One last time fiberglass bumpers....going going gone!!

[TRBON8R]

I've been searching the archives about fiberglass bumpers and have found some helpful information, but not as much as I'd like. I'm still kind of wrestling with the idea of going with glass bumpers front and rear. This will be on a weekend only car. I am concerned about durability and do have some nagging thoughts about what would happen if I was to get rear ended with the glass bumpers. Would you even consider the idea of glass bumpers for a street car, or is this so unsafe that I need a good slap to get the silly idea out of my head once and for all?? Has anyone ever been in an accident in a TR with glass bumpers or personally seen one that has taken a good hit?

If I am to buy the bumpers, I'm leaning toward the Kirban bumpers since from what I hear they fit the best. Are there any other vendors that I should consider? Thanks!!

 

[zam70]

Fiberglass bumpers are for looks (weight reduction) only. They offer NO protection whatsoever.

 

[Sinful6]

I run a fiberglass bumper on the front, and a stock on the rear(just incase of that teenager thats not looking). I drive my car EVERYDAY. I have never had an accident, and it has never cracked from road/track driving or stone chips. However, like the guy above me said, there is NO protection, I mean I could probably punch my bumper and break it. However, if you think you're a good driver... I say go get some fiberglass bumpers and forget about it. Something you maybe interested in though, is if you take a close look at the back of the stock bumpers, there is an inner support that can be removed and the braces can be changed to aluminum, I believe this brings the weight of the bumper within 5-10lbs of a fiberglass one. But then again you dont get the looks. Also you might be able to put the innerbrace from a stock bumper onto your fiberglass one, that would be ideal. LOL, I better stop now, I feel like I'm rambling.

P.S. I can send some pics of my car with a fiberglass bumper upclose.
P.S.S My car is FOR SALE!

 

[turbosam6]

Funny, after my weekend, and I get on the board, and this is what I see. Sunday, my car had an encounter with a tree, and the fiberglass rear bumper did not take kindly to it. That said, I have them front and back, they look killer, weigh nothing, and will NOT protect you at all in a collision. I drive my car on the street often, but you gotta know that you are taking a big risk with these. zam70, above, is fixing my car now, so he knows what an impact does to fiberglass. Its kinda like gambling, are you lucky? I would not reccomend these for any street use, but I use them, so that tells you how much I regard safety. If my car had a steel bumper on it, it probably wouldn't have been near the damage. And it was just rolling at idle, not going but maybe 1 or 2 mph. If you like the look, as I do, smooth out your stock ones, and be done with it.

 

[TRBON8R]

Sinful6,

I'd love to see some pics of your car. You can email them to me at trbon8r@excite.com. Thanks!

 

[Red Regal T]

I RUN THEM FRONT AND REAR AND DRIVE 5 OR 6 HUNDRED MILES A WEEK. I DON'T GIVE IT A THOUGHT. IF YOU HIT SOMETHING HARD, IT AIN'T GONNA' MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE BECAUSE YOU GOT STEEL BUMPERS. IF YOU GET TAPPED, THE STEEL BUMPERS WILL GET PUSHED BACK AND DAMAGE YOUR, HEADER PANEL, FENDERS AND HOOD. IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT, YOUR CAR WILL SUFFER DAMAGE EITHER WAY. THAT'S PHYSICS.

DON'T BE A WOOS!

http://hyperphoto.photoloft.com/view/Image.asp?s=cano&u=1715313&a=1306005&i=9788448

 

[Turbojorge]

John, your car looks bad ass! Very nice job.

I've been thinking about going to fiberglass bumpers since my car is now only driven on the weekends, but when I think about the way people in Miami drive, It just scares the sh!t out of me man.

Is the weight loss actually worth it?

 

[Red Regal T]

YES !

 

[Sinful6]

Sent you some pics...

 

[GNSCOTT]

I RUN THEM FRONT AND REAR AND DRIVE 5 OR 6 HUNDRED MILES A WEEK. I DON'T GIVE IT A THOUGHT. IF YOU HIT SOMETHING HARD, IT AIN'T GONNA' MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE BECAUSE YOU GOT STEEL BUMPERS. IF YOU GET TAPPED, THE STEEL BUMPERS WILL GET PUSHED BACK AND DAMAGE YOUR, HEADER PANEL, FENDERS AND HOOD. IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT, YOUR CAR WILL SUFFER DAMAGE EITHER WAY. THAT'S PHYSICS.

HMMN, I have 1 ?...where is YOUR gas tank located??

 

[EyeTalk2Trees]

how much weight do you think you are saving with glass instead of stock metal? how much does the stock set up weight and the glass, each bumper front and rear....

 

[Sinful6]

BUMPER WEIGHT SAVINGS

These arent exact numbers, they have those in the kirbans book, but ~30lbs for the front, and ~40lbs for the back.

 

[TRDirks]

I hit a tree at about 35mph 15 years ago in a GN. It had the factory bumbers on it and the center portion of the bumber was pushed back about 1 foot. The thing is, the bumper is tied to the frame rail, which is bolted to the fenders, which are bolted to the body, which........ect. you get the idea??? There was a bunch of force that was absorbed by all of these other peices and it is due to this, that I (bruise from seat belt) nor the car was injured any worse. If I had a fiberglass bumper the story would have been different. I truly feel that this tieing together of all the peices front or back is necessary on any street driven vehicle.

I don't care how hard you get hit, or hit something, the damage will always be worse if you have fiberglass. Now that is physics!

On a different note lets say your cruising down the road and someone pulls out in front of you. You T-bone the other car and as your fiberglass bumper disintigrates your frame rail impales the driver/passenger. Sure it was the other persons fault, however, upon investigation they find you have modified the factory safety of your vehicle. Now who's paying more???

Everyone here is gonna have there own opinion and mine is that a vehicle that is to be driven on the street no matter how seldomly should be safe for the occupants and the occupants of other vehicles.

 

[GNSCOTT]

The weight savings i beleive are clser to 100#'s when you use alluminum bumper supports on a GN.

I think it is legal to install them, see many street rods, customs,etc.. with little to no bumper.

I deffinately wouldn't let my kid ride in a car with glass bumpers.

 

[NJTurbo]

Make some real horse power and you will not have to worry about 30lbs here and 30lbs there. I do not beleive it has to due with being a WOOS, it is being smart.