine silver, but black would also look good. Within the housing are two dimpled areas that were perfect to locate mounting screws. I installed some stainless screws and added rubber washers to keep out any water. I made a simple bracket similar to how the side marker lights mount. The light simply sandwitches around the existing sheet metal. I also added some metal duct tape on the inside to make a reflector for the bulb. I also made a light housing to body gasket from some black EVA foam from the craft store. You can mount the light without the gasket and it brings it closer to the body, but you can see some gaps here and there and they would not be noticeable from a few feet away. I think if you painted the housings black and mounted them without a gasket it would not seam to stick out as much. There is a small rectangular gap below the light as can be seen in some of the pictures, however with the light installed you don't see this, and the area could be covered with steel mesh or a blanking plate.

The following pictures should give a general indication of the mods. The T bar is not complete yet as there is some grinding left to do around the top and bottom where the end caps are welded on. I just quickly sparyed it silver over the rust to give a general idea of how it will look when complete. Also with it just mocked up in a single fender it might not look quite right, or as it should when everything is complete. The lights were about $12 each, and the exhaust tube was about $15 for a 10 foot length. I have enough tube for another set of T bars.

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[katsi]

How much will you be selling the T bars for? I think they look great. Ill see how much my buddy can chrome them for. He ownes a plating shop in San Diego.

[johndemar]

It seams everyone has different solutions when it comes to removing the front and rear bumpers and the resulting holes and how to signal to other drivers you are turning. I like the look of bumperetts if they are smaller, but they seam to offer no protection as they are usually bolted to the sheet metal and do not stick out past the nose of the car.

I'm of the opinion that even the big bumpers will only offer some protection in parking lot situations. Lets face it, if these cars get hit hard nothing will really help. And nothing is pretty much what I have.

Love the ingenuity though Matt, done right the VW or Cobra type bars would look good.

[davery]

When I was looking at replacing the bumpers, I was thinking about something like the Cobra nudge bar bumper. It would have to be custom made and chromed. I just decided to go with the Abarth bumperettes.

[fiat218]

How much will you be selling the T bars for? I think they look great. Ill see how much my buddy can chrome them for. He ownes a plating shop in San Diego.

Yes check out your buddy, let me know