1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Mariah motorsports front bumper

Old Sep 1, 2019 | 08:19 AM
  #1  
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From: palmetto
Mariah motorsports front bumper


Does anyone have an instruction sheet or can guide me on installing a mariah front bumper? I picked it up for cheap and all it came with was a piece of angle that was mounted to the bumper shocks.. Is the angle part of the kit?
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Old Sep 1, 2019 | 11:01 AM
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The aluminum angle is part of the kit. There are two different versions of the bumper. One made for stock fenders and one for the widebody.

I have a brand new Mariah Mode 4 bumper still in the box with the hardware and instructions. I'll need to dig them out.

Last edited by KansasCityREPU; Sep 1, 2019 at 11:13 AM.
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Old Sep 1, 2019 | 11:45 AM
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From: palmetto
Originally Posted by KansasCityREPU
The aluminum angle is part of the kit. There are two different versions of the bumper. One made for stock fenders and one for the widebody.

I have a brand new Mariah Mode 4 bumper still in the box with the hardware and instructions. I'll need to dig them out.
Yeah dig them out lol.. I could use some guidance on the install but im about to start mounting it now and see how it looks.. It looks like i have to remove the fender protector and the turn signal marker on both sides so that the bumper sits flush
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Old Sep 1, 2019 | 12:44 PM
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From: palmetto

Well i started to mount the front bumper and it seems as if the bumper shocks are to long and wont allow the bumper to sit far back enough to mount, thats even with the piece of angle removed..
Any suggestions before i start cutting and grinding?
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Old Sep 1, 2019 | 03:50 PM
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Well just as i thought i will need to cut the bumper shocks.. I spoke to a gentleman (new owner of mariah motorsports body part molds) whom i know that had the original instructions for mounting the bumper, so i will be following them and installing the bumper.. Once it stops raining from hurricane dorian then ill get to work
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Old Sep 1, 2019 | 04:30 PM
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From: KC
There are difference between the 1979/1980 and 1981-1985 bumper shocks. Wonder if your bumper came with a different year factory shocks? Just a guess.
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Old Sep 1, 2019 | 05:35 PM
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From: palmetto
Originally Posted by KansasCityREPU
There are difference between the 1979/1980 and 1981-1985 bumper shocks. Wonder if your bumper came with a different year factory shocks? Just a guess.
According to the instructions from mariah the bumper shocks upper and lower tabs need to be cut off for the newer cars.. For later cars 1/4 is cut off of the top and a 45* slice on the lower edge and it is also rotated 90*
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Old Sep 3, 2019 | 08:16 AM
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Go slowly, measure twice - cut once...

I used a Dremel tool to cut my stock bumper mounts on the ends of the 84SE shocks, and then mounted the aluminum bar. You want thar bar to sit level and at the correct height so the fiberglass doesn't contact themetal header panel or the fenders on the top edge that overhangs the bumper, or it will wear through. Best fit is to hang the bumper so you have about 1/8" clearance between the "nubs" molded into the Mariah bumper and any bodywork. Yours looks to have been mounted previously, so hopefully it will bolt right in without any fiberglass sanding to fit nicely. I left my rubber bumper and side markers in place without any mounting issue, and in fact, these may help hold the bumper sides in position.

From Mariah, I had to sand several edges pretty heavily to get good fitment. You can use double sided tape (3M) on the front angle section at the top and front to hold it in place, but the attachment is REALLY where the sides wrap around the front wheelwell arches. When that fits well, it will keep it all tight and sturdy, even at high speeds. My bumper is attached with 2x machine screws at each fender edge, and tape as mentioned above. Since you're covering up your stock tow points, might want to give some thought to replacing access if you ever need them. I mounted a T3 front tow through the fiberglass because I was finding that I needed towing more than usual with recent electrical problems (!), but its really overkill. I just strap up to the front round cross member, but the hook prevents chafing on the bumper.

Overall, be careful on curbs with it. If your car is lowered at all, or on old springs, one hit to a curb or parking block, and you'll be fixing fiberglass damage...
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Old Sep 3, 2019 | 08:26 AM
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Originally Posted by rotaryjunkee
Well just as i thought i will need to cut the bumper shocks.. I spoke to a gentleman (new owner of mariah motorsports body part molds) whom i know that had the original instructions for mounting the bumper, so i will be following them and installing the bumper.. Once it stops raining from hurricane dorian then ill get to work
Any chance you could post the gist of mounting instructions here?TIA.
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Old Sep 3, 2019 | 08:30 AM
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Longduck,any pics of front of your car that show airdam installed?
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Old Sep 3, 2019 | 01:38 PM
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From: palmetto
Originally Posted by GSLSEforme
Any chance you could post the gist of mounting instructions here?TIA.
Yes ill post them when i get a chance
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Old Sep 3, 2019 | 01:42 PM
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From: palmetto

Originally Posted by GSLSEforme
Longduck,any pics of front of your car that show airdam installed?
Its not complete but just lacking several screws
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Old Sep 4, 2019 | 05:58 AM
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Some pics of the Mariah front airdam, as requested;


And a closer view showing the T3 tow hook placement a little better along with what I think is the ideal spacing for the bumper to the bodywork;


The lower lip is an aftermarket shaped rubber edge which is held on solidly with 3M tape and runs across the entire bottom of the airdam so it's a little more flexible and lowers the appearance another inch or so. Let me know if you want more detail around mounting instructions, as I thought the Mariah instructions were very good for being a semi-custom part.
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Old Sep 4, 2019 | 07:07 AM
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Thanks LongDuck
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Old Sep 4, 2019 | 07:15 AM
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From: palmetto






here are the original mariah installation instructions, if anyone needs them.. Thanks to brandon droese.. Pm me if you want the website address for parts as i dont want to post here and break any rules
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Old Sep 4, 2019 | 07:47 AM
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Thanks much.
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Old Sep 4, 2019 | 10:43 AM
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Thanks for posting those! It brought back some memories,

I opted to cut out the driving light buckets with my Dremel tool so as to allow airflow through them which align nicely with the brake cooling ducts immediately behind. In the heat where I live, any and all cooling air you can get in there is needed, then I promptly filled the incoming air holes with the lights you see in my pics. Oh, well... compromises for night driving, I guess.

Lights mounted in those locations are going to get hammered by road debris, so get in the habit of leaving extra room between your nose and the car in front of you. I've replaced my glass lenses on those at least 4-5 times over the years when they get chipped or cracked from an unlucky rock hit.
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Old Sep 14, 2019 | 09:19 AM
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From: St. Michael
Originally Posted by rotaryjunkee
Well just as i thought i will need to cut the bumper shocks.. I spoke to a gentleman (new owner of mariah motorsports body part molds) whom i know that had the original instructions for mounting the bumper, so i will be following them and installing the bumper.. Once it stops raining from hurricane dorian then ill get to work

Who is making the kits now?
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Old Sep 14, 2019 | 09:41 AM
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From: palmetto
Originally Posted by Greg Cozier
Who is making the kits now?
Pm me and ill tell you
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