Need advice on buying a Cobra R bumper

[twogts4us]

My wife drove my car (2004 Mach 1) while I was out of town on business this week. She decided to get up close and personal with the truck in front of her. Stopped at a traffic light, the light turned green and the traffic started moving, then suddenly stopped, and apparently she didn't get the memo in time and ended up with the truck's extended length trailer hitch creating a nice hole and rip/tear in my front bumper.

Soooo, and I'm really trying to just let it go, I need a new bumper. I'm able to swallow the whole thing by upgrading to a Cobra R bumper (the one with the (semi) integrated chin splitter). There are a few different manufacturers out there selling theses, and different materials (fiberglass or urethane). Any advice?

I know that Fit and Finish is everything, but I do have to limit the hit to the budget. Cervinis is well known and respected - but they are pricey. Has anyone had any good experiences with Cervinis and/or other companies (such as ABC Exclusive, Mr. BodyKit, Cruzin Concepts, or others?) ? Furthermore I think urethane would be more forgiving than fiberglass, but I really don't know that for a fact. Any experience you folks can share? What do the painters wish to paint - fiberglass or urethane or does it even matter?

Since the Mach is not really a daily driver anymore, I'm sure I can avoid ripping up the chin splitter on parking stops or curbs, so I don't mind knowing that I'll have to be careful with this type of bumper. I've just always loved the look.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Chris

 

[san~man]

Just beware, that thing hangs LOW. See if HO fibertrends sells one, got my 00R hood from them and it fit perfect with little prep time.

 

[streethorse]

Great looking Bumper, but wouldnt last long on my car
Urathane would be better for street use i would think, you could get away with some minor contact. Fiberglass is probably better for repair although.
Ive repaired Urathane with fiberglass also.
The ABC factory is a couple of miles from me, they let me tour the place once
when I was looking for a wing. (they have no showroom) there was hoods,
body panels, wings and stuff all over the place, looked good, cant really
comment on thier quality... but they are cheaper than some.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

That splitter is not suitable for street use and in person looks silly.

 

[twogts4us]

That splitter is not suitable for street use and in person looks silly.

Whether or not it is suitable for street use is personal opinion (which, if you notice, I didn't ask for). In addition, the body shop where we just had the Pathfinder repaired has a 2000 R (along with a 69 Mach, and a 69 Z/28) in their showroom and I think, in person, it looks great. An OFF ROAD midpipe is not suitable for street use, yet how many do we hear on the road? The splitter still affords 4-5 inches of ground clearance - hell I don't think I have that much from my exhaust! I also explained that it's no longer a daily driver.

 

[joshjwc9]

The Splitter is available in a 2 piece from Ford and a couple other vendors. If I were to do that I would probably be looking into buying that instead of the 2 piece. Also, I believe if you were to buy any 99-04 Cobra bumper Steeda sells an add-on splitter that is similar to the original Cobra R one.

 

[twogts4us]

The Splitter is available in a 2 piece from Ford and a couple other vendors. If I were to do that I would probably be looking into buying that instead of the 2 piece. Also, I believe if you were to buy any 99-04 Cobra bumper Steeda sells an add-on splitter that is similar to the original Cobra R one.

I kinda lost ya Josh...you said that Ford sells the original 2 piece design (the two pieces are mated together with Dzus style quick release fasteners) - I really like that look - not quiet as clean as the one piece design, but it certainly does look racy.
Then you said, "If I were to do that I would probably be looking into buying that instead of the 2 piece." What would you buy instead of the two piece?
I have seen Steeda's add-on splitter - nice piece. As you mentioned they have 'em for the 99/01 Cobra bumper, the 03/04 Cobra bumper, and even the 99-04 GT bumper...but they are pricey. Just the splitter is $370.

Dzus Fasteners attaching the Cobra Splitter:

 

[hotstang_46]

Hey....don't take this the wrong way, I'm only trying to be helpful and give you something to consider being I've been there and dont that.

