fibreglass front and rear impact bumpers, anyone used them?

[clarkycat]

OK, these are about a 5th of the cost of the aluminium ones,

Is there a good reason why a forum search does not produce threads of you guys jumping up and down with joy over the fact you won't be chasing rot around laminated ally for the rest of your lives, as to me it seems like a good idea and takes the stonechip metal-rot horror away from that area.

 

I'm guessing there is finishing and fetting, but it can't be any worse than the time trying to repair an original, and still expecting it to rot back at some stage?

 

Was looking at the club autosport ones BTW

[Dr Rock]

Probably 'cos those that change their bumpers go for carbon fibre ones...?

[tea boy]

Jezza (Tripe) bought a set today they looked real nice and were very expensive

 

I think that club autosport stuff is not the best.

[Fred]

I am in the same situation than you Tea boy, I can't find a front FG original bumper.

[Dr Rock]

I can't find a front FG original bumper.

You won't: original bumpers are aluminium

[Fred]

You won't: original bumpers are aluminium

 

I just meant, same shape.

[Dr Rock]

I just meant, same shape.

So you're not after the Moby Dick look then...?

[theo5042]

OK, these are about a 5th of the cost of the aluminium ones,

Is there a good reason why a forum search does not produce threads of you guys jumping up and down with joy over the fact you won't be chasing rot around laminated ally for the rest of your lives, as to me it seems like a good idea and takes the stonechip metal-rot horror away from that area.

 

I'm guessing there is finishing and fetting, but it can't be any worse than the time trying to repair an original, and still expecting it to rot back at some stage?

 

Was looking at the club autosport ones BTW

I made a one off mold to make my f/g front bumper/valance.(There is a thread in the bodywork section)

I could make a better mold and produce some bumpers if there was enough interest.

[Fred]

I made a one off mold to make my f/g front bumper/valance.(There is a thread in the bodywork section)

I could make a better mold and produce some bumpers if there was enough interest.

 

how good is the final result? is it exactly the same shape as the original?

[theo5042]

how good is the final result? is it exactly the same shape as the original?

The mold will be a female version of the male (you would be taking a copy off the original ) so would be an exact copy.

With this sort of work its all about the prep,and also with molds,they need to be ridgid otherwise you may get twist or some other form of distortion.

Edited May 15, 2011 by theo5042

[Fred]

The mold will be a female vesion of the male (you would be taking a copy off the original ) so would be an exact copy.

With this sort of work its all about the prep,and also with molds,they need to be ridgid otherwise you may get twist or some other form of distortion.

 

I see that you have an SC, any difference with the 3.2 bumpers? I need the holes for the fog lights.

 

I am very interested if you think that it is worth a go.

[Nige]

Yup, have money waiting Happy to put a deposit up front too.

[Fred]

that might be 3 of us already:

 

Tea Boy

Nigel

Fred

[theo5042]

that might be 3 of us already:

 

Tea Boy

Nigel

Fred

Ok

I will start on a new mold then.

Not sure about bolt hole difference between sc/3.2 would not think that there would be,maybe some one can chime in ?

I will do the front first,if you like the work ,I will do the rear as well.

I have a mold for the fog-less valance,will have to see what it would take to let in the fog lights.

[Phill]

I definitely interested too. What sort of money are we talking - ball park?

[Fred]

Ok

I will start on a new mold then.

Not sure about bolt hole difference between sc/3.2 would not think that there would be,maybe some one can chime in ?

I will do the front first,if you like the work ,I will do the rear as well.

I have a mold for the fog-less valance,will have to see what it would take to let in the fog lights.

 

 

Great!

 

I guess the fog holes can be done afterwards? we can drill it ourselves? anyway I want to drill vents instead of fog lights in mine

 

Nige, with your great knowledge, SC/3.2, much difference?

 

can we still attach the bottom rubber lip on something like this?

 

this is how mine look(if you can see enough):

 

 

Tea Boy

Nige

Fred

Phill

 

anyone else up here?

 

I don't mind to give you some money up front if it help.

[Nige]

Nige, with your great knowledge, SC/3.2, much difference?

 

shagg all difference as far as I am aware, I think there might be a small slither/cutout on the oil cooler side on a 3.2 blade. There are also some towing eye differences too, which we may choose to ignore. Maybe the headlamp wash squirters are slightly bigger, but we can just drill them ourselves if required, possibly best for all the trim mounting holes as we all may have different applications or reason not to attach bits of trim for lightness.

[Ian Comerford]

There is a company in Reading area that do some really nice fibre glass or carbon fibre copies of the IB, can't remember theur name but someone might chime in. DO a search on here (GTR Motorsport...?????) I recall that the FG ones were around £400-450 a pair, great quality, carbon fibre was a bit more

 

Ian

[Kroggers]

Are we talking just bumpers here or bumper and valance as one unit? If we are talking just bumper, then I would be interested if the price and quality was good...

[Nige]

As Kroggers, the bumper blade and valance would need to be seperate for me. I don't like those one piece items.

[Fred]

jeez my car look good!!!

 

just looking at the pic I posted yesterday!!!

[Den 1979 SC]

Great!

 

I guess the fog holes can be done afterwards? we can drill it ourselves? anyway I want to drill vents instead of fog lights in mine

 

Nige, with your great knowledge, SC/3.2, much difference?

 

can we still attach the bottom rubber lip on something like this?

 

this is how mine look(if you can see enough):

 

 

Tea Boy

Nige

Fred

Phill

 

anyone else up here?

 

I don't mind to give you some money up front if it help.

 

I would like some of these as well if that's possible and would be more than willing to put some cash up front if required. I would also be interested in the rear if you decide to produce them.

 

Best

 

Den

[Fred]

Tea Boy

Nige

Fred

Phill

Den

 

Theo, I think it's time for you to start a new compagny. I'll be your marketing agent!!

[ajd]

I'd be interested too - I have flakey alu bumpers but do want any replacement to look 100% stock, hence separate valance etc.

 

Also interested in a rear bumper as well.

 

Tea Boy

Nige

Fred

Phill

Den

ajd

[theo5042]

Thanks for all the feedback.

I will do some sums tomorrow ,but at a thumb suck I would think £150-£170,although I will try get that down a bit.It will depend somewhat on the layup .

To gain stiffness,I would use foam or balsa core,but if you wanted heavier and stronger it would add to the cost.

Also ,I could use epoxy resin in the layup.(lighter-stronger-more £££)

I must point out,that with a lightweight bumper,there would be a trade off for outright strenght .The original item is a serious chunk of ali .

So some feedback about expectation would help in getting the cost nailed down.

Thanks