NB Lighter Front Bumper Reinforcement
 

Hello,

First let me say that I realize it's a "safety" device and yes it only weighs a bit more than 6 pounds according to my postal scales and if you don't think it's worth it, that's all well and good too, just skip over this tread. Based on the number of cones I hit autocrossing, I'm guessing that there has to be SOMETHING behind the rubber bumper cover to keep the nose in tact. I was wondering if someone has fabricated their own LIGHTER front bumper. When I had my 90 Mustang, it was a simple pre-fab purchase. I pulled out the fiberglass bumper and put in a welded metal tube that weighed 2 pounds. I would very much like to have a cone rejecting bumper that was 4 pounds lighter so I thought I'd ask others that may have attempted this endeavor.

I run absolutely nothing under the bumper, my radiator takes up the space the 5mph bumper used to occupy. If you were feeling really froggy you could do some light weight support rods to the bottom corners of the fender opening.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mia...f5238a0817.jpg

Or you could take a 2 inch hole saw on a drill and make swiss cheese out of the plastic bumper support if the weight offended you so much. It would still retain a great deal of its cone repelling functionality. Round holes are used in structures in aircraft because they reduce weight but don't compromise the strength as much as other shapes.

Thank you guys for the reply. I was beginning to think I was the only one that cared. LOL

I have thoughts about running an aluminum strap across the front but I have the "can't leave it alone" problem and it would be 7 pounds and 2 weeks work up there after I got done welding gussets and ribs and reshaping. In the interest of time and effort, I think the hole idea is valid and it's certainly easy enough to do - think I'll give that a go. If I lose 3 pounds up there and still can not damage my car with an autocross cone, I'll be a happy camper. One thing I will do is only use half the bolts, 4 bolts as opposed to 8 should be plenty and that could be a half pound right there.

Get it welded. Clean everything real good. Where you're going to weld, clean it to shiny metal. Don't ask for an estimate, they'll tell you anyway.

Probably already fixed some time over the last five years ....

These thread revivals look like the poster is stupid - but not so. OK, they didn't see the date on the last post, big deal, but hey, they are doing what this forum is all about - actively searching (or just browsing) for information about modifying/fixing their cars.

Symbolic cat for Joe, have one for the team!