I finally got around to weighing the aluminum bumper support which GM produced in small quantities in the early 1980's. It weighs 21.6 pounds, when equipped with the absorber and the two plastic air deflectors.

I also weighed my stock 1984 steel bumper support, and equipped in similar trim, weighs 30.6 pounds.

Therefore, the aluminum bumper support, if you can find one, is worth a nine pound savings off the front of your car.

 

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!


jk

I recall you showing me that and making me lift it.

 

[QUOTE=AutoRoc] Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!

QUOTE]

Yeah, I brought it home from Chicago in the summer of 1999. It's been sitting here all that time.

News Flash for ya Denny: I just agreed to drop the car off at the body shop on December 13th for a new coat of paint. It's a big step, because since I am so fussy, it AINT going to be cheap. I should be getting it back in mid-February, at which time I'll yank out the whole powertrain and make the anticipated change to the new motor.

 

I've been searching yards around here for years for a 4 cylinder car that was equipped with the aluminum supports. Never found one. I thought there was a more significant weight difference. After hearing that its only 9lbs, I think I'll stop looking.

 

Why not just take it out and save 30 lbs? I took the front and rear bumper supports off my car. It was an easy 55lb loss. If it's not a daily driver, why fuss over it? If it is your daily driver, leave the damn bumper supports where they are. Probably won't stop your car from being totalled, but they make save you.


Do you really think a lightweight, non-factory one will do much in the form of a crash? The only place I can see it making sense would be a wheel-to-wheel racing series and even then you'd be better off with a tubular one made out of mild steel.

 

^^ what he said

my car isnt a daily driver, but since im taking it apart and painting it, those bumper supports/honeycomb things r going 2 b taken out.

 

Probably won't be a problem since you're in AZ, but the front bumper support was cake and the rear one was a sonofabitch because of rust.

 

I've been pondering this question very intently. What I've been thinking about is creating a bumper support with a plate and retangular steel tubing skeleton, and a carbon fiber structure which is bonded in place of the honeycomb. I'd make the structure from cut-up carbon fiber arrow tube, for it seems to be very stiff, yet capable of withstanding lots of abuse. It also seems pretty cheap as far as carbon fiber goes, running about a dollar per linear foot. I'd fiberglass it into place, then add an outer skin of carbon fiber honeycomb onto it to make it really, really rigid. A good impact would shatter it to bits, dissipating the impact energy.

I still have to think about it some more and study carbon fiber attachment & bonding, as well as energy absorption techniques from some motorsports safety SAE papers. I wont be building it anytime soon, but it'll percolate around in my head and pop out into something tangible some day.