308 Bumper Brackets

I used the fiberglass replica bumpers from Berlinetta Motorcars when I set up my old GT4 as a track event car years ago, and my body guy had to fabricate brackets for them.
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I'm curious about this also. I have thought about drilling the struts to let the gas out and pushing the U.S. bumpers in. This looks to me to be similar to the euro bumper look, but would presumably be stronger than euro replicas.

I haven't done the mod yet, because those struts go for about $300 each from what I can tell. I've been looking for an adapter mount of some kind so I can sell or keep the struts intact in case I have to restore the car for some reason. I may explore having some fabricated.

If anyone on this board has some drilled-out struts and would like the operable ones, contact me and I'll discuss a swap.

 

could you Pm or post where you aquired the replica bumpers from, as i would like a set. i had a set for my old 308GTS but they would not fit as the bracket and fastner holes were too far off. the bumpers were going to have to be trimmed too much for my liking, and the permanent modifications to the car caused me to return them. i still think they were original euro ferrari bumpers for a QV and not for a early carb 308 . they where from 4rreparts.com. they do have nice Euro font valance pieces for around $600.00. they accepted the bumpers back with no problems. i sold the GTS before i looked into finding any others to try. my 77 GTB would look great with the new valance and euro bumper!


any info on where to find the bumpers for a 77 would be great. here id a pic of the mismatch on the old 308.
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LOL! They ARE pretty heavy!

Why not have custom length made? It's a pretty simple assembly.....

 

Actually, I have toyed with this idea. I have puchased aluminum tube and plate to make up some brackets. I'm planning on using my USA bumpers, but just want to tuck them in a bit. I thought it would be simple just to get some Al tube the same O.D. as the bumper shock and weld a plate on the end. Unfortunately, the tube would be too big for the bolts from the bumper. So the tube needs to taper or "neck" down. I also bought smaller OD tube that would fit inside the bigger tube. Essentially, this will look just like the shock, but out of Al. This could also be made adjustable to what ever length (how far you wanted the bumper to stick out) you wanted. I just need to find some time to do this.

Henry

 

thank you.

 

Now you guys have me thinking about my 77 308GTB again. My bumper struts are apparently pushed in and rewelded, because my bumper don't stick out like a stock one would. Also, my front bumper is incredibly light and is made of fiberglass. Is this NOT a USA bumper? Is the USA bumper really heavy? I guess I need to look at my rear bumper again, I think its glass too.

 

I don't think they are filled with gas, they are interference fitted pipes that resist sliding over each other by indentations. Once collapsed they slide somewhat freely in and out and need to be welded to keep from sliding. But I could be wrong. They look incredibly simple and shouldnt be hard to weld up some replicas.

 

The US bumpers are incredibly heavy, and worse yet, all that weight is at the extreme ends of the car. Of course, the 'glass ones don't have any crashability, but for a track car . . .

 

The US bumpers weigh like they are solid steel, I've hefted mine, when off the car.

I agree that for street use they are better 'crash safety' wise......

But as long as you don't hit anything......

 

The shocks are filled with gas. Drilling a hole in them will release this pressure and allow them to be collapsed. Once collapsed, it is unlikely they will move unless they are pulled or tugged on.

I've had both bumpers off and I would guess they are about 50-60 lbs each. I believe they are steel with rubber molded around them.

I do prefer the look of the euro bumpers, but in my case, I'm not going to spend $ to lose protection. That's why I'm going to fabricate new front brackets and use my old US bumpers. I've already released the pressure out of the rear shocks. I didn't mind drilling out the rear shocks because one of them seemed a little "tweaked" anyways.

 

I know there was a previous post regarding this "mod" but all the pics are gone. How much does this actually move the bumper in? Any pics? Also, do you drill the front or back of the shock to relieve the pressure?

 

It doesn't actually move them in...

Once the gas pressure is relieved you can back them in against a wall or something. Then I'd reweld or thru bolt them again, to maintain some sort of structural integrity.

 

I drilled out the gas struts on my 77 and it is not a big deal. Unbolt the shocks, drill out each shock so the inserted bolt is on top of the shock to release the gas. Compress shocks with a pair of pipe clamps to ensure each shock is of equal length. Drill and tap, or use self tapping screw with lots of locktite, reinstall.

Crash protection in my opinion is not much reduced since the bumpers, compressed or otherwise, are generally about a foot below the bumpers of all those SUV's on the road.

 

50-60 pounds? thats each? Holy smokes, I dont think my front bumper weighs more than 5 pounds. Guess my car came to me pre-modified, colapsed bumper struts and all, lol I wonder why they used gas, were they thinking they would push back out after being shmooked?

 

Just drilled my front shocks and they are liquid filled, not gas. However, they only push in about 1/4" and then they catch. Do you just force them in? How much actual length can they be pushed in?
Thanks

 

My 84 QV front bumper shocks were gas filled, and "hissed" when I drilled the hole before collapsing them. The car is in the shop so I can't take a side-on pic at the moment, but it did push in all the way to the edge of the shiny black strip behind the signal lights. I also changed over to euro-style signal lenses. I left my back bumper stock for more protection in the rear.
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My liquid filled are from a 1976 308 GT4.

 

The bumpers WILL protect against my own simple idiocy if I get too near to a wall or barricade pillar. The rear bumper HAS protected me in a parking lot before when someone in a "normal" car backed into me at low speed.

 

On the 308 GTB/S there are spacers between the rear bumper and shocks, about an inch thick massive metal, you can remove them and have the bumper an inch less potruding and still have protection.