Bugeye front bumper

[ichthos]

Hello,
I am close to finishing the paint job on my Bugeye. My car was totally taken apart. This is the first car I have ever restored. I have learned a lot along the way, but have made many mistakes also. One current frustration I have is with the front bumper. I was doing a last fitting of parts before I put on the final paint. I can not seem to get the bumper to sit correctly. The bumper was not on the car when I bought it. I foolishly worked on the body and had the front bumper straigtened and rechromed before actually fitting it on my car to start with. I checked the brackets against another pair of bumper brackets and they do not seem to be bent at all. I know I have the brackets on correctly, yet the bumper seems to be pointing up. Any ideas what I am doing wrong or what I can do to correct this would be greatly be appreciated.
Thanks, Kevin

 

[jlaird]

Turn it over?? Adjust the brackets??

 

[ichthos]

Thanks Jack. I have tried every position I can think of on assembling the bumper. I am obviously missing something. I wish I had someone near me with a Bugeye I could compare to. I was worried that the front part of the frame may have been bent up. There was no apparent major damage when I bought the car. The bonnet gaps are fairly uniform. I measured the frame while on jacks and both sides are farily uniform for the surface I had to work with. I am wondering if when the bumper was straigtened that maybe it origninally had a slight angle to it.
Kevin

 

[jlaird]

I seem to remember haveing the same problem long ago, solved it by bending the supports till it was right. After all it is not going to protect you from anything.

 

[Billm]

As a last resort you could take four thick flat washers and taper them all the same. Put 2 on the stubs behind the bumper and 2 on in front of the bumper (brackets) and align all 4 to angle the bumper properly.
Bill

 

[bugimike]

I don't know about not protecting from anything Jack, I hit a brick storefront head-on after skidding on ice in an avoidance maneuver. I had to be doing 15-20 MPH and wiped out the bumper assy. to the point that I could not re-use it, but it sure saved the car! The bonnet got dented & twisted, but that was just bodywork. Frame etc. remained remarkably true & intact! Those brackets acted almost like leaf springs.

 

[leecreek]

Swapped the brackets left to right?...Post a pic..

 

[ichthos]

I am working on the body in a friend's garage. I won't get a chance to get a picture for another couple of weeks. I'll post a picture then. Thanks again for all the suggestions. I am sure you will be reading much more from me soon. Once I finish the body (the tub is totally bare) and put the whole thing back together, I know I will be needing a lot of help.
Kevin

 

[ncbugeye]

I just happen to have my front bumper removed right now, so I may be able to help you with pictures. To start off, here is a picture of the bumper with its 4 brackets. Tell me exactly what aspects you want more detail on, and I'll upload more pictures.

 

[ncbugeye]

Here is the service parts manual page