96 talon to 97+ talon front end

yup talon · 04-01-2005, 07:12 PM

i want to get a 97+ TALON front bumper for my 96 TSi. i was wondering if there is extensive modification required to do so. I know some people on here have done it, but i cant seem to find a write-up on it. im not worried about how long it will take, but if i gotta make tons of new brackets then ill ###### can the idea.

thanks

Attack Eagle · 04-01-2005, 09:47 PM

yep there is extensive modification.

Just messing with you. The hardest part is getting the old bumper off and getting the sidemarkers off. make sure you wax the new one under the headlights and sidemarkers real well before putting it on.

it is 100% bolton jsut like the rear...

I'm jealous, you wil have skirts and talon nose.

yup talon · 04-01-2005, 10:02 PM

so theres no modification needed to change from 96 talon front to 97-98 talon front?!?!?! sweet bonus!

yea that was another thing i was worried aobut was getting my current bumper off. i rememeber when i was taking out my SMIC to clean, i took ONE BOLT out from between the bumper and fender, and it just snapped right when i tried turning it.... is that how the whole front end is gona be? any remedies to prevent this?

i dont wanna be that guy, the guy that rolls without a front bumper.

HighPsi92GST · 04-02-2005, 05:40 AM

most likly a lot, if not all your front bumper bolts are going to break.

the solution (atleast what i do) - get a drill and a drill bit thats about the same size or just slightly larger then the bolt thats broken off. Then drill straight through the broken bolt. it will ruin the threads inside there and you will end up with a hole that is just alittle bit bigger then before. Then use standard self tapping bolts (instead of metric) and tighten that down in its place. this will make new threads for you and last a few more years until that bolt breaks off when you remove the bumper again

theres other ways too, like just drilling the bolt out, tapping it, then using another bolt of the same size, but the way I do it is quick, simple, and never gave me any problems

Attack Eagle · 04-03-2005, 01:18 AM

I doubt any of them will break.. exept maybe the foglights

HighPsi92GST · 04-03-2005, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Attack Eagle

I doubt any of them will break.. exept maybe the foglights

he already broke one...so your wrong......

Attack Eagle · 04-03-2005, 03:00 PM

den someone needs to use spray lube like PB blaster...

the only ones that are remotely possible to break are the 4 on the fenders and those you can lube nicely...

:eek:

why are you trying to take of the bumper... there's only 5 on top and 4 under the fender corners of the skin... the rest are stupid plastic clips and maybe one or two at the lower lip...

just take off the skin...

yup talon · 04-03-2005, 07:18 PM

i suppose by saying bumper, it came across as being more than just the front body part. i just need the front part off so i can put on a new FMIC. I've found someone with a 97+ front bumper for me, i just gotta get it painted!

ill PB blast the bolts the day before i do all this, and the day of. i should be ok?

HighPsi92GST · 04-03-2005, 08:05 PM

Iv got to take my front bumper off my new 95 tsi to put the fmic on, i'll see if its anything like my 1g, those bolts broke off even after being blaster-ized

Attack Eagle · 04-04-2005, 01:06 AM

you should be fine

I first took mine of about 4 years ago to replace a damaged headlight and nothing was frozen up... and did a few rigs so I can remove it very easily to get the car up on ramps (talon nose has minimal clearance even at stock height)
2gs run pretty clean
4 big bolts on the reinforcement piece, aka actaul bumper itself after the skin is off.
On the skin
5 across teh top of the nose between the headlights

2 under the front of the fender (perside) one right at teh edge and one above the sidemarker lights SHoot em up good they are the only ones that can really get corroded

There MIGHT be a couple under the lip itself, but if i recall the lip is bolted to a metal reinforment which uses plastic PUSH clips to attach to the lower radiator cooling duct, so no need to unbolt anything, just take your time unclipping it.

And maybe a couple of push tabs/bolts??? for the side of the wheelwells (I clipped mine long ago so I have the 5 bolts and 2 rear bolts and thats it for the last 4 years)

now the FENDER bolts on the other hand I have broken 2-3 so I immediately stopped until I was ready to swap fenders.

One other thing... you shoudl get the 2gb smic duct if you are still on the SMIC. The 2gb has a MUCH larger SMIC opening... your existing duct won't work at all. IF you aren't... well do what you think is best with the big opening.