Pinto Car Club of America

Shiny is Good! => Your Project => Topic started by: Cheeseliner on December 24, 2010, 09:38:03 AM

Title: Safety Bumpers on a 75.
Post by: Cheeseliner on December 24, 2010, 09:38:03 AM
Has anyone pulled the safety bumpers in on a 75? It looks like there are some shocks or tubes with springs in them or something that mount to the frame and back of the bumpers. Id like to pull them in closer to the body like the earlier models were. Get rid of that "shelf" between the car body and bumpers!


Someone told me to drill a hole in the shock and push them in, but im not sure the source of that information was completely sober when he told me this!


Thanks. Merry Christmas to everyone. Kenny
Title: Re: Safety Bumpers on a 75.
Post by: Reeves1 on December 24, 2010, 10:00:26 AM
I was wondering if anyone had done this sort of thing as well.

I missed my chance to work it out back in 76. I had a V-6 model bought new. Was going to replace the engine with a Boss 302.

If anyone has tucked those "park benches" in tight, do you have pictures ?
Title: Re: Safety Bumpers on a 75.
Post by: Cheeseliner on December 24, 2010, 11:32:59 AM
lol. Park benches is about right. Pull up a chair or two and serve beer off em. I was also thinking about shaving the corners a bit too and if it looks right, shaving off about and inch or so across the bottom. My bumpers dont have the best chrome on them anyway. K
Title: Re: Safety Bumpers on a 75.
Post by: Fred Morgan on December 24, 2010, 12:05:05 PM
Ray over in St Louis has done a nice job on 1. Look under rkk see bumper under attachment.  Fred   :)
Title: Re: Safety Bumpers on a 75.
Post by: Cheeseliner on December 25, 2010, 06:42:58 AM
Thanks Fred.
Title: Re: Safety Bumpers on a 75.
Post by: rkk on December 26, 2010, 03:20:44 PM
I made new brackets for the bumpers and pushed the bumpers closer to the body.  The front I got really close to the body and the back I just moved in about a inch and a half. Here are some pics.  Not that hard at all.  Just get rid of the shock absorber things, not worth dealing with.  Here are some pics.

http://s739.photobucket.com/albums/xx36/rkkphoto/pintokawtrailer/ (http://s739.photobucket.com/albums/xx36/rkkphoto/pintokawtrailer/)
Title: Re: Safety Bumpers on a 75.
Post by: High_Horse on December 26, 2010, 09:08:19 PM
Cheeseliner,
          I moved the rear bumper in using the stock safety bumper shocks. I documented it in a project thread called "Thunderpinto gets a rear end job". Search High_Horse for that thread. I drilled some holes in them and there was some kind of foam inside. They will push together, maybe not easily but the stiffness enabled easy repositioning. Ultimately, it was a fairly cut and dry operation. And then cutting that splash dam between the bumper and body was in a good spot. I did no bending or modding the bumper and darned if it doesn't look like they made it like that........................................Good luck to you...........................................High_Horse
Title: Re: Safety Bumpers on a 75.
Post by: Cheeseliner on December 29, 2010, 04:17:47 PM
Nice RKK! Looks great. Thats what i am looking to do!. High, Ill bet that's where i read/heard about drilling into the shocks on there. Looks like theres a little rust up under and behind the bumpers, so after i get that out of the way ill see where im at. Thanks for all the great input. Im surprized more dont do this. Kenny
Title: Re: Safety Bumpers on a 75.
Post by: ctpinto on June 05, 2011, 01:41:04 PM
I was swapping out my 80 body style with some 72 panels, so i got some nice bumpers for my car. I didn't want the bumpers way out for two reasons, first of course because I liked the bumpers better when they're closer, and second because I didn't have the front valence to fill the space. So without removing the shocks, buying a valance, or drilling holes in the 5mp shocks, I pulled my front bumper in a bit. I used the '72 valence, and it was formed perfect for the bumper. I welded a little steel on the shock and re-drilled the holes, so little safety sacrifice. If you have these parts, it's a easy way to go.
Title: Re: Safety Bumpers on a 75.
Post by: carbomb on July 18, 2011, 06:38:16 PM
Quote from: ctpinto on June 05, 2011, 01:41:04 PM
I was swapping out my 80 body style with some 72 panels, so i got some nice bumpers for my car. I didn't want the bumpers way out for two reasons, first of course because I liked the bumpers better when they're closer, and second because I didn't have the front valence to fill the space. So without removing the shocks, buying a valance, or drilling holes in the 5mp shocks, I pulled my front bumper in a bit. I used the '72 valence, and it was formed perfect for the bumper. I welded a little steel on the shock and re-drilled the holes, so little safety sacrifice. If you have these parts, it's a easy way to go.

jeeze thats a rusty pinto!
Title: Re: Safety Bumpers on a 75.
Post by: ctpinto on July 19, 2011, 09:59:21 AM
yeah those front fenders are toast. The car is in bad shape and I"ll be working on it for awhile, starting this week. I don't really know that much about what I'm doing, its my first project. I've got new fenders for it, but I still need the right hood. maybe this should be my project thread
Title: Re: Safety Bumpers on a 75.
Post by: Pinturbo75 on July 19, 2011, 11:08:59 AM
you can see mine tucked here   (http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa113/blacksheep1703/my%2075%20turbopinto/newshoes-2.jpg)   

and here
(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa113/blacksheep1703/my%2075%20turbopinto/th_100_0804.jpg) (http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa113/blacksheep1703/my%2075%20turbopinto/?action=view&current=100_0804.mp4)
Title: Re: Safety Bumpers on a 75.
Post by: ctpinto on July 20, 2011, 09:58:05 AM
What did you use for the rear valence?