Does not one make a '99 plateless front bumper that's ACCURATE?
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Does not one make a '99 plateless front bumper that's ACCURATE?
I got some damage to the underside of my front bumper so I figure I'll just replace it and scratchcoat repaint my whole car while I'm at it. I have the '99 taillights and have wanted to complete the conversion to the front for a while, now is a good opportunity.
I always noticed something wrong with the aftermarket plateless front bumpers for FD's. There was always something that didn't look right with them, and it wasn't just from the lack of plate holder, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
But since now I'm actually looking to get the front bumper, I've been looking more into them. After looking at the "post pictures of your FD" thread and seeing the '99 aftermarket plateless front bumpers, which i know pettit racing sells, and the normal oem '99 year ones it's become apparent. The aftermarket ones seem to stick out further, and or are more "pointed" at the end right above the air dam, and also they look like they have less "form" to them on the piller between the middle air dam and the side ones.
Really minor things.. but enough to really throw it off.
I did a photoshop of one with a plate holder on it, just removing the plate, following the same lines, and it comes out like:
It looks nice without the plateholder. Just what I'm looking for!
I found one with an aftermarket plateless front bumper, looks like the one pettit racing sells, and at a similar angle.
Just looks.. off.
Most of my friends seem to agree with me that there is some things off with the aftermarket plateless bumper. It's pretty minor, but for me it ruins it. :/
Does no one else make a plateless bumper the matches the oem exactly, except for having that ugly plate holder in the mold?
My only alternatives I see are A: Find a shop that can plasti-weld.. which would be expensive. Or B: Get an OEM bumper and have a plateless one custom made out of fiberglass from it. Also expensive. Unless there is some place I don't know one that makes an accurate plateless bumper.
You would think there would be a market for it. :/ It's a shame mazda didn't just do one of those bolt on plate holder things.
I always noticed something wrong with the aftermarket plateless front bumpers for FD's. There was always something that didn't look right with them, and it wasn't just from the lack of plate holder, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
But since now I'm actually looking to get the front bumper, I've been looking more into them. After looking at the "post pictures of your FD" thread and seeing the '99 aftermarket plateless front bumpers, which i know pettit racing sells, and the normal oem '99 year ones it's become apparent. The aftermarket ones seem to stick out further, and or are more "pointed" at the end right above the air dam, and also they look like they have less "form" to them on the piller between the middle air dam and the side ones.
Really minor things.. but enough to really throw it off.
I did a photoshop of one with a plate holder on it, just removing the plate, following the same lines, and it comes out like:
It looks nice without the plateholder. Just what I'm looking for!
I found one with an aftermarket plateless front bumper, looks like the one pettit racing sells, and at a similar angle.
Just looks.. off.
Most of my friends seem to agree with me that there is some things off with the aftermarket plateless bumper. It's pretty minor, but for me it ruins it. :/
Does no one else make a plateless bumper the matches the oem exactly, except for having that ugly plate holder in the mold?
My only alternatives I see are A: Find a shop that can plasti-weld.. which would be expensive. Or B: Get an OEM bumper and have a plateless one custom made out of fiberglass from it. Also expensive. Unless there is some place I don't know one that makes an accurate plateless bumper.
You would think there would be a market for it. :/ It's a shame mazda didn't just do one of those bolt on plate holder things.
#3
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well I like how the '99 oem one looks, minus the plate holder. Just the plateholderless aftermarket ones don't look right. :/
I do like the burnout kit's front bumper alot(well, the fenders aswell too), but I want to keep things clean and all. :/
I do like the burnout kit's front bumper alot(well, the fenders aswell too), but I want to keep things clean and all. :/
#4
rebreaking things
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Manhattan
Posts: 866
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the problem is all of the plateless bumpers are curved from the hood seam to the bumper opening which makes for a jumbo-jet like snout. If the section of material right above the main bumper opening was a little more flat, the curved area between that point and the hood seam could be more shallow, which would make the whole thing look more aggressive.
#5
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the problem is all of the plateless bumpers are curved from the hood seam to the bumper opening which makes for a jumbo-jet like snout. If the section of material right above the main bumper opening was a little more flat, the curved area between that point and the hood seam could be more shallow, which would make the whole thing look more aggressive.
Thats' the MAJOR problem. They also have less defined/shape pillers between the air dams it looks like, like mainly towards the bottom outsides of those middle pillers between the big and same air dams, at least that's what it looks like.
For a lot of people I guess it's okay. For me it looks really off. :/
In this attached picture it looks DEAD ON PERFECT. I wish I knew what bumber it is. It's probably just a one-off thing.
