74-89 rear bumper

[PatrickM]

Anyone know what these bumpers were made of? I thought that they were aluminum. I bought a '80 Euro rear bumper to get a set of the small bumperettes. The bumper itself is pretty heavy, moreso than I would expect for an aluminum piece.....

[SC-targa]

yes, they are aluminum

[Bill Verburg]

Yes, theay are aluminim and quite heavy. Thats why the performance minded owner will replace them w/ f/g or c/f. The difference in handling is remarkable.

[PatrickM]

Thanks. I have to guess that there is something else to them other than aluminum. It weighs too much. Are there any "factory look" f/g or c/f ones available?
-Patrick

[Bill Verburg]

dunno, there used to be but I haven't looked in ages

[89911]

They are aluminum, and not that heavy (sorry Bill). If you are weighing the bumper, pads, rubber trim, accordian bellows, impact shocks and rocker end caps, that is one thing. Just the bumper alone weighs maybe 10-15 pounds.

[Bill Verburg]

It's weight at the end of a pendulum, compare whatever they are to 2-3# f/g versions

these are the weights I got when I weighed mine
Front Al bumper 17lbs
Front valance w/ fogs 13lbs
Rear Al bumper w/ valance 24lbs

spats and accordians and hardware?

[island911]

Originally posted by 89911
They are aluminum, and not that heavy (sorry Bill). . ..

exactly.

. . and is a bumper still a bumper, if it can't take a bump?

This, and woodchucks chucking, are age-old questions; never to be answered.

[Bill Verburg]

If your worried about the bumper aspect maybe an SUV is a more appropriate ride.

To each his own nightmares.

[island911]

Well, I'm not worried about the bumper aspect .. . though I would expect those sporting faux bumper façades may be.

[ken martin]

Speaking of bumpers.. I believe I saw where someone welded all the holes and created brackets to remount the shocks to get a smooth look.. has anyone done this or know if the bumper can be welded and how to remount the shocks?
KM

[89911]

Yeah, me. (Maybe thats why I'm defensive about the weight )

If you check out the archives, I gave a brief description of the process.

Bill, your car makes almost 100hp over it's stock form, how are you going to notice 15lbs of weight in the back

[PatrickM]

I have one that is just the bumper, the rubber strips on either side and the valance below. Feels heavier than I expected.
I'm removing my WIDE a$$ USA bumperettes and having the extra two holes welded and replacing with the Euro bumperettes.

Thanks to all who have responded.
-Patrick

I luv my big ol bumpies.

[chgrec]

I just took off & stripped my '84 rear bumper a few days ago...Most of the weight is in the parts not the actual bumper.

The bumper metal (which I reused for strength under my new fiberglass c2 look) only weighs about 10 lbs as 88991 said...its all the crap bolted to the bumper that weighs so much.....

I just dont trust using only fiberglass as a bumper on a street car.....

Chris

[ozz]

For you guys that have taken off the bumperettes and welded up the holes - looks great but how did you accomodate license plate lights that were origianlly mounted in the bumperettes??

[Yellowbird RS]

My rear bumper welded all the holes and created brackets to remount

[Yellowbird RS]

Originally posted by ozz
For you guys that have taken off the bumperettes and welded up the holes - looks great but how did you accomodate license plate lights that were origianlly mounted in the bumperettes??

I purchased a ruf look like from a Nissan mini-truck.

[Yellowbird RS]

also delate the accordions

[dd74]

Originally posted by island911
exactly.

. . and is a bumper still a bumper, if it can't take a bump?

You bet it can. While exiting an off ramp three years ago, some brat in a Volvo wagon rear-ended me. The impact compressed the shocks perfectly - looked like a pancake. Superficial damage was done to the decklid and tail pipe. the bumperette was damaged too, but the car was driveable.

The Volvo, incidentally, was totaled.

The bumpers can take a bump - and in the process, take out a 3,000-pound+ Volvo wagon.