Chopping the front bumper, good idea?

[j_eclipse96]

Okay, I got this idea from this tech article and the 22nd post on this thread. Basically, If I wanted my 2ga headlights to fit my 2gb Buddy club 2 front end, couldn't I just chop the top portion of the OEM bumper (that wraps the headlights) and do the same to the bodykit, and just repair the gap like in that tech article? It seems like that would be much easier than trimming the inside part, then having to rebuilt the lips I grinded off. I've never done fiberglass before, but I've been researching it alot, and it seems like the less curves and stuff you have to do, the easier and stronger it is. I know the bumper is going to have to be re-glassed in places anyway, because it is an ebay kit and fits like crap. And I have all the materials already at my house for fiberglassing. What do you guys think?

Oh, and how well does fiberglass usually bond with urethane? My OEM bumper is urethane. Thanks.

 

[HighPsi92GST]

Oh, and how well does fiberglass usually bond with urethane? My OEM bumper is urethane. Thanks.

It will last a little while, but not for long with daily use

 

[shpyder]

It will last a little while, but not for long with daily use

Thats true. Urethane and fiberglass have entirely different flexing. You can twist a urethane lip like Slim Jim, and retain structural integrity and form. And fiberglass, give it the slightest excuse, it WILL send a hairline fracture crack as far as it can through its entire length. Moulding the two does not seem to be a good idea at all, I would say avoid it.

 

[j_eclipse96]

Alright, I trust more what you guys say than my bad ideas

So any tips for trimming the headlight area? Just grind down the needed area, then sand to make it nice, and then build it up and remake the lip like on my oem bumper I would assume. Is there any way I could make a mold or a mock design of the headlight area to use on the kit, or could I just measure the shortest area between the two headlights on the oem bumper and sand it to fit? Let me know what you think, guys. Thanks.

 

[shpyder]

If I understand correctly, you want to use the 95-96 shaped oval headlights on a bumper than actually fits a 97-99 style pair, correct? I encourage you to go look on E-Bay at the many 2G 97-99 style projectors they have. Prices have been plummeting, and noe you can get a pair for $150 to your door. check these out:


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-9...ewItemQQcategoryZ33710QQitemZ7992330092QQrdZ1

Cutting the area to fit those longer lights is something I wouldnt do. It would take a considerable amount of money to make the area look clean, and make the lights fit just perfectly. The same amount of money with which you could buy aftermarket projectors.

 

[JLeach50]

I absolutely agree with shpyder about this. i'll be doing the conversion on my 96 in a few months and i've done plenty of research ahead of time. so, unless you are looking for the recognition of doing your own fabrication (which there are more prominent and more impressive ways to do so), take the easier way and change the headlights.