Bumper Delete Legality in Washington (not DC), and opinions

[launieg]

Just brainstorming, but what did you have in mind for lighting and signals? The reason i ask is that i could fabricate some sort of housing, clamp, or even have them inset into the tube...

Also, would you want to have the tube bolt on or welded...that will have to be considered.... to figure out whether or not you would need to send the bump shocks to me...

Also, how much wrap around would you want...

Yes, you are right. I do want the bumper slimmer and curved to the shape of the body, extending around the sides a bit. I figured on having them mounted directly on the current bumper shocks, but it would be more attractive to avoid having that large mounting plate. In that case, there could be solid mounts that go right back to the frame, where the current bumper shocks mount. That would make sense. I realize that the shock absorbtion will be gone, but at least it would be as effective (or better) than the chrome bumpers.

The curve, as I said, should follow the body line as it goes around the side, and end perhaps two inchs ahead of the wheel well. It would be important to keep the bumper level as it goes around, so it doesn't look droopy or angled upward at the ends.

Essentially, it should follow the line of the old chrome bumpers, but be a slim tube. Then it could be color-keyed to the car, powder-coated in black, or maybe even chromed - or whatever. I do think the tube ends (near the wheel wells) should be bullet shaped, or perhaps a bit flattened and rounded - something graceful and fitting to the design of the car, rather than squared off (and thus looking like a bent tube ). To do that would require making a plug of some kind, if using a tube rather than a solid bar. Yes, I think a solid bar is overkill and unecessary weight.

As I said, I've yet to consider the back bumper, but probably something similar. By the way, the front tube bumper must weigh at least forty pounds. I should weigh it - or maybe someone knows. It is a monster and even a twenty pound replacement would be a big help.

[rush113]

So it will be a couple weeks before I can really get anything truly started launie, school starts on the 31st, (and therefore welding), and we have about a week before we get past the safety rundown for the kids. We are excessively stocked with tubing, so no ordering time also we have a precision hydraulic tube bender as for the powder coating and such.... We have a paintbooth...but no p.co. equipment. so this should be the same body curve andount spacing as my 1979 spider 2000?

[launieg]

Well, we better work out the cost details before getting carried away! But I think you have the right idea. And yes, the same curve as your 79 front. Now, I'll have to think about the lights. I had thought of hanging lights (rigidly) below and from the bumper mounts, but that idea of some lighting within the tube is a cool idea. Like two short strips of LEDs mounted in the tube ... wow I can picture that.

I'll have to sketch something out. No concern about coloring the bumper - I can spray it black, and I'll look into the cost of chroming it.

This is great, having a 17 year old on the site... good energy. It is good for us old guys to hang out with you.

[baltobernie]

What a neat project!

How about taking your new bent tubing bumper and simply mitering the ends? I'm envisioning a "forward" mitre of maybe 60° (looking down on the bumber from above, the cuts would be "pigeon-toe'd"). Then a flat cap could be welded on the ends, and ground smooth. Would give you the clean edge and taper without too much work.

[racydave]

I like your idea. Kinda like I see at the custom car shows, a classic look. The shocks can be easilly adapted by cutting the flanges off, and cutting a radius the size of the tube. Welded and ground pretty. You can also adj the shocks to the desired legnth, then drill, and install a bolt to make it solid. I have some old-school bumpers for mine, the half-tube is just temp! Since they are kinda rough, Im probably goin for powder coat. Im anxious to see some examples of chrome powder coat. Keep us posted!

[launieg]

baltobernie, nice idea the mitre cut. And racydave, you are right to keep it mounted on the shocks. I have an extra pair of shocks anyway, so cutting them up will not be a future problem in the making. Will allow me to adjust the positon and/or keep the collapsing feature. (Although the tube would bend in a crash, at least it would absorb some shock.)

[rush113]

Launie,

In the welding class im in, the instructor buys all of our steel and therefore we need to weigh large-ish projects and compensate him at about a dollar per pound of steel.

As for the labor, i usually work for about 10 bucks an hour for solid work minus prep time...

So for a REALLY rough estimate i'd say around 150 bucks.

So hopefully that sounds sane to you , and you can keep brainstorming the lighting and capping situation, and if you want to go with the mitre, maybe you can draw something up and scan it or photograph it and post it up here so i'm super clear on what i'll be doing.