Your comment about the 4-5 in ground clearance doesn't mean that much. What's important is where that 4-5 inches is at. I have two cars that are very low with what i would call large "beaks". I have a gt3 with a carbon splitter and a vette with a carbon splitter that's been lowered. The foremost point of that splitter is quite aways over the front wheels which provides for quite an interesting driving experience. The stang however with the cobra R is even farther past the front wheels by quite a bit, it hangs real far past those front wheels (i know because I had a cobra R). Now keep in mind the roads where I have these cars in CA are perfect very smooth and have minimal rapid incline changes (I'm assuming they are by you too). I have to completely avoid MANY parking lots because of the incline or decline in the road pulling in or out. The problem is that with it so far over the wheels the road surface is angled way up and your front end doesn't move up because your wheels are still on level ground, hence driving the car right into the concrete. You can at times approach at a very large sideways angles but more often than not that's not possible. I can promise you that you will either NOT be entering many gas stations and parking lots in the car or you WILL scrape the heck out of it in which case you most definately need urethane over fiberglass. You can also completely toss a conventional tow out the window if you have a problem with the car. There is conventional tow truck that will get you on without ruining the front of that thing. Additionally if you ever need the car shipped by yourself or a service it will be very expensive because you will have to have an elevator type set up the car will have to drive onto and then onto the flat deck. A conventional trailer will not work(however maybe you can jerry rig with some 2x4's )

But, with all that being said my cars are like yours and not daily drivers. I don't drive them but for maybe 1-200 miles every other month or so on fast runs into the mountains on weekends with friends. I NEVER run errands or do anything in these cars. Other than "drive" them. If your use is the same I say go for it. But if it needs to be more versatile than that it's just something to consider.

and BTW. I love the look, I did have an r after all. It should look nice with that hood. But you may end up wanting to add the spoiler as well, it kind of offsets how much extra material your adding to the front.

 

[Rejekt]

I got mine from Stage3Motorsports. I got the Roush bumper and the fit and finish was excellent. I believe they sell the '00 Cobra R front that is made by Steeda. I can't comment on quality but I can say that Stage 3 has excellent customer service and were on top of everything. I called to find out where my bumper was and they took off $25.00 lol Plus they have free shipping.

I'd go Urethane. Mine is and has some flex to it and I've scrubbed leaving places and tapped parking bumpers more than a few times without any cracks or breaks.

 

[twogts4us]

Just beware...

Great looking Bumper...

The Splitter is available...

Hey....

I got mine ...

Thanks for the valuable information and insight, in particular the feedback from hotstang - I hear exactly what you are saying and I'd be very upset if I spend some decent coin for this bumper and paint only to drive off and catch the splitter on my driveway slope. But I do that today with my Mach 1 chin spoiler...or, I should say, I CAN do that if I don't alter my 'angle of attack' as I back down or drive up the driveway. It's a gamble, for sure. I could just go with the 00 Cobra nose (I always like that better than the 03-04 Cobra nose - the 03-04 seems like Ford forgot the foglights and added them on at the last minute...they bulge out and, to me, look a bit funny.)

With all the posers (ricers) running HUGE rear wings these days, I might seriously consider adding the Cobra R rear spoiler as well, as you mentioned, to balance it out. It's a great look, you have to admit. I don't want to be a poser, but it's quite evident that mine is NOT a Cobra at all, let alone an "R" model. Since the pic in my sig was taken I've added the OEM side stripes back onto my car. (Of course it is an "R" Code, as all Mach's are, but that's a different story! )
So again, thank you all for the info and insight - Much appreciated. I'll keep you posted, though it may be a couple of months before I can pull the trigger on this deal.

 

[Rejekt]

Just make sure you post pics of whatever you decide.

 

[joshjwc9]

I kinda lost ya Josh...you said that Ford sells the original 2 piece design (the two pieces are mated together with Dzus style quick release fasteners) - I really like that look - not quiet as clean as the one piece design, but it certainly does look racy.
Then you said, "If I were to do that I would probably be looking into buying that instead of the 2 piece." What would you buy instead of the two piece?
I have seen Steeda's add-on splitter - nice piece. As you mentioned they have 'em for the 99/01 Cobra bumper, the 03/04 Cobra bumper, and even the 99-04 GT bumper...but they are pricey. Just the splitter is $370.

Dzus Fasteners attaching the Cobra Splitter:

I intended to state my preference of the 2 piece over the 1 piece ones. Although you would have to either buy Steeda's splitter or go with a 99/01 Cobra bumper or you can even do it with an 03/04 front.

Since it is so low to the ground it would be hard to be streetable as I would be paranoid of scraping the crap out of it. I think if you found some pictures of a car with a Mach Hood and either the R Wing or not. I think seeing what it looks like, you can really decide if the car will look how you want it to.

