Bumpers

[LIZARDKING]

2 weekends ago I installed the GT front bumper and fogs.

Today I went for the rear bumper at my cousins shop.

The V6 bumper came off pretty easy.

I decided to install the muffler hangers first. What a PITA. I used a hardened 8mm bolt to tap the first hole and it striped the threads right off the bolt. I drove home got my tap set and drove back to the shop. The holes were so close to the body I couldnt turn the tap. I rigged it into a air wrench and finelly got that done. Both brackets are now installed. 2 hours for a 15 min job, as usual.

I had some trouble getting the mounting bracket off the old bumper. On one side I broke one of the tabs on the bracket, I epoxyed the bracket to the new bumper where it was broke. 30 minutes to let the epoxy set. The bumper went back on pretty easy.

All in all it looks great, wasnt to dificult, just time consuming, mostly because Im anal when it comes to my cars and I take my time.

I also gave blood this morning so I was alittle sluggish, more than usual anyway.

So now I have 2 exhaust cutouts and 1 muffler.

I liked the stance with the V6 bumpers, but now the back seems to high. I think I will lower slightly after I do the exhaust. Thats next.

 

[Jenns01TA]

2 weekends ago I installed the GT front bumper and fogs.

Today I went for the rear bumper at my cousins shop.

The V6 bumper came off pretty easy.

I decided to install the muffler hangers first. What a PITA. I used a hardened 8mm bolt to tap the first hole and it striped the threads right off the bolt. I drove home got my tap set and drove back to the shop. The holes were so close to the body I couldnt turn the tap. I rigged it into a air wrench and finelly got that done. Both brackets are now installed. 2 hours for a 15 min job, as usual.

I had some trouble getting the mounting bracket off the old bumper. On one side I broke one of the tabs on the bracket, I epoxyed the bracket to the new bumper where it was broke. 30 minutes to let the epoxy set. The bumper went back on pretty easy.

All in all it looks great, wasnt to dificult, just time consuming, mostly because Im anal when it comes to my cars and I take my time.

I also gave blood this morning so I was alittle sluggish, more than usual anyway.

So now I have 2 exhaust cutouts and 1 muffler.

I liked the stance with the V6 bumpers, but now the back seems to high. I think I will lower slightly after I do the exhaust. Thats next.

That's my friend! Way to modify the car with a blood reduction involved!!

And I might say...

 

[LIZARDKING]

Actually I lied.

I get sick when I give blood, so I give platelets. That takes abot 1.5 hours every 2 weeks vs giving 1 pint of blood every 56 days.

Its a PITA, but its my way to give a little back...

pics, they are coming, its been raining and Im not posting pics of a dirty car. Its against all I believe in.

 

[The Fang]

So what exhaust are we going with from where and how much?

 

[LIZARDKING]

Im going to cobble together what I think is the best exhaust I can get for the money.

Why back I bought a set of GT take off muffs from Casco.

I then bought the GT bumpers from Casco that included another set of muffs.

One set Im going to paint black with the polished tips, the other set Im going to powdercoat all black, tips included.

Im going to buy the ledft side GT mid pipe and clamp.

Im pretty sure a MAC X-pipe for a GT will bolt right up after I cut my y-pipe.

The V6 y-pipe and the GT h-pipe both bolt to the same hangers that are located at the tranny cross member.

Look at these pics and you can see what Im thinking. The V6 pic is fuzzy, but its the only one I could find.

2 hangers - $80, 2 muffs - $70, MAC x-pipe, $210, GT midpipe - $100.

$460 for a true dual exhaust with x-pipe. All stainless steel, all mandrel bends. I dont want aftermarket muffs, to loud for me. I want to hear 2 things: procharger and the stereo, not the exhaust.

View attachment 496602

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[LIZARDKING]

Pics

Its a cloudy day, but here she is:

 

[Jenns01TA]

Nice work. Quality work. I like the full SS with mandel bent material.

How is the tone through the stainless? I would assume it reduces the tininess.

 

[Kosif]

Its a cloudy day, but here she is:

Looks good man .

Also, nice signature . Good song.

