I bought a Zen FIBERGLASS rear bumper for cheap after some ***** hit and run me one day, anyways, my buddies coming over sunday to help me fit the bumper, its unpainted but Gel coated (w/e that means)

I hear its a huge P.I.T.A I already know this, I own a dremel already, and a full socket set and screw driver set etc etc...

I need Tips on mounting an aftermarket bumper, I hear the Zen bumper lines up pretty good, so I'm not too worried about fitment, Just what do you do? remove the old one, mark the holes with sharpies and drill? Do do I drive around with the bumper on for a while? does it conform after a while? or once its mounted and fit I take it off? (its getting painted later this spring, but we both somehow have this sunday off so it works out)

anyways, I already have the supplies for the day, Tools, Bondo (if theres any chips), Bumper, 300,1000Gritt sandpaper to sand the Bumper, Music, beer and Advil

So please please please if I'm missing anything, or you have some valuable tips let me know, thanks guys

 

never done aftermarket but all i can say is good luck with the bolt that connects the rear bumper to the fender ... PITA big time!!! just be calm and t take your time

 

All I can say is be patient and if you can't figure it out, just stand back and think about it some more =)

 

Never installed a Zen but anything fiberglass won't really flex. That's why you see a lot of after market body kits that someone just bolted on and has a hump in the middle. I hope the fitment is pretty close to factory. Nice thing with Poly is that it has a little give, to hide slight fitment imperfections.

I assume there are no pre-drilled mounting holes. Just make sure you have the bumper exactly how you want it before you start drilling them out. Other than that, yea what they said.

 

ur a sedan ain't u Steve? should be alot easier than a coupe one. Just take the old one off, and try to get the new one to fit. Someone already pointed out, that fiberglass won't flex, this is true. If it was plastic all u would need to do is use a heat gun and then u could flex it....gotta sand the gel coat off first or else paint won't stick...remember that

 

Have fun wit a fiberglass bumper!!! I hate em!! If you try and push it too hard in some places which will happen, it will break FYI. Just be patient and dont bolt anything on until its all aligned right and have someone or more than 1 person help you out.

 

Also, that "gel" coating or "E" coat, you MUST sand that off if your going to use automotive paint. Save yourself some time and use 150. Not sure why you have 1,000 grit... If it's going to be a while before you have it painted, make sure there are no bare bondo spots. PPG makes a rattle can sandable sealer, you can pick it up at a automotive paint shop for around $10. Don't use that $1 Home Depot rattle can lacquer.

When you take it to get painted - assuming you did good body work - they will scuff it again, primer/high-fill 3-4 coats, get it into 600, seal, base, clear.

 

After fitting 2 kits and 1 being the wide body all I can say is be patient and make sure no kids are around.

I swore more times while doing it then one person should in a life time

 

I'd use 220 grit, not 150...never even heard of 150 and I've been doing body work for over 5 years

 

You've been doing body work for 5 years and never heard of 150? LOL.

 

40 grit,80 grit,100,120,180,220,320,400,500,600,800....nope no 150 there

 

haha! hey chad its your old Zen bumper

oh I had 1500gritt laying around from the nightshades.

and Im not painting this s.o.b lol, I'll pay a body shop to do that.

oh and eyesore I'm a coupe

****oh and what happens if I have bare bondo spots? I plan on getting it painted next week sunday

 

Every Company sells different grits, my shop has 36, 50, 80, 150, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1500, 2000, 3000. Ive heard of guys using 120 instead of 150.

 

id just try to fit it in the dumpster

 

I use Sata for everything except for 800 grit, 800 I use Norton

 

Yea we use Norton for all are grits.

 

we tried using norton, but the only one we liked was the 800 grit, it was actually better than the Sata one for 800

 

Yea Idk i guess ive never used anything else, Norton is what I used in school and its what I use at work. lol Boss likes it though, I just dont know any better.

 

Lol nice. What is wrong with it. I had it fit my car nicely. Course I don't know what has happened since it went to Lawson and who ever else.

 

I guess I understand if you only use Sata or Norton. Even though Norton makes 150 as well. We use 3M, most private or local shops won't because of the cost. Costs more than double but we found it lasts 3 or 4 times as long...

If your an actual body shop you should try out 3M. Our rep bring about $1000 of product for us every month just to try. Thats how company reps make money.

 

I've tried 3M 220 grit and honestly, I didn't like it...even tried the Hook-It ones too

 

I should point out that I sand on aluminum more than on cars

 

Lol chad whos lawsen? I bought it right off you from the storage unit.

Ok Bumpers on the car, we spend a total of 6 hours working on, it as well as dyed my friends car interior black, looks sharp.

Anyways, the bumper went on with minimal issue actually, I was expecting a world of pain lol. I think the hardest part was that Son of a bitch screw in the wheel well. Its pretty flush actually, the only part thats a HAIR off is where it meets the wheel well. but thats so minimal I wont bitch lol.

The stupid factory left sooo much excess that the dremel/Jig saw had a fun time chewing through, and we had to modify those strange "shelves" that run down the side of the car that hold up the bumper to accomadate the extra width of the fiber glass.

as for everyone hating fiberglass...."WHY?" I lloved it, it was good and ridgid, it cut beautifully, and who doesnt love driving around with a lime green bumper while awaiting paint lol. But anywhoo it looks freakin awsome already, cant wait for paint, hoping to get that done this week, it I'll post pix when its done I love working on my own car, you learn so much , but its staying on the car, and only I'm going to remove it and put it back on, not the body shop, as only I know how the stupid thing goes back on ROFLMAO

 

I made a mistake, no one caught on..I meant Sia sand paper, not Sata lol. Sata is the paint gun we use, except for me, I use a Accuspray

 

haha ya I saw that. Didn't think they made sand paper. They do make bad ass guns though. We spray Sata or Devilbiss.