Dino Saga 061224 _ Bumpers, old San Marcos

Dino Saga 061224 _ Bumpers, old San Marcos

Got the bumpers and was underwhelmed. Still had dirt on backside. Never cleaned anything but front. Never even tried to plate backside. God knows what kind of fixturing they had in tanks. Probably just hung parts from a copper wire and hoped for the best. Well the outside looks pretty good and we fixed the backside. 4 ½ weeks and a Grand. Never do business with Mike’s Bumper Exchange. Had Eddie blast backside and paint. I put conversion coat down in rubber channels in front. Plating didn’t get down in there either. Then time to try and get the rubber back on. Took three tries to get it right on the first one but then things went quickly. Putting pins through bumper and rubber at each end makes life easy. Drill and tap bumper 2-56 where bumper flanges start. Holes line up with center of rubber gripping flanges on one side. I put holes on outer ends of all 4 pieces. Then at the end of front flange on front bumpers and at beginning of clamping area on rear ones. Only have to do it on one side of the centerline.

I cleaned rubber thoroughly. Washing machine and regular laundry detergent. When clean, put rubber in a bucket of really hot water. After a few minutes, I put end of one piece through hole in bumper to see where bumper tab wanted to go into rubber slot. Cut away a little of the gripping fingers of the rubber so that tab went in easy. Drilled pilot hole through rubber. Installed 3/16” long stainless screw thru bumper and rubber flange. Used Loctite. Outside end of rubber was done. Bent rubber back on itself and backside opened up so it just rolled over the flanges. No pushing and grunting at all. Rubber was a little short so grabbed it with a pair of ViseGrips and pulled. If warm enough it will stretch easily. Drilled a hole through rubber for second screw, installed screw with some Loctite and was done on rears. Just added caps. Inner ends of front rubber are held with a special clamp. One of mine was gone and the other was rusted. Special clamp has fingers that grip rubber flanges. Holds tight. I had some #8 stainless fender washers and 10-32 screws. They made great clamps. Sheared both sides of washers until they fit rubber channel. Bent 4 corners down into teeth. Soft soldered screws to washers so screws wouldn’t turn. Fit perfectly. Stainless nuts with Loctite finished fronts.

Bolted everything back on with 2” dia. Neoprene washers under side brackets. Didn’t want to scratch paint. Worked fine with Loctite under all nuts. No lockwashers. Trimmed top of Neoprene washers 1/8” above bracket. Time to go drive.

My favorite trial route is old San Marcos Rd. Google World is a great way to preview it. Get yourself at 3000 ft over Cathedral Oaks and San Marcos looking North. Tilt back till you see sky and fly forward. Steep with lots of tight turns. Usually has a few pot holes so everything gets shaken down. Never get out of third going up but engine gets warm and whole drive train gets a workout. So does suspension and body joints. Don’t see much on way up unless you stop but way down has spectacular views. Pleasantly surprised to find brand new asphalt all the way. Stopped a few times and took pics. Made a high speed run down 154 then headed back home. Looking good all the way.

John
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Great tips onthe bumpers, thanks. Car looks good!

 

We think alike John...Its 70* outside, nice and sunny and xmas dinner is not for a few hours, I just less then 10 minutes ago got back from taking my Dino up Old San Marcos. I kept going at the pass onto Camino Cielo to the top of the mountain and back down 154. Nice loop for a nice day and a Dino !

I did not take pictures however, maybe I should go back and re-drive the route and take some

 

John, what a great post. I always make sure to check your updates and the past few weeks have been especially interesting. My warmest regards to you and yours this Christmas. I will be enjoying San Diego sunshine in January.

Cheers.