Hi

Something I would like to talk about and get some opinions and thoughts from other members is my rear bumper bar,

Firstly it hits on the lid when you open it, you have to push down on the bumper and lift up on the lid, quite annoying!

Should I get my bumper bar fixed?

As you can see there are some small dings and dents in it, but it is basically straight.


Or should I look at a brand new repoduction bumper?

On the subject of repo bumpers, are they any good? Do they look the same? Are they the same quality as my original?

Could someone looking at my car say.."oh thats not the original bumper.. etc"


As I want to keep my car original,

thoughts?

The chrome work on the bumper is pretty good, so shouldn't need to be rechromed


I haven't tried looking but don't imagine there are many good, dent free bumpers floating around locally.



Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer some advice or comments

can you no adjust your bumper bar out more so that the lid doesn't hit.

i have S/s repro bumpers on my care - but there not 100% the same as originals.

Do you mean the bumper bar bolts for the mounting brackets?


Can you show us what your bumpers look like?

its a fairly common problem, your rear bar doesnt like badly damaged so surprised its still hitting, try undoing the bar brackets under the guards and pulling the bar back some more then tighten up, otherwise throw washers between bar and brackets to space out a little

Hi

It looks like the top of the engine lid is a bit out, maybe adjusting it would help.

It looks like a replacement engine lid has been fitted judging by the push button lock, that model should have a twist handle, so maybe the car has had a shunt in the rear that has moved the bumper mounts forward.

Have you tried pulling the bumper brackets all the way out, this can help.

When I had a bug that model I used push on the end of the bumper with my shin, this would flex the bumper enough to move it away from the engine lid.

Steve

basically as other have said - there should be 2 bolts just inside your rear guards that hold the bumpers, loosen them and pull the bumper as far away from the engine lid as possible, then tighten them up again. It may give you the few mm you need.

Check my members ride post, its in my signature - postings in that of the s/s bumpers.

Thank you for your responses

The lid and paint on it all seems original, but maybe the push button opener is not?


thanks

the last batch of 67 early model beetles had that decklid with the late model push button catch as did german bugs from 65 on

bumper brackets usually have slotted holes so the bumper can be adjusted
it can also be sitting abit high too
loosening the moutning bolts off u maybe able to shove it down alittle bit just enough to clear the decklid

Hi

You can maybe tell if the lid is original, the replacement crash ones had a bracket bolted to the rear apron for the lock to catch on, if it was original it would use a welded on tang.

Steve

I was given this link on another forum:

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com 


Their prices seem pretty good, has anyone here in Australia bought from them?

Your bumper looks OK..
as someone suggested - there are slots in the brackets under the mudguards..
just loosen the bolts slightly and pull the bumper out..
You will also need to do the same to the round pieces of bar that go thru the mudguard..

If that doesn't FIX the problem... all is not lost...

buy New chrome headed cuphead bolts the same as what goes thru the bumper but 20-25mm longer..

Then get another set of bumper spacers - the things that fit between the bracket and the bumper.. and vut the centre piece out of them and use as spacers, so Your bumper will end up 5mm further out..
of course you could use anything to space the bumpers out.. You also need to space the top round bar mounts too... longer bolts with large flat washers...

those bumpers were very close to the engine cover...
those early model engine covers with the push button locks are fairly rare - I didn't know they existed until I saw a couple hanging on My sons shed wall.... lol

but - end note: You don't have to spend much money to fix the problem... adjustment or slight modifications...

Hey, I've got a 1302S Superbug front bumper.... on My 68 beetle... lol


LEE

Thanks Lee, will have a bit of a fiddle with it

Someone on another forum mentioned the bumper was original because of the rubber mounts, not sure on this, as it appears to have been there for a very long time.

Hi
I do see a small dent in Your bumper..
You could place the side of a ball pein hammer on the dent and then hit the hammer with another hammer...

it may not fix the dent but it may move the bumper back where it was...

its virtually impossible to fix a dent in a chromed bumper bar.. pefectly...


LEE

Yes there is about 5 small dents in the bumper, about the size of the end of your finger, not noticeable unless you look for them.