Tube Bumper Thoughts & Solutions?

[htchevyii]

I just got done doing mine. I probabily did it the hard way, but I removed the bumpers and all but the left rear bumper shock, (the one with the fuel tank in the way). I put on safety glasses and then stuck the bit thru a piece of cardboard and drilled the shocks, (cardboard deflected the oil spray). The biggest reason I removed the struts was so I could easilly drill all the way thru them and put a bolt and nut thru them, (on the off chance something actually hits the bumper and not the body above, I wanted to retain some strength and didn't think a self tapping screw would be strong enough). Make sure the struts don't turn or your bumpers won't line up. Welding them would work as well, but I wasn't sure how smart it would be with the boiling oil inside. I'll post some pics when I get back from the Oregon Mirafiori Campout, (the camera is allready packed).
Craig, you were my inspiration, you car looks great.

[ga.spyder]

Thanks Trey,we will look forward to some pictures.The way you did it would be the best route.I wanted to thru-bolt the bumper shocks,but realized it wouldnt work,after I drilled them with the bumpers on Have fun at the Mira event,and take lots of pictures!! I will have my camera rolling at FFO next week as well.
Craig

[opus10583]

It wa very simple.I drilled 1/4'' holes in the bumper shocks(wear eye protection),and allowed all the fluid to drain overnight.Then I pushed them in
to where it looked good to me.When they were in position,I pinned them with self tapping screws.I didnt care for the look with the bumpers off and this was the next best,and by far least expensive fix

And yours looks great!

Can we assume you removed the shocks from the car? How about the driver's? Any process pictures?

I had a real good look at a tube bumper car undergoing a serious restoration recently and I can't figure out how to drill the bumper shocks in the right place without serious dis-assembly. Having just gotten my car back after a 6-week repair, I was hoping to avoid anymore lost days this season.

Thanks,
Mark

[htchevyii]

I finally got around to snapping some pics of the "after". I took all of the bumper shocks off, except the driver's rear, (you know, with the silly fuel tank in the way), drilled them and put bolts thru them. Sticking the drill bit thru a piece of cardboard deflects the oil spray. The left rear I drilled and then tapped the hole and screwed in a bolt. I should have painted the bolts black, maybe I'll buy a Testors paint pen and do it. It was very difficult to get the plastic covers reinstalled on the inside of the front bumper, due to the limited clearance, I should hace put them onto the bumper first.

[rlux4]

Well now the twins can be told apart Trey. I can't do my rears because the trailer hitch has a bolt that goes through it so I decided not to do the front either. I guess I'm still trying to have the last unmodified Spider in America! (If you don't count the hitch.)
ron

[dkphotog]

That looks sooooo much better. I'm not much on changing things up but I'd do that.

Hi, can you please tell how you moved the bumpers closer to the body? I'm about to take them off but hugging the body looks good enough to keep them on.

THIS LOOKS AMAZING!!! I'm definitely going to do this to my '78......IMO it's silly to take them off - I don't want my car to look like a '74 or like it's from Europe....honestly I want it to look like what it is only better so this is a great solution. When I want one with different bumpers I can buy one from that era.

Plus - in San Francisco you actually do need bumpers - people are brutal about their parking there and have no problem bumping your car a bit.

[MyWE4]

I thought I would post a few pics as my mess moves forward....
this is a test fit....I like it.....I will say that if I had a nice tube I would not paint it...but this thing was RUSTY!!! I like the 'one tube look' on the front ....if I may say so myself....The back tube is in 'driver' condition(after I cleaned it)....I hate to paint it..

[TX82FIAT]

Nice pics. Custom badge! I think if the front bumper is black with one tube you will need to do something to balance the car out. I still have the original bumper set up and actually sold a set of 72' bumpers cheap that I was going to put on the car. like the San Fran commentary... I would hate to drive the car without bumpers for that one time someone does not see me. It is really odd the way people seem to want to pull out in front of you in a Spider. Guess they just mis judge the speed you are going or think you are further away because it is a small car.

As cool as the car looks without bumpers. if it is a driver you will need some type of bumper. Original looks better the older the cars get.

[wikkid]

It is really odd the way people seem to want to pull out in front of you in a Spider. Guess they just mis judge the speed you are going or think you are further away because it is a small car.

Try riding a motorcycle, if you think it's bad in a Fiat!

[opus10583]

Hi,

I'm going to do this this winter. ...Renting a garage I can work in.

What size drill bit?

Is there a sweet spot to drill into, a point better than another?
Is there a spot not to drill into?

Any advantage to drilling into the end of the large tube, on the bottom of the circumference?

How much oil should I expect; 100ml, 200ml?

Are the the shocks pressurized with gas, or just mechanically?

Through bolts or just big-ass sheet metal screws to lock them?

Can the shocks be collapsed too much?

Anything else?

Thanks,
Mark

[WYSpider]

Someone mentioned drilling through cardboard then into the bumper. Keeps oil from spraying you.

[124JOE]

drill your 1/4" hole at the rear of the small inner shaft
expect it to pop as it is charged
no you cant go to far and it dont need a bolt or screw but helps keep it still and dirt free

[opus10583]

drill your 1/4" hole at the rear of the small inner shaft
expect it to pop as it is charged
no you cant go to far and it dont need a bolt or screw but helps keep it still and dirt free

Hi Joe,

Why the small tube, I would have thought the large is the reservoir...

Thanks,
Mark

[124JOE]

i may be wrong
if the little one dont have fluid when you drill into it
then it must be the bigger one,as the pics above show the bolt in it

[RoyBatty]

Just got done relocating my '75's front bumper 2-1/4" to the rear.
I used a different method from what I've read in this thread.
I first removed the single large bolt from each side that secured the tube to the mount bracket. This allowed the whole bumper to slide in and out of the brackets.
I then replaced the metric bolts with 9/16 x 12 bolts and nut and then installed worm screw clamps on the tube in front of and behind the bracket to prevent the bumper from sliding around on it's own.
No drilling required and the process is easily reversed.