Hi all---
So I kinda thought there was something not quite right about the front bumper cover on my 85 TC.....and after I finally was able to see and compare another one,it looks like somebody installed a non-turbo coupe bumper cover!!!!!No lower air dam or provisions for driving lights.Further investigation revealed the wiring for the lamps is there.I'm not totally surprised by this though,I bought the car knowing it washiznit in the front years ago and fixed,but what I am finding is that everything on this car that needed attention was just fixed half-assed.But I'll get it straightened out.
Anyways, I located a bumper cover.But I need the driving light brackets and/or lamps.
Any help greatly appreciated!!!!!!!
Joe
Is the bumper (metal) itself a TC bumper? There are holes for mounting the light brackets in the TC ones, but none in the non-TC ones.
Chuck, I don't know.I havent pulled it apart yet.With my luck,it's probably the wrong bumper too.However, I'm sure that I can get the bumper "assembly" if needed.But there's no brackets on the donor car.
Joe, do you know if the driving lights are the same on 4-eyes as they are on 87/88's? If so, we've got a set from an 87/88 complete with mounting brackets, blind nuts and bolts for $25 plus shipping. I don't know if the lights work though, so I will assume they don't.
I dont think they are the same.......maybe Chuck could confirm that.
Joe
No, unfortunately they're not the same. 1987-88 TC brackets are unique.
The 1983-86 TC/XR7 brackets are also unique because of the angles on the front bumper cover. I've tried to use brackets from other cars (Escort GT, Mark VII) and they're just too different (angles are all wrong).
However...I have been able to mount those brackets to a non-TC bumper cover. Just takes drilling some holes and using GOOD self-tapping screws. The way that the metal bumper cores were designed, there is no possible way to get your hand inside and put a nut on a bolt, so you have to use self-tappers.
There is a "seam" that runs on the bottom side of the metal bumper core. There's also a corresponding "bump" on the TC brackets. That's how you line them up...from there it's just a matter of finding the center, side-to-side. Not very difficult to do. However, if you can find a TC bumper core then I'd definitely recommend that first. Use the drill/tap method as your last resort.
Thanks for the info, Eric.
I have located a TC front bumper assembly, and have a few leads for the brackets.Can always add the lamps later.
Joe