Bumperette Aging

[TheSecondChris]

None of my bumperettes fit tightly to the body - there are large gaps which you can see here on the right rear outboard surface (please excuse the crappy overspray).

I am guessing that these are the original rubber parts from 1984 and they have become misshapen from years of heat and uv rays. Is that correct?

I may try to source some better pads sometime in the future, unless someone has a magic formula to rejuvenate them.

Thanks

[Ernie944]

Originally Posted by TheSecondChris

None of my bumperettes fit tightly to the body - there are large gaps which you can see here on the right rear outboard surface (please excuse the crappy overspray).

I am guessing that these are the original rubber parts from 1984 and they have become misshapen from years of heat and uv rays. Is that correct?

I may try to source some better pads sometime in the future, unless someone has a magic formula to rejuvenate them.

Thanks

Suggestion Why don't you go this way ....Adios to those uglies bumperettes ...RPI inthe garbages can

[jjeffries]

Chris, there are steel plates embedded within the rubber. The steel rusts and expands, pushing them away from their mounting surface/original shape. Used available possibly (from Southern/Western cars that have been parted?) ... worth checking with JustJoshin', Plyhammer et al.
John

[ERAU944]

You can go used, or go completely nuts like i did, strip out the steel plate, make a new plate with aluminum bar and new bolts, and 3m windoweld the new bits in where the old piece came out. I can dig up the pictures... I decided on this since the outside of my pads are in excellent shape, but the pad was pulling away from the bumper. I don't hate the look and don't want to get the car repainted.

[tims944]

Ernie i have some clean ones in montreal i could sell. cant give them away because hard to find clean ones but pm me if interested.

[Ernie944]

Originally Posted by tims944

Ernie i have some clean ones in montreal i could sell. cant give them away because hard to find clean ones but pm me if interested.

Sorry I don't need any bumperettes ...TheSecondChris is the one that need them....Take care

[TheSecondChris]

Originally Posted by tims944

Ernie i have some clean ones in montreal i could sell. cant give them away because hard to find clean ones but pm me if interested.

Thanks, I'll be in touch! Not that I'd really want to spend the $ but I think it's very cool that these bumper pads are still available from Porsche. I'm not sure what other car producer provides parts for 30+ year old cars.

[Madmax64]

Originally Posted by Ernie944

Suggestion Why don't you go this way ....Adios to those uglies bumperettes ...RPI inthe garbages can

Ernie are those aftermarket bumpers or did you remove the bumperettes and glass the holes in?

[Ernie944]

Originally Posted by Madmax64

Ernie are those aftermarket bumpers or did you remove the bumperettes and glass the holes in?

The front I remove the bumperettes & plugs the hole ....with welded aluminum round bars & repainted,The signals ligths I frabricated the contours out of aluminum.The rear is a fiberglass bumper from AIR....American International Racing comp.Pics side view ...

[TheSecondChris]

I replaced my rear bumperettes with brand new ones from Porsche. They are a huge improvement and the new version is made in Taiwan and the material is not rubber but some kind of plastic. They are about a pound lighter and likely do not have the steel plate inside that can rust.

My original ones were in bad shape and half of the mounting studs were already broken or broke upon removal of the cushion pad.

[jjeffries]

Nice job Chris and good to know. These little details make such an impact on the presentation of the car.

John

[Fast Freddy 944]

Ill have to give it to the Ernster, that doesnt look half bad..