How to make your own fiberglass bumper

[jayb]

Regarding the chrome wrap, I have read some bad reports on that stuff, so I'm a little reluctant to try it...

[Qikbbstang]

Jay can you please elaborate what you heard about chrome wrap shortcomings?
  They sure seem to completely chrome wrap a lot of super-cars on the web... despite what they say it scares me silly thinking the wrap can be removed w/o harming the paint...


"chrome wrapping" a Lambo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypLUq6h718o&nohtml5=False

[jayb]

Its been a while since I read about it BB, but I think it was on yellow bullet where several people said the chrome wrap didn't conform to the shape of the bumper without a bunch of joints, and then turned yellow pretty quickly after installation.  I have no personal experience with the stuff, so I'm just repeating what I've read...

[plovett]

Very interesting Jay, nice write up and pictures like always. I have wanted a fiberglass bumper for my Cougar for some time now. A while back somebody said they were going to make them but never did. I am not sure I am up to the task but I am tempted.

I want a fiberglass Cougar bumper, too.  That's two orders already Jay! 

Interesting write-up and pic's. 

paulie

[shady]

most chrome vinyl is usually made of mylar & has no stretching ability like regular vinyl, so you have to piece it. It also has a very short outdoor life. however, Avery has what they call Conform Chrome that is supposed to be able to stretch & bend. They wrap whole cars with the stuff, so it may work well & has a 3 year life, bubble free, & removable. I never had a customer looking for it yet so I have no experience with it. It only comes on a 48" wide role & probably costs more than a real bumper. Maybe I'll chrome my whole 62. Get out the sun glasses...                          ...Nope, my trunk monkey says no.

[Heo]

A guy here had a cromed plastic TP holder
with the manufacturers name in it. He contacted
them and they cromed his bumpers for free
but like all others they have moved to China
But if you have a company making cromed
plastic things close to you that may be an
alternativ

[Qikbbstang]

I can't resist after seeing all that work about the FoMoCo weight reduction program.  Jay how much weight comes off utilizing the Ford magnesium SOHC valve covers vs the cast aluminum's your running?..................I'm thinking about that weight savings of a Shelby Mustang Bumper Assembly vs your Glass assembly?      It ain't the front of the car but it's not that far back and it's high.

Decades ago I got a refund from Holman Moody for the few bucks I paid for their clearance sale catalog after the one thing I tried to buy was SOLD OUT,,,,, You guessed it SOHC VCs 

[jayb]

I have never measured the weight difference between the aluminum and magnesium SOHC valve covers; that's an interesting question, BB, and I will check it out this weekend and post what I find - Jay

[babybolt]

A stock 69/70 Mustang bumper assembly weighs 24-25 lbs.  This includes the brackets, supports, small tabs and turn signal lights.  The range is because I get two weights depending on which scale I use. 

Bare bumper                        11 lbs
Bare arm                                3 lbs 14 oz
Outer support rod                  2 lbs 1 oz
One turn signal assembly   ~ 1 lb

Some aftermarket bumpers are cheesier and probably weigh less

The Bud Moore Trans Am cars used the stock bumper arms with large holes cut out in the center and lighter gauge bumpers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/69-70-Mustang-Boss-302-Bud-Moore-Shelby-Trans-AM-lightweight-parts-drops-100-s-/222071089526?hash=item33b477e976:g:twEAAOSwvUlWrRfn&vxp=mtr

[machoneman]

The Bud Moore Trans Am cars used the stock bumper arms with large holes cut out in the center and lighter gauge bumpers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/69-70-Mustang-Boss-302-Bud-Moore-Shelby-Trans-AM-lightweight-parts-drops-100-s-/222071089526?hash=item33b477e976:g:twEAAOSwvUlWrRfn&vxp=mtr
[/quote]

Hey, thanks for posting that very interesting link babybolt. I knew those cars had some lightweight parts but never saw pics of them before. Interesting they were all front end parts with the likely goal of getting closer to a 50/50 weight distrbution, although I had read they stalled at about 52/48.

I liked especially the 'glass front fender extensions as the stock ones weight a ton! When I did my Mach 1, I dumped the OEM Mach grille and fog lamps for the regular Mustang grille (plastic/no lights) for significant weight savings. A non-ram steel air hood, less all the underhood plumbing saved a lot as well.

But one of the best savings was dumping the OEM disc brakes system (heavy!) and adding Baer Racing's discs w/bolt-on racing type aluminum hubs and lighweight, vented steel discs plus aluminum calipers. These easily saved 60+ lbs off the front! I'd like to dump the cast iron brake reservoir (hard to find a direct replacement) and add a carbon hood (frightfully expensive) but who knows what I'll get myself for Chrtistmas!

[babybolt]

I'd have to look back in my notes for some more 69/70 weights but the fiberglass hoods are a good weight savings.  The aftermarket race hoods with no underneath trim and no hood hinge provisions aren't street friendly.  The Trans Am cars used a steel hood with the underneath cut out and a stiffening rod welded to the perimeter (at least the privateer car hood I looked at closely and weighted) which remarkably weighted just about the same as an aftermarket fiberglass hood with the underside details.

Not familiar with the Baier parts, but a know a guy who works on the Trans Am stuff for the road race guys and they had some trouble with some aluminum hubs and wound up making steel hubs with bearing spacers for the large side loads from the track.  Wilwood makes some lightweight front brake stuff that is more oriented to straight line racing.  I saw a serious 69 Mustang drag car using this setup.

[Qikbbstang]

Whew that is one rare and fascinating collection of T/A parts. I recall way back when there were Boss 302 2x4V Dominator Intakes routinely on ebay... Crazy to imagine two Dominators on a BOSS 302 but Bud and others ran them successfully

[Drew Pojedinec]

Wow 25lbs for the bumper assembly.
I haven't weighted it, but I swear my 63 Galaxie's bumper is 75lbs or more.  Of course those cars are an exercise in overkill.

[fekbmax]

I was just lazy I guess, ofcourse a race car with a bunch of fiberglass parts already isn't as critical. I just used the inside of my bumpers as the mold. Made front and rear bumpers for my 69 and Ofcourse there scaled down a bit but for a race car such as mine they look just fine .  just a short cut . on a car like Nays or anything show quality, then the way they have been done here is most definitely preferred.. Good job..

[jayb]

Wow 25lbs for the bumper assembly.
I haven't weighted it, but I swear my 63 Galaxie's bumper is 75lbs or more.  Of course those cars are an exercise in overkill.

On my 64 Galaxie each bumper and bracket assembly weighed 55 pounds.  Took 100 pounds out of the car when I switched to fiberglass.