To bumper or not to bumper, thats the rub!

[brackie1]

here is my take on the subject. Mine is a 78 as well. I took my bumpers off because they were in bad shape and could not afford to have them re-chromed plus they were really heavy. So I did the next best thing I could think of. Where is I like what I have done, I would prefer to have the earlier model bumpers, but can not find any at a reasonable price.



Gene
North Carolina

[Texsardo]

Great ideas but the bumper is in excellent condition. I don't need a new bumper or lights. The problem is anchor for the strut has rusted around the upper bolt that attaches th base to the inner wheel well. That is the part that the strut goes into and held by a horizontal bolt. It seems the same thing has happened to the front side of base to wheel well. Nothing holding the base except back horizontal bolt . I can't even figure out where the front superbly was actually attached, frame or plate etc. There is just a hole rusted out of the wheel well and the front of the base is hanging down about 1/2-1". This causes the bumper to droop 2-3". And since the strut/shock has extended (the inner bar is sticking out of the outer tube like a sprung shock absorber), the bumper sticks out by about an inch more than passenger side and this causes the passenger side to pinch in almost touching the body. The whole bumper on drivers side looks like it smirking. So I would need some one to fix, weld, whatever, the base for the replacement strut to be attached. That would bring bumper up level and in so both sides would be equal spaced between bumper and body.
Therefore the question is, fix (probably expensive and hard to do) or remove bumper and both struts leaving 2 holes on each side, in the body. What do I do to cover or conceal them. I can see trying to fit a big round turn signal light on the inner oval shaped holes but what to do with the outer square holes. Can't attach any kind of bumper. Don't want to have a body shop weld a plate and some how cover and blend the square holes either.
I will try to download a photo showing the problem but I'm not very good so far. I use photobucket but still learning.
Texsardo

[brackie1]

I had the same problem with photo bucket until iI realizes that you have to resize all of the pics to 650 x 480 or there about. Could you have some new mounts fabricated and welded to the frame. Just curious. I was fortunate in that mine are great shape. Probably the excessive weight of those tubular bumpers have contributed to the problem.

[Texsardo]

OK, hope this comes out. This is the problem. See where top not has nothing holding it up. Ideas??

[brackie1]

Yeah I see what you mean. Its been a while since i looked at that area. Is there nothing to support some restructuring there? Going the route I went or some of the other bumperless guys would solve the drooping problem due to the lack of weight stress. I actually replaced my bumper struts with 2" galvanized pipe. I made a bracket that I welded to the pipe then bolted to the bumperets. I know it would not stand up to an impact so I am extremely careful when driving.

[toplessexpat]

You know - I may try the tucked in look on the FI. Collapsing the shocks is easy enough on the front - and the rear doesn't offend me.

I hadn't thought about the spoiler "correcting" the underbite to be honest...

[speedracer]

I say bumper. Check out "speedracer"s car. He tucked the tube bumpers closer to the body (not sure how exactly) and it really improved the look.

Thanks for the plug George!

I really do like the look of the bumpers tucked in close to the car. They actually look like they are part of the car now, and not some add-on afterthought. It should have been an easy thing to do, but the liquid in the shocks had long ago ceased to be liquid, and they wouldn't drain after being drilled or budge for that matter. It took more persuasion than I was comfortable with, like running into my garage wall a few times(!), but in the end, the bumpers moved.

[divace73]

this is my 'temporary' solution...



cable tied inside the grill

[Texsardo]

OK, quite divided here. Anyone know where I can get turn signal lights to fit the somewhat oval edged holes closest to center.
Maybe I can put some kind of grill behind the square holes. But if anyone looking at the photo of my problem knows how to fix it, please reply quickly or I guess it is no bumper and sell a bumper in excellent shape and sell the replacement strut. Guess I will have to get the lower air dam. Actually I think I am beginning to like the bumperless look anyway since I am not trying to restore to original condition. Just want the car on the road more.
Texsardo

[brackie1]

When i first got my car the previous had the attached lights in the holes nearest the grill which is where the bumper struts go. I replace them for what I am doing now. However, they did seem to fit nicely in that hole. I think they actually came off of a motorcyle. anyway if you would like to have them, I would be glad to send them to you free of charge since I am not going to use them. Also attached is a pic of my car with these lights on it before i replaced them and a pic of it now.

[steve8462]

i really like the new rectangular ones you have now. where did you score them?

[brackie1]

They are from a jeep, not sure what year or model. I found them on amazon. However, one of our fellow forum members has just put me onto a pair of vw lights on eBay. I believe they will fit better since they are slightly curved whereas the ones I have now are not but need to be. Here is the eBay thread for the vw lights. Http://www.eBay.com/itm/1991-1997-vw-GO...f7&vxp=mtr these are $23. I ordered a pair. In the pic I sent you the lights were mounted from the outside of the fender. I have since re-mounted the from behind the fender looks better.

[4uall]

Not sure if you have seen this

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... 7&p=210437

[Texsardo]

OK, I have decided to go without the front bumper. . I will install the wind dam on the bottom to cure he over bite look.
Now what I need are the rectangular orange turn signal lights for the outer square/rectangular or whatever holes. Do not want round that don't fit and show some empty space. A few photos showed really nice examples of the rectangular look. I tried the url leads but pages could not be loaded,etc. I tried Jeep and VW golf but what years? Does anyone know for SURE where to get the Orange rectangular lights for the outer square holes. Don't want to weld any plates or alter the holes. Just would like something that an idiot like me could fit without Gray headache. I will try to find fog lights or something else for the inner holes. I also really like how some of you replaced the original upper and lower grills. Was that a difficult task? Where did you get the grill material and how did you fit or secure it to the openings? Sorry, I know I am asking a lot but I don't have my on shop with limitless tools. And after paying Meinke Brake/Muffler center to R/R my front calipers and pads $400.00 labor and I supplied all parts. Well I just don't have a lot of money as I am a Disabled Retired Vet. Plus I need to replace rear calipers but they are almost non existent or $100 per rebuilt plus $75 core charge is really not helping either. So any help appreciated to get lights in the outer square holes.
Texsardo

[brackie1]

Ok , Iam the one with the black '78 with the square signal lites and replaced grill. I am soory that you could not open the eeBay site I told you about with regard to the square lites. If you will go to the forum board index and then go to the section called custom stuff you will see a post called "front spoiler". Its the thread I started. On the 2nd page someone posted reply giving me that eeBay web for the vw lites. You can tap on it and it will take you to the lites. That's what I did and I ordered them.

As far the grill it is easy to do. I am not mechanical and I did it. I found a local steel distribution company who sells the " diamond" material in 2 x 4 sheets. Mine is aluminum. It cost $50. He had stainless steel but it was crazy expensive. Just remove old grill just a few screws and use them for patterns. You can cut the diamond sheet with metal sheers. You will have to put the top grill on first its a little tight but you can do it. If you need to talk about it you can send me an email at gsaalweachter@triad.rr.com.