 

[Hammy]

I'd like hear about your experiences with painting the mufflers black (and leaving the tips unpainted). What brand/type of paint do you intend to use? What prep is involved?

I've been curious about doing the same thing to my GT takeoffs as well...

 

[Excepcion13]

A lot of people are cutting their V6 bumper but I am seriously thinking about going the GT bumper route. I think it looks better. Of course, I will probably pay someone to put them on... I have worked on other cars but am loathe to F up my pretty little girl.

 

[rygenstormlocke]

A lot of people are cutting their V6 bumper but I am seriously thinking about going the GT bumper route. I think it looks better. Of course, I will probably pay someone to put them on... I have worked on other cars but am loathe to F up my pretty little girl.

I went the GT bumper route, getting it put on is not a big deal. Especially if you are only talking the rear one.

 

[shooterm1]

A lot of people are cutting their V6 bumper but I am seriously thinking about going the GT bumper route. I think it looks better. Of course, I will probably pay someone to put them on... I have worked on other cars but am loathe to F up my pretty little girl.

FWIW, the bumper cut is a piece of cake .......

 

[Excepcion13]

I read where people have used a boxcutter and a dremel. I think I would whimper as the blade pressed against the paint and cry as the razor sharp metal slid into the trusting and unsuspecting bumper. But then again, looking at the paint and install bill would probably infuriate me, leading to civil action for battery that would cost me even more in the long run.

How easy? I guess if I f'd it up TOO badly I could always go the GT bumper route. Try the $5 solution first....

Anybody want to post some simple step-by-step instructions?

 

[shooterm1]

How easy? I guess if I f'd it up TOO badly I could always go the GT bumper route. Try the $5 solution first....

Anybody want to post some simple step-by-step instructions?

Make yourself a cardboard template of the right (passenger side) exhaust opening.

Measure carefully to properly locate the template on the left (drivers side).

Trace around the template with a Black Sharpie. Double check the location.

Cut inside the lines with a sharp box cutter or construction knife (its easy, just go slow) - coming up from the bottom at first.

With the Dremel tool, you'll remove the remaining material out to the line.

Smooth our the edges with some sandpaper to finish it off.

Then paint the edge - if you want to (I didn't).

That's it!

 

[Excepcion13]

Thanks!

Make yourself a cardboard template of the right (passenger side) exhaust opening.

Measure carefully to properly locate the template on the left (drivers side).

Trace around the template with a Black Sharpie. Double check the location.

Cut inside the lines with a sharp box cutter or construction knife (its easy, just go slow) - coming up from the bottom at first.

With the Dremel tool, you'll remove the remaining material out to the line.

Smooth our the edges with some sandpaper to finish it off.

Then paint the edge - if you want to (I didn't).

That's it!

Thanks for breaking it down "Barney Style!" That's EXACTLY what I needed!!!

I think I will try that and see how I like it. And to paraphrase another member, "Hard to see mistakes when I am hauling ass down the road!!!"

 

[LIZARDKING]

I'd like hear about your experiences with painting the mufflers black (and leaving the tips unpainted). What brand/type of paint do you intend to use? What prep is involved?

I've been curious about doing the same thing to my GT takeoffs as well...

I own a air compressor and a couple paint guns, so I do this kind of thing myself.

I wire wheeled the rust off the mufflers and wiped them down with alcohol to get them clean and grease free. I had some etching primer left over from another project that I used, but any kind of enamal primer will work. Automotive paint has gotten very expensive so I went to Lowes and bought a pint of gloss black enamal. 1 mist coat, 1 medium coat, 1 gloss coat.

The secret is to cure the paint. Let it setup a couple days. After they are on the car, start the car and place your hand on a muffler, as soon as it starts to get warm, shut the car off and let it completly cool down. The 2nd time let it get just warm enough to start to get uncomfortable, let it cool down. The 3rd time, drive it, let it get up to temp, then let it cool down.

You can accomplish the same thing in the oven, but I got yelled at the last time I did it.

During the cure process dont let the mufflers get wet, they will have perminate water stains.

If you just slap them on and go the paint may peel and you may lose the gloss.

My 2nd set is getting powdercoated at work. They bake them at 140 degrees for 30 minutes. Im doing those all black, tips included.