#7
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hamilton, Ontario
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
nice job on the photoshop, it does look really good.
i gotta say though, in the jurisdictions where you require a front bumper (as my city does) i prefer the look as the bumper w/ plate holder as opposed to a non-plate bumper with a metal fromer thingy to hold it.
i gotta say though, in the jurisdictions where you require a front bumper (as my city does) i prefer the look as the bumper w/ plate holder as opposed to a non-plate bumper with a metal fromer thingy to hold it.
Trending Topics
#8
Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: tenn
Posts: 685
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah this is the biggest problem with them. . Both RE's urethane one and pettit racings fiberglass one have the bumper going from the hood right down to the air dam. With the oem one it is much more flat and blunt above the airdam with a curve, and it appears to be a bit shorter and rounder overall.
Thats' the MAJOR problem. They also have less defined/shape pillers between the air dams it looks like, like mainly towards the bottom outsides of those middle pillers between the big and same air dams, at least that's what it looks like.
For a lot of people I guess it's okay. For me it looks really off. :/
In this attached picture it looks DEAD ON PERFECT. I wish I knew what bumber it is. It's probably just a one-off thing.
Thats' the MAJOR problem. They also have less defined/shape pillers between the air dams it looks like, like mainly towards the bottom outsides of those middle pillers between the big and same air dams, at least that's what it looks like.
For a lot of people I guess it's okay. For me it looks really off. :/
In this attached picture it looks DEAD ON PERFECT. I wish I knew what bumber it is. It's probably just a one-off thing.
#9
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So I'm guessing my only chance to get a good looking plateless bumper is to buy an oem one, shave off the plate, plasti-weld polyurethane in the hole, then cut and sand it down? That's going to cost me a lot, but eh at least I'll have the nicest front bumper.
#10
Mad Man
iTrader: (5)
One reason I would like to have shine copy the original and then remove the plate and smooth it out a bit. I have the RE and am not happy with its waviness. I have a thread in shineprojects area but he never responds in it. If there were a few more people interested in a version from him I think we could get something better.....
#11
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One reason I would like to have shine copy the original and then remove the plate and smooth it out a bit. I have the RE and am not happy with its waviness. I have a thread in shineprojects area but he never responds in it. If there were a few more people interested in a version from him I think we could get something better.....
https://www.rx7club.com/shineautoproject-161/99-spec-platess-bumper-653334/page2/
in this thread it looks like people are trying to get ShineAutoProject to make a plateless '99 year front bumper. Hopefully they'll do it if enough are interested and willing to pay the right amount, and most importantly hopefully they'll make it LOOK RIGHT! RE's and Pettit's don't look right. :/
What do you mean smoooth it out a bit?
I think they need to make one that exactly matches the oem one, except with the plate removed and it filled in accordingly where the plate would be.
Of course it shouldn't be wavy either, and should have the proper mounting so it doesn't sag.
#12
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This white ones looks dead on too. I have no idea where it's from though
This raceon kit looks pretty dead on.. I'm not sure though. Could shave off the bottom, put on the '99 spec lip and it be exactly the same?
Anyone have thoughts on it?
/edit
Seeing them one on top of the other.. seems apparent that the raceon kit's bottom side is much thinner, and the sides look odd too. :/ Blah
This raceon kit looks pretty dead on.. I'm not sure though. Could shave off the bottom, put on the '99 spec lip and it be exactly the same?
Anyone have thoughts on it?
/edit
Seeing them one on top of the other.. seems apparent that the raceon kit's bottom side is much thinner, and the sides look odd too. :/ Blah
#13
Torque Monster
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah this is the biggest problem with them. . Both RE's urethane one and pettit racings fiberglass one have the bumper going from the hood right down to the air dam. With the oem one it is much more flat and blunt above the airdam with a curve, and it appears to be a bit shorter and rounder overall.
Thats' the MAJOR problem. They also have less defined/shape pillers between the air dams it looks like, like mainly towards the bottom outsides of those middle pillers between the big and same air dams, at least that's what it looks like.
For a lot of people I guess it's okay. For me it looks really off. :/
In this attached picture it looks DEAD ON PERFECT. I wish I knew what bumber it is. It's probably just a one-off thing.
Thats' the MAJOR problem. They also have less defined/shape pillers between the air dams it looks like, like mainly towards the bottom outsides of those middle pillers between the big and same air dams, at least that's what it looks like.
