78 US to Euro bumper project.

thanks for taking the time to share - this is high on my 'non-essential things to do' list for my '85GTS.

cheers
Kurt

 

I just did the front on my 85 308QV. We actually fabed some brackets using 2 tube sizes. The rear tube more or less was the same diameter as the original piston where it connects to the frame. We then welded an oval shaped plate to the top of that tube to offset the smaller dia tube which extended to the bumper brackets. The rectangular brackets were then welded to the smaller tube. This way no changes to the frame were made.

That's great news about the rear. Easy next project maybe.....

Also....I think the earlier 308 (2V) grill has 3 horizontal bars across the entire opening (top one is shorter). F-chatter Newman can fabricate these and they have come out great. Do a search and you will come up with some pictures. This would be true to the year of the car and save the addition of the passing lights.

If that's not a concern and you want that look, then the Euro QV grill is the one with the driving lights on the ends (4 horizontal bars). I am currently getting ready to fab some for my car and some other F-chatters. PM me if you are interested in getting something like this.

 

I have the correct front euro bracket mounts and am not using them if anyone wants to buy them - pm me.

 

Hello, this is the F-chat police calling, division 308:

It has come to our attention that your brake lights and turn signal lights have been reinstalled incorrectly. Please swap the assemblies immediately so the turn signal lenses are on the outside and we will proceed as if nothing ever happened. Otherwise, prepare to face the wrath of untold millions who have nothing better to do than to point this out every time you post a picture of your 308's ass-end.

Cordially yours,

-w-

 

LOL, on the tailights.......

I still need a front USA bumper, if I can find one closer than Scandinavia!
You are correct you will need a grill too to avoid some gaps below the new unit, in the bars.

I have pending deal to get one there.......

Be careful once the new ones are on, with the tailpipe tips .........looking good!

 

Usually the painter gets it wrong on a respray...there's a diagram in the Owner's Manual showing correct placement, amber outboard of red....

That's a really nice color on your car.......great pics!!

Alan

 

Almost always because of repaint as Tex pointed out. They're not much fun to get out, so I can't see why anyone would do it for looks alone.

 

I did this swap with factory front and rear bumber and euro grill about 5 years ago. I used stock US rear brackets as you did opening up the holes. I fabricated new front brackets that used the front two stock mounting bolts with slotted holes in the bracket for easier installation and adjustment. Something I learned was to drill bumper to bracket holes after fit-up. I have a scale drawing of the brackets if you are interested. I used wedge shaped shims to get the angle of the front bumper correct.

By the way, you will want to fabricate a heat shield under the Euro rear bumper to keep from melting it with the US exhaust under it. Simple flashing works pretty well. I attached mine with the mounting bolts for the louvered valance, sandwiched between the valance and the body.

 

Tom, Could you post some pics of the heat shield? I would be interested in your drawing also if ok. In the middle of the same project (minus rear bumper - on the books soon though).

 

I'm in the process of a similar modification to my car. I say similar because I'm using the fiberglass repro bumpers that Jim Carpenter peddles, which I believe are the same ones as Nick's Forza, but don't quote me. Anyway, I just got the brackets that I fabricated back from the anodizer. The first picture is of a bracket for the front bumper. They are perhaps a bit more involved than some simple welded-up jobbies, but they're adjustable in all three planes. It makes aligning the bumper a whole lot easier. The second picture is of the brackets required to hang the rear bumper. For some odd reason, the mounting face of the bumper wasn't manufactured square to the flange on the bumper shocks. It's at about a twenty degree angle. These brackets screw to the bumper capturing a couple of m10 bolts, much the same as the factory U.S. set up. Anyone considering buying a set of these bumpers should know that they'll need to do something similar. It was only a bit of an inconvienience for me, but I have a small milling machine at home. I'm not sure what someone else might do...
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Very nice job Eric. Not just a milling maching but someone that obviously knows how to use it

 

Thanks, boys.

Teveo,

That's a correct assessment regarding the bolt pattern. These bumpers actually came with inserts for both Euro and US fastener locations, though the US jobbies were installed a bit willy nilly. They're centers aren't the same right to left. My front brackets are, in fact, assymetrical.

I don't like it either...

 

That should have been, "their centers". Pardon may grammatical error.

 

teveo, I'm following your thread with interest as I plan to do the same to my car. If you don't mind me asking, where did you buy your bumpers? They look nice.

Detroit, similar question for you ... which company is Jim Carpenter with? How can he be contacted for pricing?

Thanks.

 

Got mine from Rennspeed on EBay. Not a bad price. They are not "ready to install". Still needs paint or in my case did a rubberized paint so that it matched the look of the back bumper.

 

Newby,

I believe that Nick's Forza sells the same bumpers as the ones I have. I'd suggest you go through him. If you do a search on Jim Carpenter, you'll come across a whole lot of negative feedback. I've met the man. He's a nice enough guy, but I have to say that neither of the two dealings I've had with him have gone as smoothly as I'd have liked. I think I can track down his number if you strike out with Nick, and can't find an alternate source. Let me know...