Write-Up: Front & Rear Bumper Modification

Here are some progress pics of the body work.

The plan is to pull the bumpers into the car some. Similar to Jack the R's photos in his signature.

First fiberglass was laid on the stock bumper cover to get a shell to start with. This part will eventually become the "plug" for a mold to make the new bumper cover.





Then the process of cutting, reattaching, shaving, adding, grinding, sanding......you get the idea.






The shape is getting there. Notice the trunk lock has been shaved as well.



No more antenna either. The bumper is close. Just some minor shaping and it is ready for the mold process.






I will post more pics as progress continues.

Looks great!!!
How's the interior coming? You've taken on both projects at the same time.
Very ambitious, very nice work.

The interior is on hold until the car is painted. Then it is full tilt boogie on the inside of the car.

Have you finished the dash board yet. Waiting for pic's of that workmanship.

Not yet. That is first on the list after the paint is done. Trust me I am ready to be done with the car, but I won't rush it just to finish it.

nice!!!

robotennis61 wrote:

nice!!!

Wow, I'm shocked you were able to take it in that far! All that bumper that sticks out 5 inches is just empty space?!

I've got a couple suggestions -



The trunk lid shouldn't overhang the bumper. You need to put a bit back on.

The side reflector needs to come forward a bit.

Maybe a different design, like a round European deal -



or something else

i agree. what did you use to fill the wheel trim moulding?

It wasn't too hard to get the room for the bumper cover. Just had to cut about 3 or 4 inches out of the bumper bracket to move it closer to the spare tire tub. The back will be built out more, like your suggestion. It had to be taken in this far to get a tighter fit to the other panels. The stock bumper had a larger radius on the corners. This picture doesn't show the filled and matched fit. I will post some pics when that part is closer to finished. The marker light is still undecided. After the bumper is completely mocked up we will check out the stock light. It is hard to tell in the pictures, but the stock light goes well with the body molding that goes down the side of the car. I also have some oval exhaust tips that will be going through the bumper rather than under it. By the way, when the rear bumper is finished the front bumper is getting the same treatment.

The chrome wheel trim molding will be retained.

I don't like the idea of moving the bumper around. There's too much engineering behind the way the car folds in a crash.

It's called Custom modifications, and there is no way around it.
Besides the bumpers are only rated for 5 mph.
Most of the modification is done to the bumper covers which are just plastic.

There is still alot of room for the bumper to collapse.

Call me paranoid, but I don't like to mess with such an important system without knowing what I'm doing. I'm not saying anyone's wrong, but it concerns me.

Will the exhaust tips be oval or elliptical?

I like the overall effect. I am looking forward to seeing what the front looks like also. Will you just pull the bumper in or also create a more pronounced front air dam under it?

Here is what I got for the exhaust tips.






I am still working on the design for the front. It will probably just evolve as the work progresses.

I can't get over how much tighter the Rivi looks like this.

What'd I do in the front is work in some lines coming down from the hood so you could carry a two tone scheme down into the bumper. And put a huge intake in benath the regular grill.

Link isn't working for me.......

JR, try posting the link again. Not working.

It is interesting... Can't wait to see it all finished up

Fixed the link. Sorry.

what link?

Jack the R wrote:

Fixed the link. Sorry.

By removing it.

oh....

im impressed and it takes alot in body work to impress me