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"Cutout" bumper brackets ?
Sides - December 8th, 2011 at 03:12 PM

Remember somewhere around the place seeing beam Bug bumper brackets that had large cutouts in them, very obviously from factory presumably to reduce weight.

Anyone know anything about 'em ???


Joel - December 8th, 2011 at 09:54 PM

Are you just thinking of the 75-76 C section style brackets?

They were just used on the indicator bumper cars.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p174/Buggin_74/Lbug/100_4877.jpg

If you wanna use them you'll have to redrill the mounting holes like I did, the bumper may already have the mounting holes for them though.

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/662600.jpg


Sides - December 9th, 2011 at 07:12 AM

Yeah, they look like the ones Joel... the cutouts are smaller than I remember tho !!!

Were they front only, or front and rear ???


Joel - December 9th, 2011 at 08:45 AM

Front and rear.

I think they came up with those cos the bumper mounts on the body changed thanks to the US getting those huge shock absorber dodgem car bumpers.

The mounting holes were all different so they came up with these new ones.

There is a huge weight difference between these the and older ones.

I'd measure the difference but a certain STIdub owner has my spare set ;)


Sides - December 9th, 2011 at 11:03 AM

OK, cool - cheers Joel.

Oh and thanks for info on that certain STIdub owner... will hit him up to get a look at 'em myself !!!

:tu:


STIDUB - December 9th, 2011 at 11:31 AM

you talking to me? :lol: take jezzi for a drive out my way tomorrow, pfft yeah right, & ill pull the brackets off so you can compare weights, and discuss that lump of ghia i have sitting here, might use you as slave labour for the day though lol


Sides - December 9th, 2011 at 12:34 PM

Heh, yeah - Jezzi not driving anywhere for a bit - engine is out for the off season check over.

Might be worth a day tho... as well as ghia plans, also got a spot of ally welding needs doing !!!

:D


STIDUB - December 10th, 2011 at 12:42 AM

ill be out finding a mk4 golf mirror at some point, call me :tu:


STIDUB - December 10th, 2011 at 03:56 PM

anyone want to guess what the weight difference is... we weighed them.... :D


Joel - December 10th, 2011 at 05:08 PM

Those ones say Made in Mexico on the sticker don't they?

The German front ones I've got are bit heavier,


68AutoBug - December 10th, 2011 at 05:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Joel
Front and rear.

I think they came up with those cos the bumper mounts on the body changed thanks to the US getting those huge shock absorber dodgem car bumpers.

The mounting holes were all different so they came up with these new ones.

There is a huge weight difference between these the and older ones.

I'd measure the difference but a certain STIdub owner has my spare set ;)


those german ones are probably just as strong as the flat ones, maybe even stronger due to the folding and indents..

they used those on the front of beetles here instead of the shock absorber type which are NLA...
the shock absorber type only pushed in...
You couldn't pull them back out??

would have been cheaper to use gas type shocks??? IMHO

I don't think You can buy the "D" shaped rubber grommets either as they were not used in the USA naturally...

LEE


STIDUB - December 10th, 2011 at 06:55 PM

normal brackets, 1.6KG EACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! later indicator bumper types... 0.6! insane difference hey? other stuff has been weighed too, oem german non indicator bumper, compared to a repoop indicator type.. 2kg difference. drop 8-9kg of weight with factory stuff changed... yes that means running a front bumper on they rear but you get the idea, apparently off season is diet time for race cars:yes:


Joel - December 10th, 2011 at 08:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by 68AutoBug

I don't think You can buy the "D" shaped rubber grommets either as they were not used in the USA naturally...

LEE


Plenty of places sell them, I got those ones on mine new from Al at Stokers, genuine German ones.

All of Europe and here used them from 74.


1303Steve - December 10th, 2011 at 09:28 PM

Hi

They also use a different bumper seal, they are very hard to get in Australia I found a place in Holland that had them and Birdman picked them up for me when he was in Holland.

Steve


68AutoBug - December 10th, 2011 at 10:15 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by 1303Steve
Hi

They also use a different bumper seal, they are very hard to get in Australia I found a place in Holland that had them and Birdman picked them up for me when he was in Holland.

Steve

'
Hi Steve

that's what I meant by "D" shaped bumper grommets... lol..

hard to find.... someone was looking for some a while back and I couldn't find them anywhere... on the internet..
or UK magazines

Lee


1303Steve - December 11th, 2011 at 05:04 PM

Hi Lee

It was probably me that was looking for them, Birdman picked some up for me at this place in Holland http://www.paruzzi.com/ 

The triangle shaped ones on Joels car were only used on the front of 74 & 75 1303s

Steve


Sides - December 12th, 2011 at 04:42 PM

So... anyone got any of the brackets they're willing to part with ???

After fronts and rears... Wanted thread is at http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=94278&page=1#pid876661 


BiX - December 19th, 2011 at 12:37 PM

What about just using some plate alum? I was thinking of doing some glass bumpers, with alum brackets when I have time at home.....


Sides - December 19th, 2011 at 02:04 PM

Nah BiX... way I read it the Improved Production rules don't allow ally bumper brackets or glass bumpers.

Besides - I want to keep the strength as much as possible !!!

:tu:


BiX - December 19th, 2011 at 03:19 PM

an old trick I heard off, was take a body shell or bumper, strip it, then spray with salt water. let stand for a few days to weeks. remove rust...... isntant weight reduction and all you did was fix up an old rusty part.

hey any idea about how you got your 15 inch wheels over the 944T brakes? all people I speak to, say it can't be done......