Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Body/Appearance/Interior => Topic started by: t3skidoo on February 15, 2011, 02:08:57 AM

Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: t3skidoo on February 15, 2011, 02:08:57 AM
Will the 87/88 bumper fit under the 83-86 cover?
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: hcor on February 15, 2011, 06:28:40 AM
It's a totally differant shape? I wouldn't think so. Do you need an 83-86 bumper? I have several
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: t3skidoo on February 15, 2011, 12:24:56 PM
Looking to trim some weight without impacting (nyuk nyuk) safety.  I blame fordguy545 and gumby for this thread. 

After seeing fordguy545's trimmed bumper, it got me to thinking about using pre-preg CF *as a reinforcement.  Trim a factory metal (or fiberglass) bumper of as much material possible, lay the pre-preg, bag and cure it.



* http://tinyurl.com/46kcwht
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: gumby on February 15, 2011, 05:08:13 PM
If you are gonna be tpuppies it, and already planning to lay the pre-preg CF, I'm sure you could make the 87-88 bumper fit nicely inside the early cover. :evilgrin:
The 87-88 bumper would make a much lighter base to begin with, and likely a fairly easy substrate to bond the CF onto.

I already have a few guys who blame me for certain car hobby related choices they have made; get in line :nkhk:
Title: Another thought:
Post by: t3skidoo on February 20, 2011, 08:09:07 AM
I was considering a CF or fiberglass hood but don't see that as a viable choice now.

fordguy545 shed a few pounds by removing part of the underside support frame of the hood and trunk.  Would a sheet of pre-preg laid on the underside restore the some or all of the stiffness?  It would be easy to prep the surface then bag and cure it.
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: gumby on February 20, 2011, 11:32:47 AM
Workin from what I see on our racecars that have CF bodies, rather than adding thickness to the entire panel for rigidity there are patches added only to the specific areas that require it. I would assume the same would hold true on the underside of a sheet metal hood to some extent.
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: t3skidoo on February 20, 2011, 12:56:54 PM
Bumper question - are the bumpers straight bolt-in swaps with regard to mounting (not counting bumper cover)?

Lid questions - I ASSume the loss of rigidity is torsional and not surface deflection?  If one were to chop the underside like 545 did, then lay a sheet of CF everywhere there wasn't the reinforcement, would that work like the mods on the race cars?  Or would a third layer of another material need to be added, eg foam core?
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: gumby on February 20, 2011, 01:57:40 PM
SWAG ahead:
I would say a web of CF strips bonded directly to the hood, and located where you remove the reinforcements, would make a significant decrease in flimsiness.

Additionally, If you cut some 1" foam in the same layout and bonded that to the hood like a hat channel(similar to uni-body channels), you would add a large amount of beam height which would add to torsional rigidity.
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: t3skidoo on February 20, 2011, 05:53:35 PM
Gumby, not sure I know what you mean.  Are you suggesting cutting foam pieces to fit so that the CF has a relatively smooth flat shape?
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: gumby on February 20, 2011, 06:07:59 PM
Basically you would use the foam to replicate the layout of the braces that are cut out, then lay the CF sheets over that. x's are foam:
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Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: t3skidoo on February 20, 2011, 06:10:09 PM
ah, got it, thx.
Title: Gum-BEEEEEEE!!!!!
Post by: t3skidoo on February 26, 2011, 06:01:22 PM
http://greatbignerd.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/kirk-yelling-at-kahn.jpg%3Fw%3D442%26h%3D404


Yes, it has begun.
Title: it may be dirt,
Post by: t3skidoo on February 26, 2011, 06:04:21 PM
but it's classic dirt
Title: hmm, could there be another purpose here?
Post by: t3skidoo on February 26, 2011, 06:07:00 PM
Something besides weight loss?
Title: one more thing
Post by: t3skidoo on February 26, 2011, 06:09:41 PM
Thishiznit the floor as the rear bumper came off the car.

Was Ford using punch cards at the time?
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: gumby on February 26, 2011, 06:26:59 PM
sweet, I'm watchin!
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: daminc on February 26, 2011, 08:25:11 PM
Quote from: t3skidoo;354059
Thishiznit the floor as the rear bumper came off the car.

Was Ford using punch cards at the time?

I got one off the vert bumper too
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: t3skidoo on February 27, 2011, 12:34:42 AM
Weighed the bumpers. Not including bumper bolts or body mount nuts, the front w/ turn signal was 35lb, rear was 30lb.

The tentative plan is to take a hole saw to anywhere there's space, wrap with pre-preg, then fill with expanding foam.  UNLESS >> the 87/88 bumpers can be made to work.  I'm mostly concerned about fog light and turn signal mounts.  Of course the shape could be an issue too. 