For a lot of people I guess it's okay. For me it looks really off. :/
In this attached picture it looks DEAD ON PERFECT. I wish I knew what bumber it is. It's probably just a one-off thing.
I just noticed this..but that red cars license plate bracket was poorly photo shopped out..if you look close you can see the bottom of the plate holder in black and how the line is kinda smudged...no wonder it looks dead on....oops this was already mentioned.
Last edited by Snyper; 09-01-07 at 12:52 AM.
#14
strictly business
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: May 2005
Location: chamber of farts
Posts: 6,187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I got some damage to the underside of my front bumper so I figure I'll just replace it and scratchcoat repaint my whole car while I'm at it. I have the '99 taillights and have wanted to complete the conversion to the front for a while, now is a good opportunity.
I always noticed something wrong with the aftermarket plateless front bumpers for FD's. There was always something that didn't look right with them, and it wasn't just from the lack of plate holder, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
But since now I'm actually looking to get the front bumper, I've been looking more into them. After looking at the "post pictures of your FD" thread and seeing the '99 aftermarket plateless front bumpers, which i know pettit racing sells, and the normal oem '99 year ones it's become apparent. The aftermarket ones seem to stick out further, and or are more "pointed" at the end right above the air dam, and also they look like they have less "form" to them on the piller between the middle air dam and the side ones.
Really minor things.. but enough to really throw it off.
I did a photoshop of one with a plate holder on it, just removing the plate, following the same lines, and it comes out like:
It looks nice without the plateholder. Just what I'm looking for!
I found one with an aftermarket plateless front bumper, looks like the one pettit racing sells, and at a similar angle.
Just looks.. off.
Most of my friends seem to agree with me that there is some things off with the aftermarket plateless bumper. It's pretty minor, but for me it ruins it. :/
Does no one else make a plateless bumper the matches the oem exactly, except for having that ugly plate holder in the mold?
My only alternatives I see are A: Find a shop that can plasti-weld.. which would be expensive. Or B: Get an OEM bumper and have a plateless one custom made out of fiberglass from it. Also expensive. Unless there is some place I don't know one that makes an accurate plateless bumper.
You would think there would be a market for it. :/ It's a shame mazda didn't just do one of those bolt on plate holder things.
I always noticed something wrong with the aftermarket plateless front bumpers for FD's. There was always something that didn't look right with them, and it wasn't just from the lack of plate holder, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
But since now I'm actually looking to get the front bumper, I've been looking more into them. After looking at the "post pictures of your FD" thread and seeing the '99 aftermarket plateless front bumpers, which i know pettit racing sells, and the normal oem '99 year ones it's become apparent. The aftermarket ones seem to stick out further, and or are more "pointed" at the end right above the air dam, and also they look like they have less "form" to them on the piller between the middle air dam and the side ones.
Really minor things.. but enough to really throw it off.
I did a photoshop of one with a plate holder on it, just removing the plate, following the same lines, and it comes out like:
It looks nice without the plateholder. Just what I'm looking for!
I found one with an aftermarket plateless front bumper, looks like the one pettit racing sells, and at a similar angle.
Just looks.. off.
Most of my friends seem to agree with me that there is some things off with the aftermarket plateless bumper. It's pretty minor, but for me it ruins it. :/
Does no one else make a plateless bumper the matches the oem exactly, except for having that ugly plate holder in the mold?
My only alternatives I see are A: Find a shop that can plasti-weld.. which would be expensive. Or B: Get an OEM bumper and have a plateless one custom made out of fiberglass from it. Also expensive. Unless there is some place I don't know one that makes an accurate plateless bumper.
You would think there would be a market for it. :/ It's a shame mazda didn't just do one of those bolt on plate holder things.
#18
#19
not an FD owner but i think it's mostly dependent on the angle you're looking at it. If you're looking at the front straight on you won't really notice the bumper sticking out more. I personally like the 99 spec with the plate but with the "RX-7" plate.
#20
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If I'm looking for the clean stock look, why would I get the vertex kit? :|
It's not that simple.. The plateholder on the OEM one is apart of the mold and is hollow behind it. Shaving it off leaves a hole. Would require plastiwelding polyurethane to fill the gap. This is something that very few people can do, so expensive, and will likely take constant upkeep(lines between the hole and the PU filling it showing up over time..)
It'd be even worse doing something like filling the hole with window sealant, while that would be much easier.
I might just have to make my own fiberglass bumper, eh?
It'd be even worse doing something like filling the hole with window sealant, while that would be much easier.
I might just have to make my own fiberglass bumper, eh?