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moorepower · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 7:54 am Post subject: Front Euro Bumper Alignment

I just picked up a set of front and rear euro bumpers (thanks ic932), and the front is not lining up exactly right. It's off toward the passenger side by about 10mm or so, an there's also about a 15mm gap between the bumper and fender on the passenger side. The gap is about 5mm on the driver side. See pictures.

I figure I can move the bumper around a bit by enlarging the mounting holes and lining it up where I want it before tightening the mount bolts. Is it normal to have to fit a bumper to the car like this, or has something been knocked out of whack on my front end? I'd hate to ruin a perfectly good euro bumper by trying to make it fit a boogered up car.

FWIW, the driver side fender has been repainted at some point, so the car has been in some sort of accident in the past.

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Dan.

'88 924S-LE (Luddite Edition)
Manual steering, manual sunroof, manual windows, AC delete, cruise delete, M030 Konis, 25.5mm torsions, 26.8/20 sways, 931 header/valance panels

'81 924 Weissach with dual Weber carbs

emoore924 · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 1708

10mm? That's a bit. And no, I don't think its normal to have to move the bolt holes to get the bumper to fit. I can't see the pics from here but it does sound like something has moved in the front end.

Take a look at the bumper you took off. Is it modified in any way? Compare it to the euro bumper you have. What are the differences? One would think it would have had to been "adjusted" to fit as well.

moorepower · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:21 am Post subject:

The bumper I took off hasn't been modified, but the gaps around a US bumper are so big to begin with, I don't think I would have noticed a 10mm difference.

Actually, the US bumper shocks have the mounting hole elongated side-to-side, so they could have compensated for the off-centerness.
_________________
Dan.

'88 924S-LE (Luddite Edition)
Manual steering, manual sunroof, manual windows, AC delete, cruise delete, M030 Konis, 25.5mm torsions, 26.8/20 sways, 931 header/valance panels

'81 924 Weissach with dual Weber carbs

JayZzzz4 · Joined: 23 Sep 2008 Posts: 432 Location: Milwaukee, WI USA

MMmm odd, I think the only thing you can do is to mod the euro bumper to fit right. Changing/fixing the fenders & front valance would be much harder to do than the bumper. One more thing, is your bumper springs been punctured? Mine are, so I can pull them in and out about 3-4in, and if one side is pulled out farther then the other , it really noticeable...but I don't think that's the case for you.
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White 1987 Porsche 924S manual

emoore924 · Joined: 13 Apr 2004 Posts: 1708

ideola · Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 10369 Location: Plymouth MI

Any chance the euro mount brackets are orientation-specific or asymmetrical one side to the other???
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RC · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:22 pm Post subject:

Vince Ponz · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3576 Location: New York, NY

I have a lot of experience with euro bumpers. Don/t touch the bumper.
Look at the mounts [twisted metal] and see if they are slightly askew. Bend them straight. Lay them on a table to see which ones are off.
You wouldn't break them.

The only problem I had with these bumpers was that they were too long for a 944 front setup. I took an inch off ea side over the fog lights. Fits fine now. Lots of work though. I attached the cut off ends perfectly and fiberglassed front and back..
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79 931 Euro stock
88 924S SE
87 911 Targa stock

Rich H · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 6:22 am Post subject:

As above bend the brackets to fit - the brackets are cheap

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1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress...
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RC · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:05 am Post subject:

Vince Ponz · Joined: 02 Nov 2002 Posts: 3576 Location: New York, NY

First of all do you have the US mounts. You can cut them and weld in collapsed in order to have the euro look. [closer to the body]
If you do not have the US mounts get a set of euro mounts which are much thinner and can be bent easily. I have a set but am keeping them in order to sell my euro bumper. If you have the euro mounts place them on a table to see if they are slanted. Correct slant.
Have you checked for front end damage. You might be able to bend the area where the mounts go slightly to fit.
Let me know. PM if you want with phone number and I will call you or you can call me.
_________________
"Never let them see you sweat"
77.5 924 modified track car
79 931 Euro stock
88 924S SE
87 911 Targa stock

moorepower · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:18 am Post subject:

Well, it stopped raining today, so I had a better chance to check things out.

The front end has definitely been knocked out of whack. The lower valance mounts have been pushed over about a half inch, and I just noticed the hydraulic bumper shocks that I pulled off with the US bumper are different lengths. I guess when they "fixed" the damage they had to partially compress one of the shocks to make the bumper look even.

I don't know if I'll be able to make the euro front bumper look right. I can move the mounts around to center it fine, but I don't know how to adjust the depth where it meets the fenders. I guess I'll work on getting the rear bumper painted and mounted up (it actually looks right

), and then I'll figure out what I'm going to do with the front.

Anybody want to buy a euro bumper?

Actually, maybe I should keep the bumper and sell the car.

_________________
Dan.

'88 924S-LE (Luddite Edition)
Manual steering, manual sunroof, manual windows, AC delete, cruise delete, M030 Konis, 25.5mm torsions, 26.8/20 sways, 931 header/valance panels

'81 924 Weissach with dual Weber carbs

moorepower · Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:23 am Post subject:

I did get the pressed steel euro mounts with the bumpers, and they are brand new. I even took the mounts from the rear bumper, which fits fine, and tried them on the front. Same situation.
_________________
Dan.

'88 924S-LE (Luddite Edition)
Manual steering, manual sunroof, manual windows, AC delete, cruise delete, M030 Konis, 25.5mm torsions, 26.8/20 sways, 931 header/valance panels

'81 924 Weissach with dual Weber carbs

Ozzie · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:20 pm Post subject:

Bolt the mounts to the body and use a FBH to make the mounts move to the correct position.
Up/down left/ right no problem.
Been pushed in - use a spacer.

Mine had to be touched up this way. Called percusssive maintenance.
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Fifty50Plus · Joined: 28 Feb 2008 Posts: 350 Location: Washington DC area

Dan,
Here in America (East Coast) we refer to Ozzie's calibration tool as a BFH.
Chuck
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