Help - Bumper arm slots missing

littlebuzz · Post by **littlebuzz** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:59 am

Just acquired a 74 Ghia that was in mid-restoration. Problem is a previous owner was looking for a smooth front end and apparently covered the vents for the horn and the bumper arm slots.

I need to put bumpers on this to make it street legal. So how do I go about getting my slots back?

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:18 pm

Welcome to STF.

Look at the back of the panel.. is it just covered over OR how did they fill it?

At worst, you may need to dremel them open... hoping we can remove the filler panel.

Welcome to STF.

T.

littlebuzz · Post by **littlebuzz** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:29 am

Thanks.
I took a quick look last night... seems there's a cover panel (I guess to keep dirt from collecting in the nose) I'll have to remove to see how they filled the slots...

It was too late last night to bother unbolting the cover panel. I'll check it out today after work.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:15 pm

Little.

Welcome to STF.. take pix.. we'd like too help you

Feeling for you.

Timmy

littlebuzz · Post by **littlebuzz** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:24 am

man is this thing hosed... I may need to seek professional help...

Not only are the slots gone, but I don't see the inside mount points either. I'm gonna address the KG forum to see if someone will post pictures of the inside of their KG nose and the bumper mounting points.

sideshow · Post by **sideshow** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:52 pm

From what I recall a late ghia like yours, the bumper brackets are not visible from the nose. They are only visible from the wheel well side.

The practical question is what bumpers do you have to fit? If I had to spend a lot of time reworking a section like that I would be tempted to retro fit towel rack chrome bumpers over the canoe style.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 8:05 pm

OR better yet..

Let's get some pix..

What are your bumepers.. hardware and mounts.

I'd hate for you to cut up your car and have misfit bumpers.

littlebuzz · Post by **littlebuzz** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 5:57 pm

OK. Here's what I'm up against...

Now, looking inside...

Right wheel well...

...and underneath...

sideshow · Post by **sideshow** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:33 pm

No horn hole, plan periodic shift rod bushing R&R very carefully, like when the body is off or tranny is out. You have a blank slate, looks like nothing will bolt in. Now what kind of bumpers do you have?

littlebuzz · Post by **littlebuzz** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:56 am

sideshow wrote:No horn hole, plan periodic shift rod bushing R&R very carefully, like when the body is off or tranny is out.

I'm sorry... what are you saying?

sideshow wrote:You have a blank slate, looks like nothing will bolt in. Now what kind of bumpers do you have?

What a bummer. Got nerf bars mounted in the back. But no front bumper at all. Would like to put stock bumpers on both. Are you saying I can't do it?

sideshow · Post by **sideshow** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 7:47 am

You can put any bumper on you wish because you have no constants with pesky openings in the body or brackets to attach to.

The horn boot hole is what allows to shift rod bushing to be changed in an afternoon. Not having one makes it a few days long job.

littlebuzz · Post by **littlebuzz** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:12 am

Where does the horn boot hole go?

sideshow · Post by **sideshow** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:30 am

You can see the opening from one of John Kelly's old projects http://ghiaspecialties.com/

littlebuzz · Post by **littlebuzz** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:59 am

...so there's also supposed to be a hole in the bottom center of the nose?

Here's the deal. I bought this for my son. We want to tweak the motor and finish the interior and get it on the road. The body and pan seem pretty solid. Some minor issues with dried out rubber seals that I figured we'd replace after painting.

Do you think I can get the nose back to stock.

sideshow · Post by **sideshow** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:40 pm

If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right.
Henry Ford

It is a cool car, the bumper you find or make will dictate the rest.