82 TruFlex Bumper Help
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 526
Likes: 89
From: Kings Park NY
82 TruFlex Bumper Help
I can finally see daylight at the end of the tunnel on the front end rebuild of my 82 CE. I replaced the header bar, nose bar, headlight actuator supports and almost everything else. I decided to replace the 30 year old urathane bumper cover while I was there since it was wavy and looked like somebody didn't know how to park without running into things.
I ordered my new TruFlex front bumper cover from Wilcox and after several test fittings I'm not sure how I'm going to get this to fit. If you line up the body line at the center of the car everything looks great except for the drivers side corner. I know each car has it's own personality and nothing is exact. But how do I fix this (see pic)
Thanks in advance. BTW I'm not a bodyman
I ordered my new TruFlex front bumper cover from Wilcox and after several test fittings I'm not sure how I'm going to get this to fit. If you line up the body line at the center of the car everything looks great except for the drivers side corner. I know each car has it's own personality and nothing is exact. But how do I fix this (see pic)
Thanks in advance. BTW I'm not a bodyman
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,614
Likes: 350
From: No Where USA
Mine fit the same on my 80. The wheel well on the drivers side was also short. I was going to mold mine in so it really wasn't a problem. I sectioned the bumper and got it to fit. That won't fit right without some work. I also got mine from Wilcox.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 526
Likes: 89
From: Kings Park NY
what exactlt did you do to makw it fit? From what im guessing is you cut your bumper then re glassed it back together.
QUOTE=malicatasr;1582476337]I can finally see daylight at the end of the tunnel on the front end rebuild of my 82 CE. I replaced the header bar, nose bar, headlight actuator supports and almost everything else. I decided to replace the 30 year old urathane bumper cover while I was there since it was wavy and looked like somebody didn't know how to park without running into things.
I ordered my new TruFlex front bumper cover from Wilcox and after several test fittings I'm not sure how I'm going to get this to fit. If you line up the body line at the center of the car everything looks great except for the drivers side corner. I know each car has it's own personality and nothing is exact. But how do I fix this (see pic)
Thanks in advance. BTW I'm not a bodyman[/QUOTE]
QUOTE=malicatasr;1582476337]I can finally see daylight at the end of the tunnel on the front end rebuild of my 82 CE. I replaced the header bar, nose bar, headlight actuator supports and almost everything else. I decided to replace the 30 year old urathane bumper cover while I was there since it was wavy and looked like somebody didn't know how to park without running into things.
I ordered my new TruFlex front bumper cover from Wilcox and after several test fittings I'm not sure how I'm going to get this to fit. If you line up the body line at the center of the car everything looks great except for the drivers side corner. I know each car has it's own personality and nothing is exact. But how do I fix this (see pic)
Thanks in advance. BTW I'm not a bodyman
[/QUOTE]
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,614
Likes: 350
From: No Where USA
what exactlt did you do to makw it fit? From what im guessing is you cut your bumper then re glassed it back together.
QUOTE=malicatasr;1582476337]I can finally see daylight at the end of the tunnel on the front end rebuild of my 82 CE. I replaced the header bar, nose bar, headlight actuator supports and almost everything else. I decided to replace the 30 year old urathane bumper cover while I was there since it was wavy and looked like somebody didn't know how to park without running into things.
I ordered my new TruFlex front bumper cover from Wilcox and after several test fittings I'm not sure how I'm going to get this to fit. If you line up the body line at the center of the car everything looks great except for the drivers side corner. I know each car has it's own personality and nothing is exact. But how do I fix this (see pic)
Thanks in advance. BTW I'm not a bodyman
QUOTE=malicatasr;1582476337]I can finally see daylight at the end of the tunnel on the front end rebuild of my 82 CE. I replaced the header bar, nose bar, headlight actuator supports and almost everything else. I decided to replace the 30 year old urathane bumper cover while I was there since it was wavy and looked like somebody didn't know how to park without running into things.
I ordered my new TruFlex front bumper cover from Wilcox and after several test fittings I'm not sure how I'm going to get this to fit. If you line up the body line at the center of the car everything looks great except for the drivers side corner. I know each car has it's own personality and nothing is exact. But how do I fix this (see pic)
Thanks in advance. BTW I'm not a bodyman
Slice it and make it fit right. I did that and got it to fit, but like I said I molded it in. I also added some glass from the inside to stiffen it up. You can get it to fit and look good, it will just take some time.
If I had to buy them again I would go with the fiberglass. I hate the urethane wave and would never use one.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,694
Likes: 833
From: WI
Well, now you are finding out why I have been telling people that True-flex isn't really "true flex) when the fit is way off. These cars were more or less hand-built and the front corners, where different panels converge are the trickiest part to make fit right.
There is no guarantee that a urethane bumper would fit a whole lot better. It might, it might not. The urethane isn't like super thin plastic that just goes where you flex it, it's heavier material in the corner with a flange for support and shape. Mine wasn't off as much as yours, but it was off a little in much the same way. Since I was re-painting my car, I built the front fender up with filler in that area to match the fit of the front bumper. Turned out great. In the back I had to trim and re-glass a true-flex to get it to fight right. That was a while ago and still looks great.
If you want to get it to fit, you might be better off sectioning the bumper to get it to fit.
Good luck.
There is no guarantee that a urethane bumper would fit a whole lot better. It might, it might not. The urethane isn't like super thin plastic that just goes where you flex it, it's heavier material in the corner with a flange for support and shape. Mine wasn't off as much as yours, but it was off a little in much the same way. Since I was re-painting my car, I built the front fender up with filler in that area to match the fit of the front bumper. Turned out great. In the back I had to trim and re-glass a true-flex to get it to fight right. That was a while ago and still looks great.
If you want to get it to fit, you might be better off sectioning the bumper to get it to fit.
Good luck.
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Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 526
Likes: 89
From: Kings Park NY
Wel I cut into my new bumper cover yesterday and took about an 1/8 of an inch of material out. Then glassed it back together and it looks like everything is going to work out. I have some additional body work to do now, but it looks okay.
