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  1. #1

    Default Will a fiberglass Aero front bumper (not bumper cover) work on a 4 eye?

    I have a fiberglass front bumper (not bumper cover) from a 90 GT. I would like to mod it to work on the 86. I thought I saw a thread on this? Any ideas to start with?
    Last edited by abqrb2000; 10-26-2011 at 08:59 PM.
    1986 GT T-Top 460 Big Block Turbo C6 Project
    1990 GT TKO 600 5 lug w/discs

  2. #2
    FEP Super Member rancheronut's Avatar
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    not me. it should work on the 85/86 but the 86 turning lights wouldn't have a place to bolt to.
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  3. #3

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    I am going to mod it to work with the turn lights. Saves significant weight.
    I saw it done somewhere? I assumed it was on this site.
    1986 GT T-Top 460 Big Block Turbo C6 Project
    1990 GT TKO 600 5 lug w/discs

  4. #4

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    You can drill large holes in the oem bumper to reduce weight.

    Or get an aluminum one.

    Maybe just not run the fiber glass bumper. It's pretty worthless. Make some brackets for the turn signals.

    -Mike

  5. #5

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    I might know "someone" who "might" have installed a four eye bumper cover on a areo car. This person had to drill the bumper shocks and slid the bumper back, after a little creative trimming, it fit. To deal with the missing lights, LED strip lighting was added to the areo bumper.

    Jess
    Previously owned;
    1979 Mustang, v6 swapped to EFI 393, custom installed m122 blower, 4r70w trans, Megasquirt II, T-top swaped in.
    1990 Mustang, 545 BBF, C-4 with brake, ladder bars.
    1983 Mustang, 1984 SVO Mustang
    1984 Mustang convertible, v6 swapped to 351
    1986 Mustang GT, 1989 Mustang GT convertible
    1992 Mustang coupe, 4 swapped to 302

  6. #6

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    Mustang-junky, thanks can you obtain any photos of this alleged process? Keeping full confidentiality of course as to not get flamed.
    1986 GT T-Top 460 Big Block Turbo C6 Project
    1990 GT TKO 600 5 lug w/discs

  7. #7
    FEP Super Member 83GTRAG's Avatar
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    nope it wont work!
    Rob

    current cars:
    83 GT Convertible
    83 Project GT T-Top Coupe
    84 GT T-Top Hatch
    86 GT Hatch low mile car
    00 V-6 Convertible

    all white cars!

  8. #8

    Default

    First, and most important, is that 10+/- lbs you might save, gonna be worth the extra effort to make it work, and that noone but you will ever know is there?

    Is your original bumper shot? or are you doing it just to do it lol?
    No Longer a 4I Owner
    But Have way too much 4I stuff Collecting Dust.

  9. #9

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    Not shot but doing a full resto/mod so its off and I have the fiberglass one. Haven't weighed them but feels like 20-25 lbs lighter.
    Might not be worth the effort.
    1986 GT T-Top 460 Big Block Turbo C6 Project
    1990 GT TKO 600 5 lug w/discs

  10. #10

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    An aluminum bumper will save more weight than the aero bumper will. Then you don't have to jack around with gouging holes, creating brackets, or fab'ing custom lights.

  11. #11

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    i have also seen where someone made just a small tube frame to hold the turn signals and then forgot about the bumper.

    saves the weight

  12. #12
    Moderator wraithracing's Avatar
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    Default

    You can make a 87-93 fiberglass front bumper reinforcement fit a 79-86. Is it worth the trouble? Only you can decide that. As already mentioned you will need to cut and fabricate a way to install the front turn signals if the car is still street legal. If it's a track only car, then you can attach the lenses to the front bumper cover and call it good.

    As others have stated, the simpler solution may be to find an OEM aluminum bumper support. If this is not an option for you due to cost, etc. then another option as mentioned already is to fabricate a new bumper support out of aluminum with brackets for the turn signals. Again if this is not an option due to time, skill, money, etc. that leaves your original option as the only way to go.

    If you are like many of us that have more time than money and are willing to spend large amounts of time in order to save money (sometimes small amounts ) Then modifiying the fiberglass reinforcement is probably the best option. If you go that route, take pictures, and document the work and post up your results if you would so others can hopefully learn something from your experience and projects. That is really one of the main benefits to a site such as this.

    Good Luck!

    Trey
    ​Trey

    "I Don't build it hoping for your approval! I built it because it meets mine!"

