Going RBless

[maddy]

I'm converting to Rubberless bumpers on my 79. Below the rear lights has no body panel. If I cut that area out of an earlier model midget, will it fit on mine? Is there another way to go? I do not have an older midget available to figure this out. I'll be begging someone to saw the areas out of a parts car so I can get the job done if this works.

 

[bugimike]

You should be able to find help by doing a search, there have been a few threads on this subject! The pieces off an older car will fit fine, or as others have done, you can shape a filler piece and mold it to shape.

 

[bthompson]

...or as others have done, you can shape a filler piece and mold it to shape.

Hello, I'm an Other. :wink:

Easy as pie to do on the cheap. Get two blocks of styrofoam, like is used for packing. Hold one in place under the taillight and use a sharpie to draw the contour you want. Cut it roughly to shape, then use coarse sandpaper to smooth it out until its perfect. It's relaxing work, just be sure to check yourself often as you go. Ideally, you want the shape to be about 1/4" smaller than you want it, so you can leave space to finish it off with the filler.

Since Bondo will eat styrofoam (guess how I found out!) you have to seal it first. I wrapped it tightly with aluminum foil. Flat foil+curved surface=ripples, but they can be smoothed well enough at this stage.

Then start slathering on Bondo. Well, not 'slathering,' of course, you're building up thin layers, and sanding in between. It'll take many days to get it built up and cured. At this point, it's just like working on any other bodywork. Sand, glaze, sand, guide coat, glaze, etc. etc. When it's as perfect as you want it, prime and paint to match the car.

Now, you could actually bondo it onto the fender, to show no seams. I used 3M Weatherstrip Adhesive and attached it with a very definate seam. If I ever want to re-bumper it, easy to pop off the tips without disturbing anything else. And if it gets crunched...easier to fix it off the car.

 

[maddy]

Thanks Bill, that looks good!
I am very reluctant to go with bondo the way you discribed, thinking that in 6 years from now crack lines would begin to show. My car will see 100 F. to 0 F. How long has it been since you did your car? Any other methods that you have heard about?
I did a search "removing rubber bumpers" to find zip. Any suggestions?

 

[Morris]

That's pretty cool Bill. I think I may do the same with mine... only I think I'll use fiberglass filler. That may help keep the potential for cracking down.

 

[maddy]

I might make a plaster mold from a midget that is waiting for it's owner to do a restore on then make them with fiberglass. Might work.

 

[aeronca65t]

I did a little write up on this when my race car was still a street car.

You can view it ~HERE~

 

[maddy]

Sweet avatar, I mean racacar! I get it now! New bumpers set in just below the lights. I'm going with the split bumpers, just have to set them in the cavity the right way to make it look good. BIG thanks to you all!!!

 

[bthompson]

Bondo is definately <span style="font-style: italic">not </span>a long term solution. It's only a matter of time till it crunches. It's been about a year since Nigel's bumperless conversion, it's been thru a hot summer and hard freeze, and no cracks yet. Fiberglass would have been better...but I just happened to have some styrofoam blocks and a tub of Bondo on hand, and I'm <span style="font-style: italic">notoriously </span>cheap. (And really bad with fiberglass)

The Best Way would surely be to make a fiberglass female mold off of an original, pop out some shiny gelcoated replacements, keep two for yourself and sell the rest!


<span style="color: #006600">p.s. ... Hey, Nial, I didn't know that green beast was <span style="font-style: italic">your </span>car! I studied your article thoroughly when I first got Nigel, and was reading everything I could find on Spridget resto. A very good post, it was a great help to me; so thanks "in person."</span>