Removing bumper guards(front/back)

[Xerxez]

Thinking about removing the bumper guards on both the front and back chrome bumpers on my 73 2.0L. Is it easy to cover the holes that is left after removing the guards? any aftermarket solutions to the holes left in the bumper?
Is it adviceable to remove them since they were placed to protect the car from low-impacts? I guess the question is should I sacrifice some safety for esthetics?
Xerxez

[campbellcj]

Well, for starters, the 73 914 didn't have rear rubber bumper guards!

Anyways, it is very easy to remove them - just pull off the bumper (4 bolts) and unbolt the rubber chunk. Unfortunately I've never seen any "clean" way to plug up the resultant holes in the bumper, and they definitely will look crappy if left as-is.

Personally, I like the look of the early rubber-less bumpers better myself, but on my 73 I left the front thingies alone for sake of originality as well as a tad of fender-bender protection.

Good luck,
Chris C.

[This message has been edited by campbellcj (edited 07-15-2001).]

[Scott S]

If the bumper is not dimpled to badly at the holes, go to your local home labyrinth hardware store and buy the appropriate size chrome plugs tha will just snap in. I saw a car done this way locally - didn't look to bad.
-s

[mejulihn]

Are you sure about the '73 model year not having bumper guardettes? I had a '73 1.7 that had them both front and rear.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Miles, someone stuck a 74 rear bumper on your 73. That's one of the outward distinguishing characteristics--the 73s only have the "bumper tits" up front, while the 74s have them both front and back.

--DD

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Pelican Parts 914 Tech Support

A few pics of my car: http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/Dave_Darling

[Xerxez]

Dave,
You answered my next question. I guess I have a 74 chrome bumper on my 73 2.0L.

My car is at the body shop right because it got a love-tap from an Xterra SUV. No major damage, but enough to have to re-chrome the bumper and straighten it out a bit. Maybe I can ask the bady shop to fill-in the bumper holes and chrome over the whole bumper?
What do you guys think?
Here's a pic of the accident on the rear/driver side of the bumper. So, do I have a 74 bumper? Just spoke with the shop and they said it would not be a problem to weld the holes flush and rechrome the whole thing. Cool!!!
http://www.dentalarts.com/xmc/914/P1010049.jpg
Xerxez

[This message has been edited by Xerxez (edited 07-16-2001).]