Bumper Conversion Source?

[RRoller123]

I notice that many of you have converted your federal bumpers to the old style wrap-around, which I think look immeasurably better. Three questions:

1.) Does anyone know what the weights of the federal versus old wrap around style bumpers are?

2.) And is there a vendor source for new wrap around style?

3.) Has anyone considered replacing the steel tubing in the Federal bumpers with aluminum tubing to lower the weight but keep the look?

The wrap-arounds would be a nice conversion, and this is high up on my list after the new engine gets done. Thanks for any info.

Pete

[spiderdan]

Hi Pete

Is this what you're looking for?

http://www.groupharrington.com/en/part/ ... mpers.html

Got mine from them last year, to replace damaged rear. I can't comment on replacing federal bumpers with these (they sell a kit) but I am pleased with the quality and the price.

[vandor]

>3.) Has anyone considered replacing the steel tubing in the Federal bumpers with aluminum tubing to lower the weight but keep the look?

The new stainless steel ones are much lighter than stock, only about 20 lbs each for the metal part.
Even so, both stock big bumpers weight a lot less than a passenger sitting next to you!

Harrington bumpers take a lot of work to fit, as they are not an exact fit. Somebody, I think Russ, has a post on the installation details.

To me late Spiders with early bumpers just look weird.

[RRoller123]

Thanks for the responses, fellows. Those Harringtons are what I was referring to, yes. I thought I read somewhere that the 2 federal bumpers were at least a couple of hundred pounds, which might be the weight of a passenger, but that is about 10% of the overall car's weight, pretty significant, so I see a real opportunity to lower weight there. The wrap-arounds must be a lot less? Anyone know the actual weights we are talking about? There aren't too many places in these cars to cut a significant amount of weight. We can run around without a spare, I suppose, but I like to carry one.

Pete

[spiderdan]

Pete, if you wish to compare the weight, I looked at the DHL shipping bill, 9kg (19.8 pounds) including box tape and foam.
I still have the contact info at Harrington Group and can confirm exact weight. If you wish I can e-mail him.
Let me know.

[azruss]

I doubt that 5mph bumpers weight 100# each. They are heavy, but not that heavy. My guess would be in the 40-65# range for each. I installed the Harrington SS Bumpers. They are very light. my guess is less the 10# each. The brackets are probably heavier. Count on spending a lot of time to get the fit right. Their brackets are way off. Also, the mounting holes for a 5 mph bumper is higher than old school, so plan on modifying the body holes as well. If done right, it can look very clean. Also remember, the early style license plate lights do not fit the Harrington bumpers. Harrington does supply a bracket for mounting the bumper mounted turn signals. I didn't use mine as i had an interference issue with my air dam. Someplace on the forum is a post showing pictures and great detail of all i did for the fit. BTW, If you can find an original straight set of early bumpers that just need to be rechromed, you would be ahead of the game.

[RRoller123]

Appreciate all the input. I am a far piece away from doing this mod, but I like to plan well in advance and I just want to understand if there is any real weight savings potential. (I need to get my engine project complete first). So if the federals are like 100 pounds the pair and the Harringtons are say 20 pounds, that is a nice sprung weight reduction. Given the low overall weight of the car, I think a pretty significant savings.

Anyway, no need to email him, Spiderdan, thanks for the offer though. Appreciate also the input on the mounting of the Harringtons. I remember reading those threads and it appeared to be quite a chore.

I remember fondly my old 74 X1/9, which had those tiny little bolt-on bumpers that I think were made out of papier mache. The good old days.

Pete

[weekend warrior]

I have done the Harrington conversion on my 1980 year model, they needed a bit of work to install.
Weighed the originals at a total of 37.5 kg, can't recall if that included the shocks, the new ones are featherweight in comparison.

[RRoller123]

Thanks WW, that is good data. I like the look of them and think that eventually, they will adorn my little car too!

Pete

[Exit98]

Pete,

I like to daydream about cutting weight, thinking about what can be done.

I've got the original CD3's which weigh a feather and make a big difference in unsprung weight and handling.

Aluminum control arms would be cool, but that's not going to happen.

Miller's Mule offers aluminum flywheels, pulleys and even aux shafts. All those and Mark's starter would shed a bunch and much of that is reciprocating weight. And I just read that Beek takes weight off of the crank.

George (NJFiat81) started a trend around here switching to original little bumpers and turn signals when the car gets painted. Three or four have been done this way in the last year or so. Here’s one of them:

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... ic#p186536

I’ve got the original turn signals, and there are some old bumpers floating around, and if the day ever comes when I pull the trigger it will be done right, with the holes filled in and the bumpers and lights installed correctly. As mentioned above I like the original rears with the correct plate lights and plate location.

Of course just ditching the crashbars and going naked is a quick way to dump the weight, but that just isn’t the look I want.

[RRoller123]

I agree. I got the gear reduction starter too, and that cut about 10 pounds (but I haven't installed it yet). My engine project is just beginning, with teardown happening now. The lighter flywheel has cut ~ 10 pounds.

The pulleys and such seem pretty light to begin with, (especially the Water Pump pulley) except those cam gears, man they weigh a ton! I wonder what the adjustable cam gears weigh in comparison? Same questions with the crankshaft pulley. It would be nice to create a little spreadsheet with all this data and make it available.

So the CD3's are really light? Any idea what the actual weight is? Unsprung weight reduction is a big deal, imho.

I have heard that the removal of the federal bumpers causes the car to sit high, so they must weigh quite a bit. I wish I had a verified number, with the shocks, but I have neither a bumper or scale to check them. Earlier data from weekend warrior had them at 37.5kg the pair, or ~82.5 pounds, but not counting the shocks. My guess is well over 100 pounds with the shocks?

[Tuc124]

Bumper blocks, about 1 lb. a piece. Easy install.

[brackie1]

I decided to go with vertical bumper Overrider much like the old cobra. I found some new or never used '64 ford Galax. Got the turn signals moved and now getting ready to install over riders.

[Tuc124]

Like these? This was my previous project. Sold it before I had a chance to crash it !

Many of the Cobra kit car mfg's sell these over riders.

[RRoller123]

You know Tuc, the more I look at your white car with the bumper blocks, the more I like the look. And no question that this offers the best weight savings short of removing the bumpers completely, and I don't like that look at all (just my opinion). What did you do for the rear of the car?

Did the car sit higher after this, and therefore did the springs need lowering? (I have no problem doing that). The body work to clean up all those holes in the front end is ok too, but I think I would leave my side markers where they are.

Thanks for all the info and ideas. I love this forum.

Pete