After spending a number of hours cutting metal out of the 83 front bumper from a parts car, I found it doesn't fit the 79. Very disappointing. The 79 is steel and probably weighs about 35 lbs. After cutting out the metal from the 83, it weighed about 10-12 lbs. I'm trying to reduce the car weight where ever I can.So I went after other parts with the grinder/cutter. I cut out the door and went after the beam. That worked pretty well, but I can't get the last 7-8 inches toward the hinge edge of the door.
I assume I'm not the first to cut that out. How did others get that last piece out? Also by cutting out the beam, it seems to have relieved some "tension" on the door panel. The leading edge is binding on the fender edge. Any suggestions on that one? Hopefully I haven't permanently screwed up the door fit.

 

On the 2nd gens the door beam is held in by spot welds on the leading and trailing edges of the door jam. Drill them out and the pieces should come free.
Front bumper: Why lighten, just leave it off all together?
Are you road racing or autocrossing?

 

I'm autocrossing. It's just too ugly with no bumper at all. It will be great if I can drill out spot welds, though way too simple. The doors get very light when you cut all the extra metal off. I'm just attacking anything I can reach with the grinder. I don't yet have the money to build up the engine (basically a CSP motor), so cutting out weight is a cheap do it yourself way to go faster.

 

Did you swap out the bumper shocks as well? The 79/80 bumpers shocks are different than the later years, but should bolt right in the 79/80 which will allow you to bolt the bumper in.

Be sure you're following the rules, it's easy to get carried away with lightening and easy to end up outside of the rules.

 

if you switch to the lighter aluminium bumpers you have to switch fendars.

 

Speed Raycer; the bumper shocks fit. The ends of the bumpers would have stuck out in a seriously ugly way.
I haven't checked recently on the rules for lightening up the car. I do need to pick up a book.

mikeyD, I figured that out about the fenders too. My parts car's fenders are junk though. So, I'll keep the HEAVY metal bumpers for now.