Date:         Tue, 17 Oct 2006 14:54:14 EDT
Reply-To:     JordanVw@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         JordanVw@AOL.COM
Subject:      Re: Bumpers, Chrome v. Fiberglass
Comments: To: t3vanagon@GMAIL.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 10/17/06 1:57:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
t3vanagon@GMAIL.COM writes:


> thought that everything T3 came fiberglass by '90!
>
> Most of the chrome on the current bumpers (mainly rear) is peeling off, and
> the steel composite underneath is pretty oxidized.
>
> As such, I'm looking at options.
>
> Am I correct in the assumption that the mounting brackets for the fiberglass
> are different than the steel?
>
> In other words, I can't just swap my current bumpers out for fiberglass
> ones, can I?
>
> Matt
> '90 GL "Blackbeard"
>

matt ...like i said to you yesterday, if you truly have a '90 "GL" passenger
van then it would have come with fiberglass bumpers. AND fiberglass
sideskirts.   but someone could have removed the fiberglass bumpers and put chrome ones
on.

but, there would be whole lotta holes left in your van from where the
sideskirt brackets used to be, unless your van was repainted.

are you sure you dont just have a "non-GL"?  are your seats tweed with no
armrests?

anyway,  yes the rear bumper brackets are specific to the vans w/ fiberglass
bumpers.  but they just unbolt..19mm bolts.

as far as the front, only the fiberglass front bumpers have "brackets", they
attach to a welded on block with a threaded hole in it, under each side of the
front frame of the van.  if yours had fiberglass bumpers at one point, these
brackets would most likely still be there.. there would also be evidence of
someone chopping off the metal tabs that the factory welded to the top left and
right of the front bumper rebar to support the fiberglass bumper,  in order to
get the chrome ones to fit..

ps.. what is "steel composite" ??  :<)
chris