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  13. #13

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    ^^^^ Awesome, great answer. This is why I love this forum. THANKS

    I will post up progress on the findings of this mod.
    Last edited by abqrb2000; 10-28-2011 at 01:54 PM.
    1986 GT T-Top 460 Big Block Turbo C6 Project
    1990 GT TKO 600 5 lug w/discs

  14. #14

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    Quote Originally Posted by abqrb2000 View Post
    Mustang-junky, thanks can you obtain any photos of this alleged process? Keeping full confidentiality of course as to not get flamed.
    No pictures exist, they were destroyed after viewing. My "source" tells me it was not much work, other than cleaning up the mess that came out of the bumper shocks that is.

    An aluminum bumper support would have been much easier, but at the time, the aero to 4eye bumper cover swap offender was not aware of the existence of aluminum bumpers.

    Jess
    Previously owned;
    1979 Mustang, v6 swapped to EFI 393, custom installed m122 blower, 4r70w trans, Megasquirt II, T-top swaped in.
    1990 Mustang, 545 BBF, C-4 with brake, ladder bars.
    1983 Mustang, 1984 SVO Mustang
    1984 Mustang convertible, v6 swapped to 351
    1986 Mustang GT, 1989 Mustang GT convertible
    1992 Mustang coupe, 4 swapped to 302

  15. #15

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    Anything can be done to a car if you have enough desire and guts to try it. People will say you can't do it simply because it doesn't bolt in but most "mods" don't just bolt together or they wouldn't be "mods" in the first place. So basically, if you want to do it bad enough then you can do it.

  16. #16

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    +1 ^^^^
    Project "WinBacK" 1986 LX Hatchback
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  17. #17
    FEP Senior Member
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    Default

    I have read that the 87 bumper support can be used with the aero nose but you need to fabricate a spacer plate. I cant remember if it was 1/2" or 1"

    Not sure what is different on later aero bumper supports. Did see a plastic aero bumper support that had been swiss cheesed to reduce weight.

    [spoiler][/spoiler]
    Last edited by Anlushac11; 10-30-2011 at 07:49 PM.
    85 Mustang Coupe, 3.3L I6, C4, 8.8 3L23, 17x8 wheels. About 70% towards firing it up.

  18. #18

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Anlushac11 View Post
    I have read that the 87 bumper support can be used with the aero nose but you need to fabricate a spacer plate. I cant remember if it was 1/2" or 1"
    A '87 bumper support is supposed to be used with an areo cover. ??????

    Jess
    Previously owned;
    1979 Mustang, v6 swapped to EFI 393, custom installed m122 blower, 4r70w trans, Megasquirt II, T-top swaped in.
    1990 Mustang, 545 BBF, C-4 with brake, ladder bars.
    1983 Mustang, 1984 SVO Mustang
    1984 Mustang convertible, v6 swapped to 351
    1986 Mustang GT, 1989 Mustang GT convertible
    1992 Mustang coupe, 4 swapped to 302

  19. #19

    Default

    I laid both bumpers out tonight and started measuring. They are pretty darn close. I will do a thread with details and pictures soon.
    1986 GT T-Top 460 Big Block Turbo C6 Project
    1990 GT TKO 600 5 lug w/discs

  20. #20

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    The stock 86 steel bumper is 33 lbs. and the fiberglass 90 bumper is 12 lbs. Sounds like significant savings on the nose to me.
    1986 GT T-Top 460 Big Block Turbo C6 Project
    1990 GT TKO 600 5 lug w/discs

  21. #21

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    Aluminum bumper is 16 lbs, and everything bolts ran onto it just like the steel bumper. No custom spacers. No custom lights. No custom brackets for stock lights.

  22. #22

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    I have a fiberglass bumper for free and it's 4lbs lighter than aluminum. Plus I just like to modify things.
    1986 GT T-Top 460 Big Block Turbo C6 Project
    1990 GT TKO 600 5 lug w/discs

  23. #23
    FEP Senior Member
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    Wink

    Quote Originally Posted by Mustang-junky View Post
    A '87 bumper support is supposed to be used with an areo cover. ??????

    Jess
    I meant 4 eyed nose...geeeeez know what I mean not what I say.
    85 Mustang Coupe, 3.3L I6, C4, 8.8 3L23, 17x8 wheels. About 70% towards firing it up.

  24. #24

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    Quote Originally Posted by abqrb2000 View Post
    I have a fiberglass bumper for free and it's 4lbs lighter than aluminum. Plus I just like to modify things.
    That's 4 lbs lighter not including any extra parts needed to make it work.

    Post pics of what all you did to make it work and how much it all weighed together.

  25. #25

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    I would like to go with the aluminum but I don't want to spend $$$ since I already have the fiberglass one.
    1986 GT T-Top 460 Big Block Turbo C6 Project
    1990 GT TKO 600 5 lug w/discs

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