TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:07 pm

I got backed into today which bent the right side of my bumper down and put some wrinkles in the top also. I was able to raise it back in place but does anyone have any tricks or methods for un-wrinkling the metal? Trying to avoid the BFH method Looks like it comes off with the four bolts in front right? Thanks

Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:19 pm

Seems the crystal ball is broken again... is the bumper on the front or the rear and what year is the Bus? Some people have had great luck pounding the bumper back into shape in a sandbox. No other way to do it besides the BFH.

Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:24 pm

Its a 74 westy, front bumper.

Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:02 pm

I had no luck getting the wrinkles out of the rear bumper on my '78 Westy. I think the BFH method will work to get it usable, but I don't know of a way to get flat metal on the top and bottom straight again. It takes such a small amount of force to stretch it, and such a small amount of stretch to make it wavy. I think it's easier to find a used-but-straight bumper and paint it then it is to fix a painted buy wavy bumper. The problem with bumpers isn't availability, its shipping. I just got a new bumper that was never installed in e_ay for $30, but shipping was also $30.

Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:18 pm

Thanks Carl, hows the gopher hunting? It just has a couple wrinkles on top, got lucky on the bottom. I was thinking c clamp it? vise? Does this come off with the four bolts? Sad thing is it was a very nice bumper.

Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:43 pm

I tried clamping 2x4's with Quick clamps, laying the bumper on the ground with the ends up in the air, then using the BFH to pound the ends down, and that didn't work. I was able to improve it (mine, too, had been hit on one end) The problem is that the steel stretches (much as it did when it was pressed into that shape in the first place), making it nearly impossible to fix. One thing that might work though would be to weld a piece of angle iron to the skin on the inside where it isn't visible. That would provide a very stiff form for the thin sheet of the bumper. I hadn't thought of that until now. I may try it this weekend and see if I can get the wrinkles out of my front bumper.

Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:09 am

wunderbus wrote: It just has a couple wrinkles on top, got lucky on the bottom.
Just flip it over!

Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:54 am

wunderbus wrote: I got backed into today.......

Did you get any coin from the culprit? I would have demanded a c-note from the suspect at the scene of the crime, for a fresh bumper.

jtauxe wrote: wunderbus wrote: It just has a couple wrinkles on top, got lucky on the bottom.
Just flip it over!

I like this solution!

peace

Thu Nov 09, 2006 10:05 am

Cant flip it, already looked at it. They're not the same top and bottom as the bottom has pre drilled holes in em that would then face up. Im thinking some c clamps might bdo the trick.
No didnt get any coin out of him( went for good karma instead) I just told him Id try to fix it and he said if I couldnt, give him a call. More damage to his car. By the crunching sound I was relieved when I saw it because it was contained to the bumper.

Thu Nov 09, 2006 10:15 am

The problem with this is that once the metal has been stretched, it is very difficult to squeeze it back -- to "unstretch" it. Imagine taking a piece of bubble gum and stretching it - easy enough. But now try pushing it back into shape (no fair wadding it back up again). It just doesn't work. Well, body shop experts do have some other tricks, but it's very difficult.

Karma be damned, :shock: get a new bumper out of the guy.

Thu Nov 09, 2006 10:31 am

jtauxe wrote: Karma be damned, :shock: get a new bumper out of the guy.

I am with jtauxe here, it's really a pretty inexpensive part.....just think if the guy had backed into the nose of a new Lexus, broken a head light, and set off the air bags...:shock:

peace

Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:27 pm

My front & rear bumpers both have a small kink in them. Has anyone successfully straightened these out before? I know they've been stretched but can't they be heated with a torch to shrink them back?

Tue Feb 27, 2007 10:49 pm

Once the metal is stretched you have to shrink it, torch and water will shrink metal a little. You could cut it weld it back together and then grind and bondo it, way too much work, it would be easier to get a replacement.

Deron.

Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:02 pm

I recently took some wrinkles not unlike yours out of my '71 front and rear bumpers with a hammer and dolly. I started with channel locks (no flames please!) just to get the high spot down to a reasonable height and hammered away.

Not a ton of force either... definitely a SFH with some backup! Patience and some bumping... won't be perfect, but should pass the 10 ft test.