At least 27 lbs reduction in the front bumper alone from the late model heavy bumper.
This is what it looks like when you take off all of the rubber.
Dave
....plus the 2 shocks, misc mounting bolts/nuts/hdwre & ribber cover & ditto at back!
IIRC it was in the neighborhood of 75-ish lbs added for F & R
Tom
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My perspective on 15 reasons why NOT to backdate the late-style bumpers, in no particular order, anyone is free to disagree. Assuming your car is not a race car or customized hot rod:
1. Loss of the cars originality - impossible to get originality back once its lost
2. Loss of the cars front/rear safety bumper equipment
3. Loss of the cars value – both resale and long term
4. Loss of the cars integrity – attempting to make a late-model 914 something it is not
5. Loss of time spent to perform the backdating
6. Loss of money spent to perform the backdating
7. Loss of early bumper parts that are only correct on early 914s
8. Loss of better aerodynamics of the late front bumper
9. Requires at least selective painting where bumper side brackets are removed
10. Requires mods to chassis for early front/rear bumper mounting hardware
11. Requires mods to chassis for early foglights mounting hardware
12. Requires mods to chassis for early horn(s) mounting hardware
13. Requires custom wiring harness to adapt early foglights to 75-76 chassis harness
14. Requires custom wiring harness to adapt early license plate lights to 75-76 chassis harness
15. Creates remnant holes through chassis from removed bumper shocks
If you want backdated bumpers, by a backdated 914. Haha!!
However, if you do own a 914 with tits, I suggest a mastectomy.
I like Tits,.....!!
Me too....but I thought we were talking about 914 bumpers?
I would change the title to 58 reasons.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=225743
Wow, excellent rebuttal, Jeff! Some very good points you raise.
Since I don't want to back-date, for many of the reasons you list, I will never buy a '75 or '76.
(Well, I might, if the price were right).
For a good condition teener, the temptation is always there if the price is right.
I only brought it up because I can't believe the weight/steel they put into the bumpers. On a plus side the 76 I got that bumper off of, everything was rusted out except the bumper.
IMHO I think the earlier bumpers look a lottttttttt better, but to each his own. I can see the value in either way. If we can keep these cars on the road were all doing our part.
Dave
Anyone tried to lighten the bumper by removing some of that metal? Of making a light weight replacement for the metal core? Seems like if someone want to do the trade of somewhat less strength a lot of the extra weight could be cut out. I have a '76 and was thinking about making it lighter with my cutting torch.
I got 99 problems, but backdated bumpers ain’t one. Parallel parking places are a fact of life if you ever drive your 914, so if I had a 914 with late bumpers I would not be in a hurry to backdate. But then again they only help if you don’t lower the car…
I took the front bumper off my 72 and it is surprisingly light. I guess I was thinking of the old heavy GM bumpers but it almost feels plastic.. My ex gf loved the 75 bumpers so I will just go throw them in her yard....
There is a thread about how to make light late bumpers
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=89595
I shaved about half of the weight on my front bumper (about 7 kgs) ... Rear one still to do.
I would buy a '75 but I would have to backdate the bumpers. I could not buy a '76 due to CA smog laws still requiring that car to go through smog checks for licensing.
I used to hate the 75-76 bumpers and blamed them for the ultimate demise in production of a great car.
Now days, I actually am fine with them. I still hate the 75-76 turn from basket weave interior though.
Well I have a unmolested low mile 75 coming from West Virginia, original so. Cal. Car so easy on the rust comments . Not sure if I will or not backdate bumpers.
Because 1975...
Attached image(s)
Between bumpers and tops, fogs ad grilles, paint and hardware, backdating cost me about 375 clams.
I consider it an improvement, but that's just me.
I back dated mostly because I wanted an LE Wannabe Cremesickle and found a rust free '76. I drove it for several thousand miles before I went to work on it...new paint, early bumpers, engine home overhaul. Now I have 35k miles on it. No regrets but I do realize the later heavy bumpers drive a little better on the interstate.
BTW, I have a nice set of '76 bumpers and nearly new looking rubber covers for PU if anybody wants them. I'm in SW Oklahoma. One of these days I'll run them in the classified listings.
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