Are bumpers interchangeable?

Discuss with fans and owners of the most luxurious aircooled sedan/wagon that VW ever made, the VW 411/412. Official forum of Tom's Type 4 Corner.
User avatar
DeathBus
Posts: 1176
Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2002 1:01 am

Post by DeathBus »

ecdez wrote:I work at an architectural sign company and we have aluminum nickle plated all the time. I believe the process is about 5 steps of various dips. Chrome plating is one additional step above nickle plating.

I was considering putting some early type 3 bumpers on mine. Havn't actually measured one up yet to see if it will work though.
I believe Ray said rear Type 3's will fit front and back.
Lahti411
Posts: 128
Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2005 2:23 pm

Post by Lahti411 »

The newest thing i've seen is painting the chrome layer. I thought i might remake bumpers of GRP and then paint them with chrome paint. This way it would be easy to make the bumpers look just the way you wanted and they would be much lighter too. And if you make good mouldings it could be possible to make new ones if the ones in use would get damaged or something. Here's a finnish site about this chrome-painting to get some kind of idea what i mean:

http://www.streetcardesign.net/customco ... index.html
User avatar
ubercrap
Posts: 1394
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2004 8:00 pm

Post by ubercrap »

Lahti411 wrote:The newest thing i've seen is painting the chrome layer. I thought i might remake bumpers of GRP and then paint them with chrome paint. This way it would be easy to make the bumpers look just the way you wanted and they would be much lighter too. And if you make good mouldings it could be possible to make new ones if the ones in use would get damaged or something. Here's a finnish site about this chrome-painting to get some kind of idea what i mean:

http://www.streetcardesign.net/customco ... index.html
Wow, very chrome-looking! :shock:
User avatar
DeathBus
Posts: 1176
Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2002 1:01 am

Post by DeathBus »

ubercrap wrote:
Lahti411 wrote:The newest thing i've seen is painting the chrome layer. I thought i might remake bumpers of GRP and then paint them with chrome paint. This way it would be easy to make the bumpers look just the way you wanted and they would be much lighter too. And if you make good mouldings it could be possible to make new ones if the ones in use would get damaged or something. Here's a finnish site about this chrome-painting to get some kind of idea what i mean:

http://www.streetcardesign.net/customco ... index.html
Wow, very chrome-looking! :shock:
Almost chromish.....
vwbill
Posts: 970
Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 12:01 am

Sweeeet...

Post by vwbill »

Wow, that looks cool....! Hey what about doing the whole car with that in the color of choice?? You would blinc everyone but never have a tailgater,lol! bill
User avatar
ubercrap
Posts: 1394
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2004 8:00 pm

Post by ubercrap »

Longbeach412 wrote:
Shortening the "shocks" on the '74 bumpers should be doable. Back in my more BMW oriented days, I read that quite a few people would do this mod to the the older BMW's with the big 5mph alu. bumpers. It really changes the look
That would be interesting. Do you remember how it was done?
Can't quite remember, I'll try to do some research...
Longbeach412
Posts: 308
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2004 6:34 am

Post by Longbeach412 »

No rush, whenever.
albert
Posts: 834
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 2:08 pm

interchange bumper

Post by albert »

hi longbeach 412 , on my 412-73 i have crome bumper , and he d,t have shock proof absorber for low spead accident , for to replace that on my 73 i make look on the anti sway bar for traler tent , if you look that parts ,you have one flat steel bar in sandwith in 2 brake pads bar with load ajusment , i thing we can replace the original vw bumper frame by that for to geeve same 412-74 protection ,,,?????
Longbeach412
Posts: 308
Joined: Thu Aug 19, 2004 6:34 am

Post by Longbeach412 »

Hmmm.........worth pondering!
User avatar
ubercrap
Posts: 1394
Joined: Sun Apr 18, 2004 8:00 pm

Post by ubercrap »

Here's how the e21 BMW guys shorten the bumper shocks:

http://www.kormanfastbmw.com/e21faqbu.htm

I had the opportunity to go out and look at my '73 and one '74 side-by-side and just from eyeballing them, it looks like there is the possiblity of mounting the early bumpers on a '74 actually. The rear may be a different story. Of course, one would have to punch out the correct sections on the nose panel, and maybe drill a few more holes for the mounting plate. If I remember, I'll try to take some pictures.
Post Reply