1978 Pontiac Firebird Week Remove Weight from Rear Bumper 2008 11 22

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Projects for Week 2008 11 15 Part 2

The second part of the weekend’s projects:

       Start on the build of the tube frame for the rear bumper cover
       I had the help of Tom Deyle and Lenny Ball

I had hoped to complete more tasks over the weekend  However, there was so much progress that this is part 2 of three parts required to document everything completed.

	Here is the story of:  “Put the rear bumper on a weight Diet” This thing weighs a ton.  We need to reduce some of this weight
	All this steel weighs over 50 pounds
	Bracing taken apart
	I built a jig from angle iron and weld it square to support the rear bumper skin
	New frame installed in the bumper skin.  Now, I have to build new brackets to bolt the bumper to the car
	This is as far as I got on this project.  I have some household chores that need to be done next week and, of course, there is Thanksgiving.  So, I suspect that there will be little or no progress on this project until two weeks from now
	Well, instead of working on Control Arms like I should, I decided to finish the bumper todayThese tubes will fit into indentations in the “Crush Pad” in the original bumper coverNote that in the background is the original bumper bracket and it must weigh 80 pounds
	Here it is on the first of many test fits
	Close up of the tubes fitting into the indentation on the “Crush Pad”
	Primer
	Paint
	Assembled once again
	Rear of the car without lights and bumper cover
	Lights and bumper cover installed for the first time… Note the charge points on the lower right side of the bumperI think I have to remove the bumper again to wire the charge points
	New bracket bolted to the car
	Another view of this weight reduction projectRemember this is not for a Stock Drag Racing Class.  Stock says you cannot modify the bumpers or the interior.