Bumper to Fender Line/Gap Options

[gabyz]

Now, I love all the lines on the Celi. Except, this one.



Anyone else hate this gap? I was thinking before I get the car painted to fill the gap in with bondo or something. Good idea or bad idea?

Here is my some photoshop to see the diff.





I love the gap less look. I dont see myself removing the bumper for anything.

[rjbibeau]

too much risk of flex especially if you hit something small with your bumper. i wouldn't do it IMO

[Sh0gunkid8721]

bad idea. if the bodyshop needs to just remove a fender or just the bumper, they're not going to be too happy about removing both fenders and bumper all at once. I dont even know if thats possibly without cutting.

[D-Man]

Sh!t yes i'd do it. Also on the rear. But then again, unless you own an airbrush & know where to get OEM spec paint... then i wouldn't do it.

EDIT: shogun is right, any time you wanted to take off your bumper for whatever reason, then it'll suck. alot. But if you want to do something bad enough

This post has been edited by D-Man: Jun 10, 2008 - 12:06 PM

[stetsonaw]

depends how you are with body work, and if you understand that you may need to sand it down and do it again from time to time, intercooler or headlight install for example... i'd do it with mine, well, actually i do plan on doing it once i get my new kit on, full mold.

[gabyz]

depends how you are with body work, and if you understand that you may need to sand it down and do it again from time to time, intercooler or headlight install for example... i'd do it with mine, well, actually i do plan on doing it once i get my new kit on, full mold.

Considering gas has hit $4.00 here in south Florida, I'll be sticking with my lovely slow 5sfe engine with n plans for turbo.

And I have 0 skill in bodywork, I'd have someone else do it.
I might/might not get projectors and thats the only time the bumper would come off, but other than that, its on for good.

bad idea. if the bodyshop needs to just remove a fender or just the bumper, they're not going to be too happy about removing both fenders and bumper all at once. I dont even know if thats possibly without cutting.

cutting what?

I have the mindset that its like drywall, just slap some putty on it, let it dry, sand it to smooth it, and paint over.

[D-Man]

bad idea. if the bodyshop needs to just remove a fender or just the bumper, they're not going to be too happy about removing both fenders and bumper all at once. I dont even know if thats possibly without cutting.

cutting what?

I have the mindset that its like drywall, just slap some putty on it, let it dry, sand it to smooth it, and paint over.

...Sorta...

that is the procedure, but think of the material...

but it's going to NEED to be hard and bondable, otherwise when your doing 60-70 down the freeway (or whatever the freeway posted limit is) it'll flex, crack and fly off... But to be TOO HARD and BONDED, and say something breaks and you need to remove your bumper or fender, then someone will have to CUT it off, and that isnt easily replaced...

I believe you mentioned BONDO? Good stuff, but may seal harder than you want... it's going to depend on your mixture...

This post has been edited by D-Man: Jun 10, 2008 - 4:55 PM

[gabyz]

bad idea. if the bodyshop needs to just remove a fender or just the bumper, they're not going to be too happy about removing both fenders and bumper all at once. I dont even know if thats possibly without cutting.

cutting what?

I have the mindset that its like drywall, just slap some putty on it, let it dry, sand it to smooth it, and paint over.

...Sorta...

that is the procedure, but think of the material...

but it's going to NEED to be hard and bondable, otherwise when your doing 60-70 down the freeway (or whatever the freeway posted limit is) it'll flex, crack and fly off... But to be TOO HARD and BONDED, and say something breaks and you need to remove your bumper or fender, then someone will have to CUT it off, and that isnt easily replaced...

I believe you mentioned BONDO? Good stuff, but may seal harder than you want... it's going to depend on your mixture...

so I can just drive under 40mph with no problem then? j/k

I guess when I start doing my research for painting the car I'll ask the people at the bodyshop whats the best way to get it done.
Though its hard for me to let it go, because it looks so much cleaner gapless.

And I know the bumper and fender are made of different materials, I wonder if that will factor in.

[b1gr3d]

ok you need the advice of someone who does body work for a living.....don't do it! the expansion rate of steel and the urethane that your bumper are made of are way different, this means that if one day it it 100 degrees outside and then a minute later it is overcast and rainy it may crack on that seam then. also the vibration, since they are different material, as your engine runs OR you go down the road they will vibrate at different frequencies...again crackage.
now then incase of a collision to one side of the front end...expect the price of fixing it to be at least doubled if you want the seamless look kept. like someone mentioned earlier, if one fender is damaged then that means the whole front end will have to be painted counting the hood and maybe even the doors for a really nice blend.

so if you want half of your car to be painted for a repair that would ordinarilly ont need 2 panels then do it....OR get fiberglass fenders and a fiberglass bumper, mold them together and smile because you will have no problems then