Any thoughts?
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: t3skidoo on February 27, 2011, 12:35:28 AM
Quote from: daminc;354078
I got one off the vert bumper too

 
Was there anything legible on it?  Mine doesn't seem to have anything but dirt.
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: daminc on February 27, 2011, 08:46:38 AM
(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0820.jpg)

(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0821.jpg)

(http://i1046.photobucket.com/albums/b463/daminc-pics2/85%20Vert%20Bodywork/IMG_0822.jpg)
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: gumby on February 27, 2011, 04:28:26 PM
Quote from: t3skidoo;354099
Any thoughts?

I doubt you are gonna find anyone who has tried it. Guinea pig?
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: t3skidoo on February 27, 2011, 06:14:56 PM
Quote from: gumby;354146
I doubt you are gonna find anyone who has tried it. Guinea pig?


Well, I wouldn't have any idea what that's like  :punchballs:

In any case, I'm not planning on conducting any crash tests.

Does all pre-preg need baking?  I thought there was at least one version that didn't require heat, only bagging.  Just found something that implies that an oven is necessary regardless.
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: Shannun on March 06, 2011, 09:59:15 PM
i got a nice hood from the guys at http://critesperformanceparts.com/ i have their ram air hood on my tbird now and i love it (http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj97/ShannunP/img114.jpg)
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: Shannun on March 06, 2011, 10:06:15 PM
Quote from: t3skidoo;353414
I was considering a CF or fiberglass hood but don't see that as a viable choice now.

fordguy545 shed a few pounds by removing part of the underside support frame of the hood and trunk.  Would a sheet of pre-preg laid on the underside restore the some or all of the stiffness?  It would be easy to prep the surface then bag and cure it.

 
the guys at http://critesperformanceparts.com/ have a few hoods you may like ... i have their custom ram air hood on my tbird now and it gives it an intresting look (http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj97/ShannunP/img114.jpg)
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: Shannun on March 06, 2011, 10:14:32 PM
Quote from: t3skidoo;353414
I was considering a CF or fiberglass hood but don't see that as a viable choice now.

fordguy545 shed a few pounds by removing part of the underside support frame of the hood and trunk.  Would a sheet of pre-preg laid on the underside restore the some or all of the stiffness?  It would be easy to prep the surface then bag and cure it.

 
http://critesperformanceparts.com/ has a few fiberglass hoods i have their "custom ram air" hood on my bird and i like it (http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj97/ShannunP/img114.jpg)
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: fordguy545 on March 07, 2011, 12:56:28 AM
god thats an ugly hood! 
T3 - as far as cutting stuff out of the hood, I probably wouldn't do it again because it is seriously flimsy for the lousy 6#'s I got out of it.  The trunk lid however is still pretty stiff and that got 4#'s taken out of it.
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: Shannun on March 07, 2011, 02:45:19 AM
lol to each his or her own i guess
just trying to give the guy options...and nice troll btw i guess ya find them everywhere :shakehead
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: t3skidoo on March 07, 2011, 03:44:31 PM
Quote from: Shannun;354717
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj97/ShannunP/img114.jpg)

 
Is this photoshopped?

If it's real, it would make a great gun port for a Mad Max remake with TCs.  "Last of the interceptor turbos, be a shame to blaw it up."
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: The Shredder on March 07, 2011, 05:01:48 PM
Too bad we aren't closer.  I have some 87-88 bumpers you could experiment with.  If you need some pictures of them, let me know.
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: gumby on March 07, 2011, 05:11:54 PM
Quote from: Shannun;354745
nice troll btw i guess ya find them everywhere :shakehead
fordguy is far from a troll around here. You gave an option(however unrelated to the topic it may be), and he gave his opinion; it is what it is.


Quote from: t3skidoo;354787
Is this photoshopped?
Nope, it is unfortunately real. If you follow the link Shannun posted, there is a shot of the underside which is set up to house a HUGE carb air cleaner.
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: t3skidoo on March 07, 2011, 11:52:03 PM
Quote from: Shannun;354717
(http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj97/ShannunP/img114.jpg)

 

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how big that is.  Do you look over it or through it to drive?
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: t3skidoo on March 07, 2011, 11:56:47 PM
Quote from: fordguy545;354739

T3 - as far as cutting stuff out of the hood, I probably wouldn't do it again because it is seriously flimsy for the lousy 6#'s I got out of it.  The trunk lid however is still pretty stiff and that got 4#'s taken out of it.


Okay, thanks for the input.  I'm going to experiment with some pre-preg on something small and see what happens. 6# off the front is very tempting.
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: Shannun on March 08, 2011, 01:50:54 PM
lol you look over it if your tall enough
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: fordguy545 on March 08, 2011, 06:03:40 PM
The way I see it, you better have an engine to back up the hood, lol.
Title: bumpers and covers
Post by: t3skidoo on March 10, 2011, 08:44:24 PM
I spoke with 3M/Duramix and they need to know what kind of urethane was used to make the bumper covers.  Anybody know?

(I thought they would have that info but apparently not.)