urethane bumper help
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: Little Italy MI
urethane bumper help
I need to replace the warped urethane bumpers on my 77and would like to go fiberglass. I've read many posts where people suggest using one kind of bumper over another for the ease of install or perhaps easier.
Can anyone give me some guidance please and where to buy.
Thanks
Can anyone give me some guidance please and where to buy.
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Ecklers is among the most expensive, but the best fitting - from what I've read.
I had an Ecklers fiberglass rear bumper on my 75 - fit great.
Most rears fit pretty well.
The trouble most people see is in the front one.
I have read many posts that describe a width difference of 1/2".
Sometimes less - but usually enough to cut a small section out
of the bumper to make it fit.
These were hand-made cars, even though they used jigs - they still vary.
The urethane covers bend and stretch to accomodate the differences.
So, I'd say no problem for the rear.
I'm going fiberglass up front, but I am prepared to modify as required.
Oh yeah - regular fiberglass or Tru-flex - that's the buyer's call.
The Tru-flex is flexible fiberglass - supposed to have a urethane 'feel'.
I don't think they will stretch to fit like urethane.
I had an Ecklers fiberglass rear bumper on my 75 - fit great.
Most rears fit pretty well.
The trouble most people see is in the front one.
I have read many posts that describe a width difference of 1/2".
Sometimes less - but usually enough to cut a small section out
of the bumper to make it fit.
These were hand-made cars, even though they used jigs - they still vary.
The urethane covers bend and stretch to accomodate the differences.
So, I'd say no problem for the rear.
I'm going fiberglass up front, but I am prepared to modify as required.
Oh yeah - regular fiberglass or Tru-flex - that's the buyer's call.
The Tru-flex is flexible fiberglass - supposed to have a urethane 'feel'.
I don't think they will stretch to fit like urethane.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: Location: at the right hand of Satan in Hell
I bought both the front and rear bumper from Vanacor's (fiberglass), as well as the T-bolt kits.
My poly ones had dry rotted and spider webbed so bad that I removed them in 5 minutes each with a rubber mallet.
Anyway, Vanacor's was great in price, service, and especially quality. It took me 15 minutes to clamp each new bumper in place, about 30 minutes to line them up perfectly and drill my new holes, and about 15 minutes to fasten all of my T- bolts. Total for each bumper - 1 hour.
I must say that I lucked out. My worst area only needed to be filled about 1/8 of an inch. (good car or good bumper? - you decide)
Also, as someone who has done this - STAY AWAY from the flexable fiberglass stuff. It doesn't stretch, it's hard to work with, and if you have to fill it anyway - why not get the far superior product and get the real fiberglass. It will hold up much better, it will install easier, and it will paint better. All this adds up to you will be happier and save a few hours of labor at the body shop.
My poly ones had dry rotted and spider webbed so bad that I removed them in 5 minutes each with a rubber mallet.
Anyway, Vanacor's was great in price, service, and especially quality. It took me 15 minutes to clamp each new bumper in place, about 30 minutes to line them up perfectly and drill my new holes, and about 15 minutes to fasten all of my T- bolts. Total for each bumper - 1 hour.
I must say that I lucked out. My worst area only needed to be filled about 1/8 of an inch. (good car or good bumper? - you decide)
Also, as someone who has done this - STAY AWAY from the flexable fiberglass stuff. It doesn't stretch, it's hard to work with, and if you have to fill it anyway - why not get the far superior product and get the real fiberglass. It will hold up much better, it will install easier, and it will paint better. All this adds up to you will be happier and save a few hours of labor at the body shop.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: Little Italy MI
Originally Posted by NHvette
Ecklers is among the most expensive, but the best fitting - from what I've read.
I had an Ecklers fiberglass rear bumper on my 75 - fit great.
Most rears fit pretty well.
The trouble most people see is in the front one.
I have read many posts that describe a width difference of 1/2".
Sometimes less - but usually enough to cut a small section out
of the bumper to make it fit.
These were hand-made cars, even though they used jigs - they still vary.
The urethane covers bend and stretch to accomodate the differences.
So, I'd say no problem for the rear.
I'm going fiberglass up front, but I am prepared to modify as required.
Oh yeah - regular fiberglass or Tru-flex - that's the buyer's call.
The Tru-flex is flexible fiberglass - supposed to have a urethane 'feel'.
I don't think they will stretch to fit like urethane.
I had an Ecklers fiberglass rear bumper on my 75 - fit great.
Most rears fit pretty well.
The trouble most people see is in the front one.
I have read many posts that describe a width difference of 1/2".
Sometimes less - but usually enough to cut a small section out
of the bumper to make it fit.
These were hand-made cars, even though they used jigs - they still vary.
The urethane covers bend and stretch to accomodate the differences.
So, I'd say no problem for the rear.
I'm going fiberglass up front, but I am prepared to modify as required.
Oh yeah - regular fiberglass or Tru-flex - that's the buyer's call.
The Tru-flex is flexible fiberglass - supposed to have a urethane 'feel'.
I don't think they will stretch to fit like urethane.
bumpers or is Vanacors just the same?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: Location: at the right hand of Satan in Hell
To tell you the truth, i don't know if they use the same molds or what, but the bottom line is since every car is an individual, nobody can tell you if either bumper will fit your car better. They will all need "a little extra."
So, as neither will "fit," I would just buy the one with the cheaper price.
I think that everyone will agree.
So, as neither will "fit," I would just buy the one with the cheaper price.
I think that everyone will agree.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: Little Italy MI
Originally Posted by bryan27
To tell you the truth, i don't know if they use the same molds or what, but the bottom line is since every car is an individual, nobody can tell you if either bumper will fit your car better. They will all need "a little extra."
So, as neither will "fit," I would just buy the one with the cheaper price.
I think that everyone will agree.
So, as neither will "fit," I would just buy the one with the cheaper price.
I think that everyone will agree.
