Weight Difference between Early and late style bumpers

schosh · Post by **schosh** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:01 pm

Does any body know roughly the weight difference between the steel and rubber bumpers?
I have a 76 with the safety bumpers but have a decent set off a 71 I am thinking of installing.
Anyone here have experience in this area?
Any performance change,good or bad ?
All opnions welcome.
Bill

Rouser914S · Post by **Rouser914S** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:04 pm

Actually, I've never read about someone weighing the two, so I can't help you there.

Performance change? Um, none that I know of, except the latter fiberglass racing items are suppose to be more "aero."

The biggest reason for "backdating" to chrome bumpers is ... the look. For 5 model years 914's were known to have glitter on both ends, than for 2 it was all rubber. Some like the earlier look but have a cherry (i.e. rust-free) 75-76, so they backdate.

Seems to be a trend with 911's here lately ...

Bleyseng · Post by **Bleyseng** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 8:03 am

The late style rubber bumpers weigh together about 80lbs.

The chrome bumpers can't weigh more than 20lbs.

If you change the polar moment changes since you don't have so much weight flying around at the edges of the car. Yep, you can feel the difference!

Rand · Post by **Rand** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:33 am

I have a '75. I pulled the RBBB off. Have you experienced that? Felt the weight of the pieces? The rubber portion alone weighs many times more than a complete figerglass bumper. Then you have the MAJOR weight component - the crazy heavy steel bumper portion. Then you have the mounting pieces, with the integrated shock absorbers, wich again weigh more than a dozen fiberglass bumpers.

IMHO... Ditch a hundred+ pounds of dead weight, located in the most critical parts of the weight-balance effect (the ends), and go with fiberglass.

Not because of aero, but because of weight. And as a bonus, the backdated shape is a more popular look.

Just another $0.02... Bottom line, do what YOU like.

blitz · Post by **blitz** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 11:04 am

I back dated to the earlier steel bumpers on my 76. The car feels more spry and I like the classic look better.

514727625 · Post by **514727625** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:31 am

I have 1 75 with the rubber bumpers.
If I back dated to earlier bumpers, what do I do with the flanges welded on the fenders made to hold the rubber bumper skirts? Do the older bumpers cover these?
Are there any fiberglass bumpers that cover them?
Thanks
Rob

Dave_Darling · Post by **Dave_Darling** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:56 am

I think the FG repros of the 75-76 bumper (the RBBB) do cover the flanges. Not sure, though.

The early bumpers do not. You have to grind the flanges off or cut them off, then paint the metal so the tinworm doesn't start a-nibbling.

I keep hearing the number 75 lbs thrown around. I think that may be for the rubber cover, the steel insert, and the shock absorbers all. At each end, supposedly. Could be an exaggeration, though.

--DD

KaptKaos · Post by **KaptKaos** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:48 pm

I think the 75 pound number is the difference between the rubber late bumpers and the early bumpers. That's including the shocks too.