I've fixed my aftermarket Buddy Club bumper
05-Jan-2004, 11:43 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ontario
Posts: 18,367
I've fixed my aftermarket Buddy Club bumper
It is a DIY, I haven't taken any pics of it, but those who are gonna see me in meets will get to see what it looks like. Some of you know what I am talking about as I have suggested such action during the West End meet.
My current bumper, a Fiber Glass Buddy Club style front bumper. Was purchased due to OEM bumper been cracked and my previous taste in such style. I still think Buddy Club has a nice line to it, something I would only use other then OEM look. Anyway, long story short, due to the quality of FG and no name brand, the fitting sucks. Two sides will flare out which result in fender liner being pressed out by wind force and rub against front wheels, causing holes in the liners (I already bought the replacements, but too cold to do so). The sides also flare out because the shop attached some left over steel plate, twisted them and just bolt on to whatever holes they could find on the bottom. But they drilled the holes near the front, not the side and physics will tell us that when you apply force to the front, you are pushing out the sides.
Hence, the bumper looks ugly as hell.
Yesterday, I went to CT and bought some tools and material to fix it. I got:
1) 15’ of ¼” steel cable tie with rubber around it
2) 2 “U” shape cable tie with nuts and bolts
3) 2 steel twin loops (can be clamped to tighten the cables, but I don’t have the power tool to do so)
4) 600 fine grid sand paper
5) other misc. stuff
So I took off the bumper by removing 7 plastic clips, 2 bolts on the edge that tightens to the fender, and the 2 steel plates down the lip. Not too hard. Bumper off the car then I took off license plate, and removed 4 wire meshes cause I wanted to paint them black. I used Black Rust Proof paint. I sanded the touch up paint on the bumper, and some scratches on the lip and whatnot and then used the fine grid paper.
I drilled 4 holes on the side lips (2 per side) and about 2 inches apart. Holes are obviously bigger then ¼”. Then I primed it, sand it and then used the matching paint I bought from Paint Circuit to finish it. 1 bottle was just enough for 1 bumper. Although more means more coats. I then used clear coat to finish it off.
After that, I put back the wire mesh. People with aftermarket FG bumper will know that 9 out of 10, the fitting will suck underneath the head lights but what can I say… I put in the cable before the bumper goes back on the car, just easier to work that way. I did this indoor on a carpet. Because I didn’t have enough strength to clamp the steel loop, I push it as further back as I could and use the U shape buts and bolts to fasten in front of it, sorta like a double security. Because of the rubber coating, it creates tension around the bumper and all parts. Then I put the bumper on the car, tighten 2 sides with necessary clips on the top (I used some old ones, and some new ones) and I started pulling together the FG bumper. I pull to a point where the fender liners are safely enclosed inside the bumper and the bumper looks straight on the sides from the front. I then tighten the bolts on the U clamp. I did the right side by turning the tires to the left and vice versa. Just to gain more clearance down below. I started at 3 and finished at 10. But that also include paint dry time so actual working hours could be around 3 to 4. Not bad for a decent Sunday afternoon. All done in friend’s double door garage. Big enough to fit in a car and also work on the side.
Even though it is a cheap FG but now, from the front, it looks clean and straight. With fresh new paint and no more that wrong Reddish Plum touch up paint from Honda (pretty sure it is on 7th gen Civic, never on 6th gen).
My current bumper, a Fiber Glass Buddy Club style front bumper. Was purchased due to OEM bumper been cracked and my previous taste in such style. I still think Buddy Club has a nice line to it, something I would only use other then OEM look. Anyway, long story short, due to the quality of FG and no name brand, the fitting sucks. Two sides will flare out which result in fender liner being pressed out by wind force and rub against front wheels, causing holes in the liners (I already bought the replacements, but too cold to do so). The sides also flare out because the shop attached some left over steel plate, twisted them and just bolt on to whatever holes they could find on the bottom. But they drilled the holes near the front, not the side and physics will tell us that when you apply force to the front, you are pushing out the sides.
Hence, the bumper looks ugly as hell.
Yesterday, I went to CT and bought some tools and material to fix it. I got:
1) 15’ of ¼” steel cable tie with rubber around it
2) 2 “U” shape cable tie with nuts and bolts
3) 2 steel twin loops (can be clamped to tighten the cables, but I don’t have the power tool to do so)
4) 600 fine grid sand paper
5) other misc. stuff
So I took off the bumper by removing 7 plastic clips, 2 bolts on the edge that tightens to the fender, and the 2 steel plates down the lip. Not too hard. Bumper off the car then I took off license plate, and removed 4 wire meshes cause I wanted to paint them black. I used Black Rust Proof paint. I sanded the touch up paint on the bumper, and some scratches on the lip and whatnot and then used the fine grid paper.
I drilled 4 holes on the side lips (2 per side) and about 2 inches apart. Holes are obviously bigger then ¼”. Then I primed it, sand it and then used the matching paint I bought from Paint Circuit to finish it. 1 bottle was just enough for 1 bumper. Although more means more coats. I then used clear coat to finish it off.
After that, I put back the wire mesh. People with aftermarket FG bumper will know that 9 out of 10, the fitting will suck underneath the head lights but what can I say… I put in the cable before the bumper goes back on the car, just easier to work that way. I did this indoor on a carpet. Because I didn’t have enough strength to clamp the steel loop, I push it as further back as I could and use the U shape buts and bolts to fasten in front of it, sorta like a double security. Because of the rubber coating, it creates tension around the bumper and all parts. Then I put the bumper on the car, tighten 2 sides with necessary clips on the top (I used some old ones, and some new ones) and I started pulling together the FG bumper. I pull to a point where the fender liners are safely enclosed inside the bumper and the bumper looks straight on the sides from the front. I then tighten the bolts on the U clamp. I did the right side by turning the tires to the left and vice versa. Just to gain more clearance down below. I started at 3 and finished at 10. But that also include paint dry time so actual working hours could be around 3 to 4. Not bad for a decent Sunday afternoon. All done in friend’s double door garage. Big enough to fit in a car and also work on the side.
Even though it is a cheap FG but now, from the front, it looks clean and straight. With fresh new paint and no more that wrong Reddish Plum touch up paint from Honda (pretty sure it is on 7th gen Civic, never on 6th gen).
15-Jan-2004, 09:53 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Ontario
Posts: 18,367
No pics yet.. the weather just sucks and I can't even get one day without any extra salt on it... LOL
Hopefully, we can meet up tomorrow night and I will show you guys how it looks.
I honestly think it is as good as it gets for a FG bumper.
Hopefully, we can meet up tomorrow night and I will show you guys how it looks.
I honestly think it is as good as it gets for a FG bumper.
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