using shims on bumpers before paint
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: GA
using shims on bumpers before paint
I have got my car close for the first coat of epoxy. Has anyone had good luck with shimming the bumpers out 1/4" from the car before paint instead of painting them off the car. If so could you give me any tips or things to watch for. I have the bumpers fitting real nice but do want to take the chance on damage re-installing them.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,944
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From: Yooperville MI
I've had the opportunity to do the finish painting with the bumpers on and off the car, and prefer to do them off the car. I assume these are fiberglass bumpers and you have filled and block sanded them to fit the body.
Since you are still in the early prep stages, I would prime them off the car for both the epoxy and the sanding primer. Yes, you will need to R&R these a few more times, but you might not need to use all the fasteners each time, but the final fit and finish will be worth the extra trouble. Painting off the car will ensure better paint coverage in the hard to get at areas and underneath when they are at a comfortable working height. If you prime them on the car, you will get dry spray buildup on the mounting surfaces that will need to be smoothed later. For block sanding of the body, I would remount the bumpers and long block over the bumper seams for an even better match. You really don't know how well they fit until you start block sanding primer and the final fit depends on your level of perfection. When you remove the bumpers for final painting, round off the primer edges on the body and bumpers.
Have you checked for front bumper flex as you tighten the mounting nuts?
Since you are still in the early prep stages, I would prime them off the car for both the epoxy and the sanding primer. Yes, you will need to R&R these a few more times, but you might not need to use all the fasteners each time, but the final fit and finish will be worth the extra trouble. Painting off the car will ensure better paint coverage in the hard to get at areas and underneath when they are at a comfortable working height. If you prime them on the car, you will get dry spray buildup on the mounting surfaces that will need to be smoothed later. For block sanding of the body, I would remount the bumpers and long block over the bumper seams for an even better match. You really don't know how well they fit until you start block sanding primer and the final fit depends on your level of perfection. When you remove the bumpers for final painting, round off the primer edges on the body and bumpers.
Have you checked for front bumper flex as you tighten the mounting nuts?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 246
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From: GA
Hoover
Yes I have already finished preliminary fitting of the bumpers and followed the procedure I found on this forum for fitting and filling the bumpers. They line up very nice right now. I have the bumper bolts tight now and did not notice much flex, it actually fits fairly well just against the body without tightning. You make several good points on taking them off, I may go ahead and do that, I have already had them off and on many times so lots of practice.
Thanks again
Yes I have already finished preliminary fitting of the bumpers and followed the procedure I found on this forum for fitting and filling the bumpers. They line up very nice right now. I have the bumper bolts tight now and did not notice much flex, it actually fits fairly well just against the body without tightning. You make several good points on taking them off, I may go ahead and do that, I have already had them off and on many times so lots of practice.
Thanks again
