what have i been doing for the last couple of months...

[britlude]

Making new bumpers for the hotrod….


The bumpers on the hot rod I bought at swap meet about 8 years ago. They were just lying there waiting for me to buy them. Rusty and unloved they looked like they had been carefully stored at the bottom of a pond when I bought them, but they would do the trick!

Fast forward a couple of months and the bumpers that were once grotty were glorious again, straightened, blasted, modified, primed and chrome painted with the ‘gloss black, silvering paint, water based lacquer, 2 pack lacquer’ method
Fast forward another 3 or 4 years and the stone chips were showing so a repaint was in order. An unfortunate consequence of being perpendicular to the road and low down!!

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160107_19_41_13_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160107_19_41_13_Pro.jpg.html)

I enquired about the silver nitrate ‘chroming’ process to be told the 3 bumpers would be £100 each. Ok for a bumper 55 inches long, but a bit excessive for the 2 rear ones at 16” long, so a repaint with the 4 stage chrome paint again!

Fast forward another 3 years and stone chips were irritating again. As there are far more people doing the silver plating chroming I enquired again, only to be quoted £500 this time… err no! so the decision was made to make my own in stainless steel! As you do!

First thing was to measure up the bumpers on the car and get some 3mm stainless laser cut, I got sufficient cut to make 2 sets, knowing that as I was making it up as I went along that errors would occur, £160 (they had a £100+vat min charge anyway so the second back-up set cost £40!) all in with the extra round rod I needed, it was £230, less than half the price of the silver plating option, and that would still get stone chipped!


So started with this….http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160129_15_18_52_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160129_15_18_52_Pro.jpg.html)


First job was to put the 2 grooves into the bumper face. The rears were straight forward as they are short and straight. The front was more awkward, but got there eventually, the exact reason I bought 2 front profiles!


Before, after and will it polish???
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160129_17_33_38_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160129_17_33_38_Pro.jpg.html)


Hurrah it will!

[britlude]

Next up I’d need a roller to put the required bends in, so I made one! As you do…


Metal cut
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160131_12_14_49_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160131_12_14_49_Pro.jpg.html)
Assembled


http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160131_13_08_27_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160131_13_08_27_Pro.jpg.html)


http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160131_13_07_59_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160131_13_07_59_Pro.jpg.html)


And 3 aluminium rollers made…. Aluminium as I had some and it’s only going to do 1 set! They were originally straight, but I haven’t got a pic of that!
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160202_19_26_28_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160202_19_26_28_Pro.jpg.html)

[britlude]

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160201_18_10_06_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160201_18_10_06_Pro.jpg.html)


http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160202_19_51_40_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160202_19_51_40_Pro.jpg.html)


http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160202_19_58_48_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160202_19_58_48_Pro.jpg.html)




That seems to work then!

[britlude]

Now to be awkward I wanted a curve across the blade of the bumper, so with the rollers modded and just 2 used to set the bend, the metal was put through and bent accordingly…..
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160202_21_22_32_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160202_21_22_32_Pro.jpg.html)


Of course this flattened out some of the curve already put in the bumper along the blade, so this was done again (said I was making it up as I went along!) eventually ending up with a double curve where I wanted it!


http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160202_21_44_36_Pro__highres.png (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160202_21_44_36_Pro__highres.png.html)


http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160202_21_44_36_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160202_21_44_36_Pro.jpg.html)

[britlude]

Next up was to wire the edges with 8mm stainless rod…. So another tweak to the rollers…..
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160204_19_07_46_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160204_19_07_46_Pro.jpg.html)


Which let me bend the rod to make welding easier….
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160204_21_21_25_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160204_21_21_25_Pro.jpg.html)


Welded and ground back…
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160205_19_01_26_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160205_19_01_26_Pro.jpg.html)

[britlude]

Same with the front, obviously getting the 2 wire edges was somewhat more tricky!


http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160206_17_35_49_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160206_17_35_49_Pro.jpg.html)
Looks neat enough
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160206_17_47_03_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160206_17_47_03_Pro.jpg.html)


Mark the bits that need a spot of weld in them….
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160208_16_28_04_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160208_16_28_04_Pro.jpg.html)


And with a quick polish, soon we’re here
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160208_18_54_29_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160208_18_54_29_Pro.jpg.html)

[britlude]

To finish up, turned up some end bobbins…
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160209_14_14_09_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160209_14_14_09_Pro.jpg.html)


Polished of course,
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160209_19_10_24_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160209_19_10_24_Pro.jpg.html)


Welded them on and blended everything in and polished some more!
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160210_22_04_22_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160210_22_04_22_Pro.jpg.html)


http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160211_21_15_06_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160211_21_15_06_Pro.jpg.html)

[britlude]

The slots are for the indicators at the front, and reversing lights at the rear, so lenses were made up with a chunk of lexan…
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160215_20_40_32_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160215_20_40_32_Pro.jpg.html)
And with my lil cnc mill….
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160216_21_40_59_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160216_21_40_59_Pro.jpg.html)


A lens effect milled in
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160216_21_47_09_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160216_21_47_09_Pro.jpg.html)


Looking like this once it’s in…
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160216_21_42_44_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160216_21_42_44_Pro.jpg.html)

[britlude]

The last bit was to make covers to go over the LED boards behind the bumper….
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160306_11_59_14_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160306_11_59_14_Pro.jpg.html)


My brothers 3D printer to the rescue!
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160306_12_02_47_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160306_12_02_47_Pro.jpg.html)


And fitted!
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160306_12_07_59_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160306_12_07_59_Pro.jpg.html)


Before and after….
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160227_10_22_45_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160227_10_22_45_Pro.jpg.html)

[britlude]

And on the car
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160304_15_49_19_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160304_15_49_19_Pro.jpg.html)


http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160304_15_50_05_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160304_15_50_05_Pro.jpg.html)


http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160305_12_37_50_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160305_12_37_50_Pro.jpg.html)




Not got to worry about stone chips any more!!!

oh... and the evil reversing lights....
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160304_15_22_47_Pro.jpg (http://s301.photobucket.com/user/thisYup/media/hot%20rod%20stuff/hotrod%20bunpers%20in%20stainless/WP_20160304_15_22_47_Pro.jpg.html)

Smiley face!!!!!

[Nick Graves]

Bloody hell, Jonathan!

Amazing craftsmanship.

I'm not sure which - the old coachwork skills with the bumpers, or creating your own LED lights - is more impressive.

Are you sure you're unable to remove that NSX wing, heat it up, knock seven bells out of it & heat it up again? I know it will need painting...

[britlude]

the LEDs are quite evil!!!

i've put 6 1watt LEDs in each light, 2 banks of 3 set up to run on 150mA per bank. the LEDs are actually rated up to 350mA, so they are well under stressed, but the light output doesn't increase significantly for the extra current!!! at the low current you still can't look at them without seeing dots for some time after! (don't tell Pride!!! lol)

as for the dent in the wing, it's getting there, significantly better than it was, just need to get some better weather to do the final finesse! :)

why is the weather always nice when i'm at work?????