 

[hotstang_46]

I would say the only way to do it if you really wanted to is to go two piece. Having the ability to pull it off when I trailered or the one time I needed it towed was crucial.

Also, just throwing this out there. I have one stang now, owned since new. I did appearance mods to it after having owned the r car. I knew I didn't want it as low as that car because for the most part I keep it in chicago where there seem to be much larger inclines due to the need for water runoff and such in the streets and lots. I considered the steeda splitter but after looking at a friends it's just as bad as the R. I took a chance on a razzi front splitter and it was exactly what I was looking for. The bottom lip does not jut out anywhere near as far. You also have an inch or two more clearance, and let me tell you it made a world of diff vs the R. The R when on the car sits pretty much level with the ground. Meaning the bottom edge is parallel with the ground. The razzi angles up very slightly like most cars do from the factory to get the extra clearance. For me, It was the nice splitter look without quite the headache. And then being a splitter if you ever did incur damage that's all you'd have to replace. It's urethane as well and will take a beating. Fitment is perfect as well. Also with one of these it won't throw off the balanced look of the car ie..the cobra R makes the front look chunky and looks best with then adding to the rear with the r spoiler. Your stocker spoiler will look great with this. And lastly, you never ever see anyone with these. Even mustang guys will ask what it is.


Keep in mind in these pics my is very very low.....in these pics I had the vogtland springs (which have a healthy drop) and I had no isolators in. Additionally I had a once size smaller sidewall tire on the front so the front hang a tad lower than the rear.

 

[Quick99]

Well I ended up putting the R front bumper on my GT and the Saleen drag wing on the back. Kinda wanted to make the car look longer its already pretty wide. Putting the engine in this weekend so I can start setting up the ride height. Not to sure if I am going to really like it might be too low.... View attachment 211010

 

[Quick99]

View attachment 211009

 

[Rejekt]

I would say the only way to do it if you really wanted to is to go two piece. Having the ability to pull it off when I trailered or the one time I needed it towed was crucial.

Also, just throwing this out there. I have one stang now, owned since new. I did appearance mods to it after having owned the r car. I knew I didn't want it as low as that car because for the most part I keep it in chicago where there seem to be much larger inclines due to the need for water runoff and such in the streets and lots. I considered the steeda splitter but after looking at a friends it's just as bad as the R. I took a chance on a razzi front splitter and it was exactly what I was looking for. The bottom lip does not jut out anywhere near as far. You also have an inch or two more clearance, and let me tell you it made a world of diff vs the R. The R when on the car sits pretty much level with the ground. Meaning the bottom edge is parallel with the ground. The razzi angles up very slightly like most cars do from the factory to get the extra clearance. For me, It was the nice splitter look without quite the headache. And then being a splitter if you ever did incur damage that's all you'd have to replace. It's urethane as well and will take a beating. Fitment is perfect as well. Also with one of these it won't throw off the balanced look of the car ie..the cobra R makes the front look chunky and looks best with then adding to the rear with the r spoiler. Your stocker spoiler will look great with this. And lastly, you never ever see anyone with these. Even mustang guys will ask what it is.


Keep in mind in these pics my is very very low.....in these pics I had the vogtland springs (which have a healthy drop) and I had no isolators in. Additionally I had a once size smaller sidewall tire on the front so the front hang a tad lower than the rear.

Hmm I like that one better than the original Cobra R.. it's not as bold. Looks cleaner.

 

[twogts4us]

Thanks again everyone - Josh, I thought that might be what you meant (the 2 piece vs. the 1 piece)...and I totally agree - I think the 2 piece would be the way to go. Otherwise I really like the look of hotstang_46's white GT - that's really nice (and I appreciate the write up on it as well!)

Hey, one more thing - I have some localized damage to the bumper core, but it's not too bad. Should this be replaced or can I just put the new cover over it? Logic tells me I can just cover it, but sometimes the logical route isn't correct.

So Josh, if you see a red Mach running around town with a sizable gash in the front bumper, you'll know it's Chris - .


Here is the damage...

 

[007]

That splitter is not suitable for street use and in person looks silly.

Oh my god. I agree with the trout. Never thought this day would come!

Roush Stage 3 is way better.

 

[Rejekt]

Wow dude... she did a number on that bumper lol .. a good excuse to mod though.

I agree 007. Roush stage 3!

 

[san~man]

The foam core is probably cheap, I'd replace it for peace of mind.