I'm going back to a stock front bumper. Right now there's just frame so I'm starting from scratch. The factory manual describes an airguide and support foam (see attached image). What is the airguide all about and is it necessary or can the rebar bolt right up to the frame? And, is the foam really critical to prevent sagging, and if so is there any reasonable substitute (spray foam, styrofoam from the art supply shop, etc)

(Running stock intercooler/radiator).

 

I would get the proper pieces and do the job right. The styrofoam gives the bumper some body - if you lean into the nose without it, the nose could cave in and break the paint. With the nose nice and solid with the foam, it won't do that.

I think the airguide keeps the bumper opening looking good and not sagging, as well as functioning as part of the radiator ducting.

Both those parts are probably available used for not too much. Might also be worth calling Ray at Malloy Mazda and getting a quote for new parts - those are the kinds of parts that's hard to call on the new price. New might be reasonable.

Dale

 

Thanks Dale. I'll definitely go for the foam.

FYI, I did another search,this time on "air guide" instead of "airguide" (silly me). Anyway, there's one good thread (https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/n-tech-shark-mod-185701/ ) and I think Kento got it right (https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...68568#poststop ) when he indicates that it is to guide the air into the radiator and prevent it from slipping into the engine bay.

Looks like guys with FMIC should have spare air guides while guys with 99 spec bumpers should have the foam. Just a few more parts...

 

The foam is pretty darn expensive... or at least it was from even from Mazda Comp when I got it for my Miata... like $150 or something... I don't the FD is going to be any cheaper.

 

The foam is very efficient in bumping little things (if you ever did) along with jus tmainly being there for re-inforcemnt. The airguides help distribute airflow to the radiator. You might as well put it in.

Jeremy

 

Lucked out. Bought bumper and rebar from two different guys. The bumper still had the two small pieces of foam stuck to it and the rebar had the big piece!

Curses though, as soon as I picked up that rebar I started thinking about how to get rid of it to save the weight. Then again, I bet it does a good job of protecting both the bumper in a small collision and the frame in a big one.