(Fiberglass bumpers) quality and fit?

[Intercooler]

I think here shortly when I get the motor in I want to go fiberglass bumpers. I have heard ramblings of bad fit when installing the marker lights, etc.. with certain ones and maybe even fit problems. Who makes the best fit and quality units out there? TIA

 

[rastaz]

I've seen a set of ATR ones and they are absolutely horrible in their fit and finish, so you can rule those out. I've heard that Kirban makes the nicest ones, although I've never personally seen them...

 

[strikeeagle]

Why not just run the Canadian bumper brackets and be done with it? How much additional weight will a fiberglass bumper save?

 

[S2V6RACER]

Originally posted by strikeeagle
Why not just run the Canadian bumper brackets and be done with it? How much additional weight will a fiberglass bumper save?

I would think quite a bit, but I am curious what the total savings from steel to fiberglass with the front and rear bumpers combined.

 

[ONLYA6]

I've seen a set of ATR ones and they are absolutely horrible in their fit and finish, so you can rule those out.


I've got front and rear ATR glass bumpers and they fit absolutely awesome! I didn't have a single problem getting them on.

Jacob

 

[Red Regal T]

Jesse, I don't mean to be critical of your appearance as seen in your avatar, but don't you think you should see a dermatologist??

 

[Intercooler]

Originally posted by strikeeagle
Why not just run the Canadian bumper brackets and be done with it? How much additional weight will a fiberglass bumper save?

In my case I have the aluminum supports already! Still, the bumpers are very heavy. I mainly want to do it to eliminate the spotting my chrome ones that have been painted over gives when hit by something and to get rid of the impact strips. I like the nice clean bumper look without the bumperettes!


Anyone know if you need to change to the aluminum brackets with fiberglass bumpers?

 

[Intercooler]

Originally posted by Red Regal T
Jesse, I don't mean to be critical of your appearance as seen in your avatar, but don't you think you should see a dermatologist??

Man don't you know that is how you get hot chicks How many times have you said that to yourself when you see a hot chick with a puke walking down the street holding hands

 

[toofastforyou]

I don't know about ATR's bumpers, but I have Kirban's front and rear bumpers as well as the hood. The bumpers fit was excellent, as I just had to have them painted, install both brand new rub strips, ( as I wanted to keep my stock bumpers complete for future use), and bolt them to the car! I'm very pleased with them. The hood is nice too but required a little more work to have it to fit properly. I can e-mail you some pics, but they fit so well that you won't see the difference with stock bumpers!!!!
'Bye, Claude.

 

[Intercooler]

Please do send the pics! They won't break if you look at them wrong will they? Did you use the factory brackets or change to aluminum? TIA

 

[Intercooler]

My others questions are:

-Can you still use the air-dams and how is it accomplished?
-In Maryland we must display a front license plate so what is done there?

 

[Intercooler]

I guess TB.Com, SE Turbo and the raffle answered my question about mounting brackets All I can say is thanks and I have the front bumper on the way!

 

[Doug Jacobson]

I saved 75 lbs by switching from my original bumpers to Cottons fiberglass units front and rear. My car had Aluminum supports too. The fiberglass ones weigh 5 lbs a piece while the stockers weigh 45 lbs in the rear and 40 in the front. The Cottons bumpers had the impact strips but no bumperetts (sp?) The fit was OK took a little work before they looked perfect though. I'd still buy another set though, like any fiberglass part to make it perfectly straight it will need some work. Here are some pics of the bumpers on my car painted white, just like the car. http://www.gmmodernmuscle.com/~blackws6ls1/doug/

 

[Two Lane]

Congratulations on your win with the raffle, Jesse...hope it's representative of only good luck for you ahead!

 

[Two Lane]

And don't forget the export braces weigh even less than the aluminum ones!

 

[strikeeagle]

Yes, they do. I have a pair and they weight next to nothing.

And the bumpers, bumperettes, and rub strips weigh very, very little. That's why I contend that if you "lose" the front reinforcement, be it steel or aluminum, and substitute the Canadian brackets, you're down to polishing a turd - certainly not enough weight difference for me to want a fiberglass bumber, with it's expense , it's appearance issues and the work you have to put into it to get it to look right.

I think the Canadian brackets are the world's best kept secret...

 

[Intercooler]

Strike,

Do you have any actual numbers to back up the claims? I am doing it for paint reasons but also to save a little weight. I already have the aluminum reinforcements but nobody can convince me the bumpers do not weigh a decent bit too unless you have a scale to do direct comparisons. As for stock and fiberglass it is 80 lbs. minimum.

 

[strikeeagle]

Intercooler,

Well, I know this. A couple of years ago I took my GN front bumper off and disassembled it for painting. And when I did I remember I couldn't get over how light the bumper only was. The so-called bumper is really just a thin cover - mainly for cosmetic reasons, and for mounting stuff (e.g. parking lights) - there's virtually no strength to it. Almost all of the strength comes from the reinforcement.

I have a GN (steel reinforcements) and a T (aluminum reinforcements). When you pull the GN bumper you have a pretty heavy load. When you pull the T bumper it's very noticably lighter. Now take the T bumper and substitute a couple of 2 pound Canadian brackets. You get the idea.