ANOTHER 308 BUMPER THREAD!

Hrmmmm...for the life of me, I can't figure out your problem. Mine were so easy that I didn't even need to use a hammer...I just pushed on them and they went in. I did drill through the sleave though (towards the front)...maybe it makes a difference...

 

I pulled the shocks and drilled them out to release the oil. Then I used pipe clamps to compress the shocks to the desired length and to keep them exactly equal. Drilled a second hole and placed a self tapping bolts to keep the shocks from changing dimension.

 

It is a good idea, but please don't use self tapping screws ... Italian cars have enough already trying to vibrate out. A close to completely useless invention ... especially for anything that moves or vibrates

Unfortunately my Alfa has hundreds of them ... I wish I could replace them with either a rivot or a proper bolt and threaded hole/welded nut or nut.

Self taping screws also ensure that they remove any paint from the metal your screw them in ... yep you guessed it a lovely invitation for our friendly rusty mate.

Simply horrible things IMO.

Pete

 

No problem here, I did mine with a 5lb rubber mallett. It took a little thumping, but moved easier than I thought it would. You sure you don't need to drill the front and not the back? I'll take a look when I get home.

 

Why do you guy do this to your bumpers? Granted the stock US bumper don't exactly compliment the 308's lines but this mod looks armature and like crap. It doesn't invoke the Euro look. Every time I see a 308 with this done to it I just grin and shake my head. Sorry, but I' entitled to my opinion :-(

 

Solution: Buy a Euro car

 

Michael,
I'm not sure how these are put together inside but I drilled the smaller or inner part of the shock which would be in the front not the back.

Johnk,
Because they are our cars and we can if we want to!! If you don't want to don't. Pretty simple.

 

I'm not exactly sure where you are drilling but it sounds like you released the pressure to begin with but create more pressure during the collapsing process, towards the end of the stroke. I think there is still some gas trapped at the bottom of the stroke.

I drilled my cylinders through the sides, through the outer and inner sleeves, got a face full of water on one and gas on the other. I used the backs of my knees to move the rear one in and a little 4 lb sledge and block of wood on the front.

 

Because the stock 'crash bumper' on my '78 308 extends at least a half a foot past the body work of the car making it LOOK LIKE CRAP!

The stock US bumpers look like they came off of a tow truck at a demolition derby. How can less bumper look worse than cantilevered crash bars?

But it does. The front bumper on my 308 has been mistaken for Euro many times.

Yes, you are definately entitled to your opinion.
I'm grinning and shaking my head too.

In a perfect world sports cars DON'T have bumpers.

 

I used a 1/16" High speed steel.

 

Good point, next time I'll do that!

 

Yeah...what he said!

 

johnK

the american version was done to satify regulations at the time they look like crap, just like the bullsh*t smog laws then(and I am a conservationist, if all the giant corps can gross pollute I guess my 1000 miles a year shouldn't matter). I moved mine in on my gt4 and they look great, if anyone hits me well oh well, it would just be like having a real car like a 275 or 365.

I drilled mine out after removal and played with them for several weeks using a hydralic press and spraying wd40 down in them. I really suggest taking them off the car to do this BTW the bearing at the end is probably how they charged them and is tool steel and will break a bit or two!!!!

If it is still compressing/ expanding you have not let all the gas out... period

Rob

 

You can see the "profile line" on the bumper where the stylist originally intended it to "meet" the sheet metal.

US laws added the shocks and increased the protrusion.

We are only returning the car to the original 1976 intro appearance.

I'd make sure to do "something" to the shock system to insure it's continued structural integrity, with tack welding or a bolt.

Don't use a self tapper, Psk will be mad! Good point actually!

I pushed mine in by backing into JRVs 308GT4! Ooops.