I have read several threads on weight reduction but I hope there is someone who has pictures of what was done to lighten SA bumpers.
The SA bumpers are steel while the FB has aluminum. Will they interchange?
What is the difference in weight? Has anyone drilled lightening holes in the SA bumper? How did that work out? Any pictures?
Other thoughts on lighening the SA bumpers?

 

just change the front fenders and front end w/ a fb one.

 

Why in God's name would he want to ruin the beautiful lines of a SA with those hideous plastic monstrosities?

 

Most of the Jap's seem to run them without the rubber strip. Not sure if I like the look of it though

 

Rubber strip is the best!

 

mmm rubber

 

 

I have some fiberglass SA bumpers. Was going to pull molds but the end caps are not standard US spec. They mount differently.

-billy

 

To be honest, isn't it good to have a steel bumper? I mean, just in case 'you' get into an accident it should prevent some serious damage right? Our cars arn't that big, and was manufactured in the early 80's so wouldn't safety be our #1 priority? I'm thinking the lightweight bumper wouldn't be able to withstand a collision, or am I just stupid? It's a nice idea to lose some weight on the car to make it faster but to lighten the weight while taking off that would protect us better doesn't.

 

If it is a street car, I would agree with you. If it is a track car, any weight reduction will help.

 

Our cars are built like tanks. I once got rear ended twice in one week with my fb; however, all I broke was my license plate bracket and the two other cars had wrecked front ends. lol Trust me, fb bumpers take alot of abuse.

 

built like tanks?

You gotta be kidding!!

A 25 mph head on collision with a brick wall will result in life threatening injuries to chest.

 

I was hit on the driver side of my FB around 40-50mph on the street, he was trying to beat the red light but didnt. well, I got green went forward and I knew something was wrong looked to myside and i saw his face(scared sick), but i just held on and so did the FB. He had pushed my door in to the point that my knees where barely touching eachother. I got out of my car, wanted to beat the **** out of this guy, but didnt. i wouldnt say the car is built like a tank, but it proved itself to me. I just dont recommend getting brave, so just be carefull outhere!

 

When building my SA auto cross car, I took out everything I could. Having an 83 parts car, I spent a few hours lightening the front bumper to replace the heavy metal piece on my SA. THEN I found out they don't interchange.
So, replaced the original bumper and put the nice, light part on the shelf.
None of the front fenders on the parts cars were good enough to use. Ah well.

 

how hard is removing the front bumper? I removed the back after a minor fender bender. It was tricky. Lots of hidden nuts and bolds, and plastic fasteners.

Bare metal bumpers look more predatory.

 

Bumpers are brainless to remove. Rears are easiest removed by pulling rear hatch carpet and opening access plates (simple plastic pop-rivet fasteners) and accessing single...17mm? (maybe 14) nut. Likewise fr bumper release bolts on either side of rad in engine compartment - single nut (and a lock nut atop it). Both bumpers feature a heavy steel "liner" insert. This insert can be removed, as could some of the plates, tho the ones the body-mount pistons attach to would need to remain. I attach a pic of the disassembled front bumber off my 80.
Note that the REAR steel insert CHANGED in early 1980 SA production run. It went from a multi-piece assy to a larger single unit (= heavier). A 79 unit should be a bit lighter, and again there would then be the option to use just those pieces that are needed to attach the bumper back on the car.

As an aside note, the world-market SAs all had NO insert in there steel bumper shells, nor any impact-pistons! Just attached by some flimsy looking brackets!! Must have been a LOT lighter!
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

The rear bumper had 4 nuts, and a bolt between the bumper and the car body on my car. Two nuts for each hydralic cylinder, and a bolt on the left side for the attachment bracket.

These were hard to see, and a bear to get a socket and breaker bar on.

 

hey Stu how much did that steel insert weigh in your 80?

 

Stu, the word market bumpers are alot lighter I could take a stab at the weight of both i have the rear off of my RHD right now and could compare it to a standard SA one.

in ref to them being flimsy yes they are very flimsy and this one is damaged badly that is why it is off the car.

 

"hey Stu how much did that steel insert weigh in your 80?"
Inspite all the sweat, didn't have the foresight to either remove or weigh them - just polished them up and re-assembled. Now thinking/wishing I'd just left the insert out.
Gotta be 15-20lbs?? per
Rdude - would love to hear if you get weight diff with your RHD bumpers. So the actual outer shells are lighter too??
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Billy:
Could you explain what you mean by this?
Is this a replacement of the bumper cover as in an aero kit?
Is this a FG insert with the external appearance unchanged?
Dennis

 

i see a lot of jdm cars running the 81-85 front (or after market fiberglass) and the 79-80 rear bumper. makes me wonder if they want to put a little more weight on the rear of the car? or it just looks all race car without the rubber strips?

 

I pulled the sa bumper off my car I think they weigh about 34# each , I lighted the fb bumper and got the down to about 12# each. I used a holesaw and drilled a bunch of holes in the aluminum and the put the plastic cover back on the do fit with the sa front fenders but ther is noway to attach the end of the bumper to the fender like the fb cars.