Important! : Smooth Bumper Take 2

1. ScottyD-VTS Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 752

   #1 6th August 2008, 17:50

   Following on from the First thread about the smooth bumper.
   
   I have a few questions on how would it be done as i want to attempt this myself.
   
   1. How would i fill the Number plate recess on the bumper. i dont want to use filler on it as i fear it may crack over a period of time.
   
   Ive been told to use a block of polystyrene(sp) as its easy 2 shape 2 fill the recess and fibreglass over the top then use body filler.
   
   But would a bodyshop use some sort of plastic weld to fill the space?
   
   2. i was planning on smoothing a laguna splitter onto the bumper so the splitter looked bigger for a stick on number plate, do you have to chop the splitter to fit & would i use fibreglass to join the 2?
   
   Also my Photoshop of how it would look:-
   
   
2. Curran Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 5387

   #2 6th August 2008, 18:30

   to smooth out the number plate recess is quite and big and difficult job, especially without any experience.
   
   it will certainly need plastic welding. fibreglass wont bond to plastic properly so it would just end up cracking.
3. ScottyD-VTS Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 752

   #3 6th August 2008, 18:42

   Surely theres some sort of way without plastic weld?
   
   No alternative Filler / Fiberglass that would do the job?
4. Curran Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 5387

   #4 6th August 2008, 20:30

   basically no.
   
   your going to have to cut out a large part of the bumper to get rid of the number plate recess as it sticks out. then it will need to be plastic welded back together.
   
   i certainly dont know of anything that would be an alternative to plastic welding.
   
   bonding it just wouldnt be strong enough and you want to use as little filler as possible to reduce the chance of it cracking
5. Andy_K Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2004 in the garage trying to fix the car Posts: 5882 Mondeo st tdci & Supercharged vts

   #5 6th August 2008, 20:31

   It could be done with fibreglass as long as your prep work on the plasic is good. The existing paint and any polish on the painted part and also the black strip would need to be removed. Would probably be better to use something light to form the shape first so you don't end up with 6" thick fibreglass but not polystyrene like you suggested as the fibreglass won't take to it.
   
   Only use filler for the final smoothing, and use as little as possible. The best option would be plastic welding though as it forms a solid bond what wont crack.
   
   With the splitter i think the only option would be plastic welding. The laguna splitter can't be attached solidly enough (I have tried) to the original bumper and so it will move and crack. Also, it will be low to the floor and very likely to catch which will cause cracks. I'd either try a different splitter or not bother smoothing it in tbh. Could always try an Espace splitter - same design as Laguna but a couple of inches deeper.
6. ScottyD-VTS Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 752

   #6 6th August 2008, 21:22

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Curran basically no. your going to have to cut out a large part of the bumper to get rid of the number plate recess as it sticks out. then it will need to be plastic welded back together. i certainly dont know of anything that would be an alternative to plastic welding. bonding it just wouldnt be strong enough and you want to use as little filler as possible to reduce the chance of it cracking

   I dont get what you mean, im not cutting any of the bumper apart from the slats.
   
   I was thinking all id need to do was fill in the number plate recess (unsure how without it cracking)
   
   
   

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Andy_K It could be done with fibreglass as long as your prep work on the plasic is good. The existing paint and any polish on the painted part and also the black strip would need to be removed. Would probably be better to use something light to form the shape first so you don't end up with 6" thick fibreglass but not polystyrene like you suggested as the fibreglass won't take to it. Only use filler for the final smoothing, and use as little as possible. The best option would be plastic welding though as it forms a solid bond what wont crack. With the splitter i think the only option would be plastic welding. The laguna splitter can't be attached solidly enough (I have tried) to the original bumper and so it will move and crack. Also, it will be low to the floor and very likely to catch which will cause cracks. I'd either try a different splitter or not bother smoothing it in tbh. Could always try an Espace splitter - same design as Laguna but a couple of inches deeper.

   
   Thanks for your help.
   
   So basically i shouldnt waste my time because it will end up in a mess?
   
   Yea i work for Renault and noticed the Espace Splitter was the same style
7. Curran Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 5387

   #7 6th August 2008, 22:06

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by ScottyD-VTS I dont get what you mean, im not cutting any of the bumper apart from the slats. I was thinking all id need to do was fill in the number plate recess (unsure how without it cracking)

   
   to get the bumper smooth, like the picture you posted, you will need to cut out the number plate part as it sticks out further than the rest of the bumper at the top. otherwise you will still be able to see where the number plate should go and it will look strange.
   
   look at the bit just above the number plate in this pic
   
   
8. Andy_K Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2004 in the garage trying to fix the car Posts: 5882 Mondeo st tdci & Supercharged vts

   #8 6th August 2008, 23:00

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Curran to get the bumper smooth, like the picture you posted, you will need to cut out the number plate part as it sticks out further than the rest of the bumper at the top. otherwise you will still be able to see where the number plate should go and it will look strange. look at the bit just above the number plate in this pic

   I get what you mean - there is a lip around the top of the number plate recess that would need removing.
   
   

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by ScottyD-VTS ISo basically i shouldnt waste my time because it will end up in a mess?

   No I didn't mean that!!! Do it, but do it right, and the end result will be amazing!!
9. tsd_wee_balls Infrequent Poster Joined: Jun 2008 N.ireland Posts: 166 99' saxo vts 89'' 300zx

   #9 7th August 2008, 19:37

   look i want to do this to my bumper over the next couple of weeks i will do it 4 u if u like i will get a bumper and do it while i do mine and it will be done rite as i own my own body shop and do my own car at the weekends but up 2 u chum let me know sure
   check out my progress on my white euro vts
10. ScottyD-VTS Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 752

    #10 8th August 2008, 16:43

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by tsd_wee_balls look i want to do this to my bumper over the next couple of weeks i will do it 4 u if u like i will get a bumper and do it while i do mine and it will be done rite as i own my own body shop and do my own car at the weekends but up 2 u chum let me know sure check out my progress on my white euro vts

    Thats not a bad idea mate how much would it cost all in including postage?