Lipstick on a blue frog

[Hap Waldrop]

David, I like the bumper treatments, looks good, in this case I think less looks better, before there was too much going on with the badge bar and the driving lights, just the bumpers is a clean look, and I agree the bumper on your car look better than without the bumpers.

Russ, everyone will know soon enough. I'll wait till the new ride is sitting in my garage before I start crowing, should be here in about 3 weeks.

Oh and there will be still be time for a few shake downs runs with the GT before he goes to his new owner, so Kim, David, Alan and all, yes we should do a mountain run in the future, I fiquire the GT with it's new engine, and 5 speed tranny will back on the road in next 45 days. We can call it "Kipper's last Southern Run", because after that he will be heading North.

 

[drooartz]

A new ride for Hap... the suspense is killing me!

 

[jlaird]

I did not want to say it but since someone has broken the Ice. Yep. I also think the bumper is upside down.

 

[Gundy]

Whaa...no mention of the dimples I put on the thing
from overtightened carriage bolts on the center holes.
The dang end bolts are too long...they are decent chrome.
Really needs shorter bolts.
Then there is the holes for tags. I picked up some chrome tag bolts.
I don't think it is upside down...but what do I know?
Very little my friends.
I held it there both ways before I bolted it on.
Pic does create some illusionish effect.
I really don't like BE over-riders. UGLY...sorry if I offend
anyone.....big ol hulking things out there.
I LOVE the clean blade. I just thought it needed a bit of factory bling up front. De-blinged of those over-riders.
With the chrome braces it's kind to the eyes.
A functional curb feeler.
I'll give it the ol inspection next time I'm down to the barn.
:thumbsup:

 

[Gundy]

David, I like the bumpers
<Thank ya pal.>

Russ, everyone will know soon enough. I'll wait...

<Tic Toc...Tic Toc...>
<See ya soon my friend.>




Mountain pass might be fun.
I love Umi for lunch in Hendersonville.
Take Devil's Fork. Figure out a way back
to the peanut man from Umi's.
Day trip, back before dark.
Please get that GT going soon.

 

[ichthos]

Your car looks great, David. I vote for the bumper without the over riders too. Were the over riders an option, or were they original equipment? I had all of my chrome redone also. I didn't get my over riders rechromed yet because I need to weld on nuts to the inside brackets. I am not sure I want to put them on anyway. I don't know if it is an optical illusion in the pic you posted showing the bumper, but mine actually fit like how it appears in the photo. There is a clear right side up on the bumper, but in my case it didn't matter if I flipped the bumper over. I finally figured out that two of the center brackets were bent the same. They were bent so uniformly bent that it was not at all evident. I was finally able to compare them to another Bugeye and caught my error. The PO must have been in a minor fender bender, and put on a different bumper at some point without straightening the brackets.

 

[Gundy]

I gave it the eyeball inspection today and I don't think it is
upside down. I think the over-riders came with the bumpers.
The center holes aren't squared for carriage bolts and it would
appear that the bolt went through the bumper and into nuts
on the back of the over-riders. That is how the ones I took off
were attached.
I just installed some smaller carriage bolts in the centers
and did not use the over-riders.
My car is far from stock so this little change is a matter of taste and not "correct as stock" for me.
I removed all the mirrors/lights and geebobs for a cleaner look
and the single blade just looked perfect with the car's new
image. I kept the blue bulbs in the turn signals. They light
up amber but have a blue appearance when not in use.
Not stock but I like 'em.
It's all personal preference stuff when the car is a driver and not a show car.
I'm pleased and the wife likes it better now. That's about all that matters in the end.
It makes me smile when I kick the tires and light the fires.

 

[ichthos]

Thanks for the info, David. The only thing that let me know what "right side up" was on the bumper was that there was a little indentation at the bottom center, which I was able to see at other Bugeyes at car shows. By the way, I have seen show cars that do not look nearly as nice as what yours looks like. It took me forever for me restore my Bugeye, but now I just want to drive. Even though I was shooting for stock (the PO made many odd changes that I moved back to stock), there are many little changes I made to mine over the years, mainly for practicality purposes. Some subtle changes were made simply because the parts I needed were not available at the time. My wife is very happy with the job I did too. I agree that a happy wife is worth a great deal more than any awards I may get at a car show.
Kevin

 

[Gundy]

Good eye Russ! Thanks Pal. I went to put the tags hole
covers in and said...what the heck...it's only 4 bolts.
Once flipped, I can INSTANTLY see I had it upside down.
Very subtle but clearly I had it upside down.
No markings inside or out to indicate top or bottom.
Good eye my Man!
:thumbsup:

Dang...this thread should'a been in Heeding my Better's Advice
column.


BTW: I got the dimple out too.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

David, I was just going to tell you, leave the bumper as is and just flip the car around

 

[jlaird]

And one more time I agree with Hap.

 

[Gundy]

playing hooky

Laid out of work today. Took the dog for a swim.
This new spot moved up to beach 3 on the GPS.
Lovely little sandy beach with a firepit over looking
the beach below.
Lake Jocassee on a weekday is very relaxing.
"New" to me but old boat ran great. 27mph smooth cruise at
3000 rpms.
Should of, ought to, didn't. We played hooky.
Wife packed a killer lunch. No crowds. Just a lovely day
Now when the hades is that starter pull gonna get here?
Grr...

 

[toysrrus]

Re: playing hooky

Hey David,

Do you know my phone #??????? Where the heck was I yesterday?

Oh Yeah, Golfing (Getting Frustrated) at "Green Valley CC". I`d much prefer being on Lk. Jocassee!!

Perhaps the next time.

Regards, Russ

 

[Gundy]

on the road again

Moss was prompt with the starter thingie.
Easy install and all is well again.
Driveway pics.
The wheel pic is for Hap. That was the fender the bad
edge was cut out. Nice repair.
Yours truly in the wheel pic. Man that is some shiny black
and I've yet to polish them.

 

[Gundy]

Re: on the road again

Chrome blade supports and the new 7/8 anti-sway bar.
Wife's panty hose keeps bugs out of the heater hose
and you can see the tie rod clearance too. Man those wheels
are shiny inside too. 14x5.5 VTO Retros 4s with Dunlop
185x60x14 Z1 Star Spec rubber.
'Bout all the tires/wheels I can stuff in there.

 

[ichthos]

Re: on the road again

Very nice, David. I noticed you said that you went with a 7/8" anti-sway bar. What advantage does the extra thickness give you compared to a stock 9/16"? Did you have to do anything different to the rear after beefing up the front?

 

[Gundy]

Re: on the road again

Very nice, David. I noticed you said that you went with a 7/8" anti-sway bar. What advantage does the extra thickness give you compared to a stock 9/16"? Did you have to do anything different to the rear after beefing up the front?

I am seeking to flatten the car in cornering and reduce understeer. I had installed a panhard bar on the rear
before the sway bar.
It has stiffer front coils and softer rear springs.