Swapping Bumpers

[Neal Colingham]

I have a 76 914 and would like to replace
the stock bumpers with 73/74 bumpers.
What are the steps and do I have to fabricate
or find any parts besides the bumpers for the
swap. What year do you guys think is the most desirable.
I used to like the look of these bumpers but
I must have had a tumor.

[mejulihn]

I also have a '76 and happen to favor the newer-style bumper. There have been similar discussions on this BB in the past and I am sure someone can give you the detailed steps. However, it is not a simple "swap" operation. At some point you will have to remove the horizontal pistons which give this style bumper its theoretic "5 mph" rating, and grind off the vertical metal tab that the rubber edge attaches to at the front of the fender below the side marker light. Good luck!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

There's also a lip across the front opening, where the top of the bumper cover hooks on. you have to grind that off as well.

Then you have to drill the four mounting holes for the old-style bumper. The reinforcements are still present in many (all? -- Not sure) 75-76 914s. You can see the front ones at the front of the front wheel wells. I hear that the lower hole is easiest to locate. Then you can use the rubber "dog bone" spacers to locate the top holes. The bolts go in from the fender side; through the fender, through the dog bone, into the bumper.

The lower bolts on the rear are under the trunk floor; the upper ones are above the trunk floor.

It is possible, but it's not quite bolt-together.

--DD

[PeteD]

But if you need some replacement 75-76 bumpers, I have some coming available next week... They are not coucours, but certainly very servicable. Drop me an email.

------------------

[John Dandy]

Are there any kits or whatever available to simply do away with the bumpers? Like a front fiberglass part that just flows down into a spoiler and a rear piece that flows into a roll pan. I don't care if I have bumpers or not and with everything looking like round Jap cars now-a-days the inspectors never even notice. I have a hopped up and customized '76 Honda Civic with no front bumper and no side marker lights and nobody has noticed either of these items were missing for 14 years. It's on my homepages, check it out.

------------------