Bumper question

I swear that I just read a thread covering the removal of the cast-in reinforcement from the urethane...but I can't find it. "Oldtimers" disease is a pain.

Anyhow I recall (I think) that it was a real pain to remove the cast-in reinforcement from the urethane, and an even larger pain to reinstall. I seem to remember a suggestion to have more than one person available when reinserting the metal.

Just because its not easy doesn't mean that its not worth doing!!!

With new bumpers not available and nice used bumpers rare and expensive, someone has to be the first to figure this out. I just don't see the fiberglass bumpers as being an option except for racecars and modified cars.

If you'll take lots of pics of each step, and post here, I'm sure you'll get lots of suggestions. Some on them may even be usable!

Seriously, I would get the removable reinforcement parts off, then clean the visable part of the cast-in plate as best you can. Next start spraying a rust remover in the cracks and use a couple of wide-bladed scrapers to ease the plate out of the urethane. Sandblast the reinforcement plate, paint with something very durable, clean the urethane, then find a glue to bond it all together again.

The main thing will be to have a good surface to work on, be careful not to bend either the plate or the urethane too far, and walk away when you get too frustrated.

I just peeled my urethane off the cast-in reinforcement, and would suggest that you leave well enough alone. A couple of bumps won't match the heartache that you will find underneath that plastic. In short I am now looking for a whole new bumper (rebar and covering). I am seriously considering making the rebar and using a fiberglass cover, they are cheep.

Could you post some pics?

Where was the worst damage; the reinforcement plate or the urethane?

Thanks.

Andy,
You might want to try mustangii.net. I know I've seen someone remove the metal support from the urethane before.

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