1975 Bumpers weight reduction, Bumper modification Options

[jmig615]

Hello Everyone.

I just purchased a 1975 -914 and it comes with the very heavy front and rear bumpers. I need to reduce weight on the car. Is there a way to remove the metal backing of the bumper and just install the rubber covers only or do I need to find different bumpers?

I saw posts for fiberglass bumpers and posts for lighter chrome bumpers.

I did a quick search on the site but couldnt find what I was looking for.

Thanks,

Joseph

[Shivers]

Hello Everyone.

I just purchased a 1975 -914 and it comes with the very heavy front and rear bumpers. I need to reduce weight on the car. Is there a way to remove the metal backing of the bumper and just install the rubber covers only or do I need to find different bumpers?

I saw posts for fiberglass bumpers and posts for lighter chrome bumpers.

I did a quick search on the site but couldnt find what I was looking for.

Thanks,

Joseph

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) Some of the guys here have 75-76 year 914. And some of them have back dated their bumpers. With a little work the pre 75 bumpers can be fitted to your car. There is also FG bumpers for sale from different companies. Sometimes the fiberglass versions need to be fitted.

[Krieger]

You can cut the 75/76 steel bumpers to virtually nothing but a supporting frame for the rubber. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif) I removed 15-18 lbs out of each of mine and consider them nearly strong as stock. Die grinder or Sawzall can get you more and save $ if your rubber is in good shape.

[jmig615]

You can cut the 75/76 steel bumpers to virtually nothing but a supporting frame for the rubber. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif) I removed 15-18 lbs out of each of mine and consider them nearly strong as stock. Die grinder or Sawzall can get you more and save $ if your rubber is in good shape.

Can you provide me with the details of what you did?

[914werke]

SEARCH is your friend

[Shivers]

LIGHT big black bumpers

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=89595

[Steve]

Check out the drawings for the Euro versions. They don’t have the heavy shocks. You could probably copy them or find a used euro one on ebay.

[wonkipop]

euro bumper internals for a 75.
in terms of understructure the weight saving is purely deletion of shocks.
steel sub frame is marginally heavier for euro - has additional brackets to take dog bone mountings identical to earlier 70-74 models.

not sure what USA bodies are like compared to euro in terms of the mounting holes for dogbones and apertures for shocks. never really looked at one.

a lot of additional weight must be in the outer flexible rubber (urethane?) moulding compared to the earlier cars? but never been up close and personal to a 75 to know. but i'm guessing that outer moulding is not exactly light itself.

[jmig615]

LIGHT big black bumpers

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=89595

Thank you kind Sir!

[VaccaRabite]

Hah! yall posted my old thread before I could do it.

Hard to imagine that was 16 years ago!

Zach

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

don't do it!!!! Besides radically devaluing the 914, the bumpers protect the car unibody from damage, are more aerodynamic , provide more stability at high speeds (so that the 914 feels more solid and under control and to install the earlier bumpers one needs to cut off the four fender brackets, cut off the extra front panel gutter, drill and patch four big bumper shock holes, and drill eight new bumper mounting holes

bottom line DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!

pictures show the concept that inspired the 75 76 bumpers

Hello Everyone.

I just purchased a 1975 -914 and it comes with the very heavy front and rear bumpers. I need to reduce weight on the car. Is there a way to remove the metal backing of the bumper and just install the rubber covers only or do I need to find different bumpers?

I saw posts for fiberglass bumpers and posts for lighter chrome bumpers.

I did a quick search on the site but couldnt find what I was looking for.

Thanks,

Joseph

[Superhawk996]

pictures show the concept that inspired the 75 76 bumpers

If they looked like the concept, we wouldn’t call them BUB’s. Just saying’.

[76-914]

don't do it!!!! Besides radically devaluing the 914, the bumpers protect the car unibody from damage, are more aerodynamic , provide more stability at high speeds (so that the 914 feels more solid and under control and to install the earlier bumpers one needs to cut off the four fender brackets, cut off the extra front panel gutter, drill and patch four big bumper shock holes, and drill eight new bumper mounting holes

bottom line DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!

pictures show the concept that inspired the 75 76 bumpers

Hello Everyone.

I just purchased a 1975 -914 and it comes with the very heavy front and rear bumpers. I need to reduce weight on the car. Is there a way to remove the metal backing of the bumper and just install the rubber covers only or do I need to find different bumpers?

I saw posts for fiberglass bumpers and posts for lighter chrome bumpers.

I did a quick search on the site but couldnt find what I was looking for.

Thanks,

Joseph

I can attest to what George said. I have a 70, 73 and a 76. The 76 is absolutely more stable and a better Hiway car than the other 2. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Type 47]

You can cut the 75/76 steel bumpers to virtually nothing but a supporting frame for the rubber. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif) I removed 15-18 lbs out of each of mine and consider them nearly strong as stock. Die grinder or Sawzall can get you more and save $ if your rubber is in good shape.

Can you provide me with the details of what you did?

As previously mentioned...search and you will find complete instructions on how to back date bumpers.

First of all, I have the utmost respect for the good doctor. I think he is the equivalent of a national treasure in the 914 community.

I back dated my 75' to 72 bumpers. It may have affected the value if it was a concourse original car...but it wasn't

if doc 914 says the BUB's have an aero advantage then I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Personally, in my track car, diving down into T5 at Road America doing a buck 65 I know what aero means.

Pushing a 914 at 80-90 MPH there maybe some kind of aero going on but not much.

The ugly Fed mandated rubber bumpers look terrible, IMHO.

If your 914 is all original, factory FI, etc. then by no means don't change anything.

if it is not, do what you want.

It's actually fairly easy.

[Root_Werks]

A late 914 with stock bumpers is getting rare. Most seem to get backdated. I'll keep my BUB's, maybe lighten them.

I like the look, follows the lines of the 914 nicely.

[Geezer914]

My 75 with backdated bumpers and Sheridan front spoiler.

[jmig615]

I going to do the weight reduction.

[jmig615]

I am going to do the weight reduction. Dont have the money to change the bumpers. Need to save money to buy items from your store.

don't do it!!!! Besides radically devaluing the 914, the bumpers protect the car unibody from damage, are more aerodynamic , provide more stability at high speeds (so that the 914 feels more solid and under control and to install the earlier bumpers one needs to cut off the four fender brackets, cut off the extra front panel gutter, drill and patch four big bumper shock holes, and drill eight new bumper mounting holes

bottom line DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!

pictures show the concept that inspired the 75 76 bumpers

Hello Everyone.

I just purchased a 1975 -914 and it comes with the very heavy front and rear bumpers. I need to reduce weight on the car. Is there a way to remove the metal backing of the bumper and just install the rubber covers only or do I need to find different bumpers?

I saw posts for fiberglass bumpers and posts for lighter chrome bumpers.

I did a quick search on the site but couldnt find what I was looking for.

Thanks,

Joseph