On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 12:41:19 EST, No Name Available <Trvlr2001@aol.com> wrote: > Hi All, > I have an 85, that I would like to install the bumpers & trim on, > from a 90 Carat parts bus that I have. > How big of a job is it? > Any pointers? > TIA, > John C. > SLC, UT.... John, The mounting points of the fiberglass bumpers are slightly different from the metal bumpers. The two front bolts need to be replaced with the ones that came with the fiberglass bumper. They are Allen headbolts vs. the 13mm bolts on the steel bumpers. That's the easiest part. The lower part of the glass bumper has a metal bracket that is supposed to bolt onto a metal bracket which is welded into the fiberglass bumper-equipped vans. You will need to either cut take this from the donor van and weld it to yours or use some very big washers to make up the difference. The brackets on he fiberglass bumpers will fall about 1/2 inch lower than the front diagonal members that they are supposed to bolt to. I used cut-up sections of nylon cutting board as giant washers to solve that problem. As for the top of the bumper, the fiberglass bumpers are supported by ribs built into the bumper itself plus two steel tabs welded to the front bumper structure. I cut the old one out of the donor van and riveted it into place. You can weld them if you so desire. If that piece is not available, you can make up some steel supports out of stock steel from the local hardware store. Or go the route of using nylon supports there too. I hope that helps. Let me know if you need even more specific information. BenT |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.