Front bumper fitting woe's...

[Attack2001]

Hi all, tried a mk3 bumper on my car today, tried it last weekend then found out you need mk3 bumper mounts as well (i've got a mk2), so got it all on and bolted up, but end up with this.





Is it the fact the cars a mk2 making any difference, or is the bumper bent? If you think it is bent, any ideas how i can attempt to bend it back? Is the metal plate behind it most likely bent or is it just the plasic?

Any ideas? Thomas................

[Ride_on]

If you have changed the box mounts then it should fit IMO. Looks if it is bent from the edges as you say. The plastic is very flimsy so yes its the metal bar, not sure how easy to bend back, worth a try but very hard to know when it right. Perhaps a hook in the top middle, tie to a tree and reverse bumps until it looks right.

I've just been looking at the grill, looks like the MK3 grill is different to the MK2, it should not sit over the bumper like that... more parts+mods.

[macplaxton]

looks like the MK3 grill is different to the MK2

Indeed they are different as winter grille muff avocados would know.

The bumper looks like it's sitting along the front okay. Are the wrap-around ends of the bumper correctly slid into their plastic brackets on the front leading edges of the wings? If so, are those brackets different?

Just looked up the parts list. Quick glossary: The "member" is the metal bumper bar behind the plastic. The "slide block" is the plastic clip at front edge of each wing which holds the ends of the bumpers. The "front brackets" are the big lumps of metal bolted to the front panel which carry the bumpers. Note: Just because the part numbers are different, does not mean that the part is (substantially) different.

Front bumper
1982-1985 MY

3296874 front bumper member
3296333 front slide block
3287103 front bracket, L.H.
3287104 front bracket, R.H.

3296874 rear bumper member
3296333 rear slide block
3296335 rear bracket, L.H. 3/5DRS
3201327 rear bracket, L.H. 4DRS
3296336 rear bracket, R.H. 3/5DRS
3201328 rear bracket, R.H. 4DRS

1986 MY onwards

3207586 front bumper member
3207238 front slide block
3342286 front bracket, L.H.
3342287 front bracket, R.H.

3207587 rear bumper member
3207239 rear slide block
3296335 rear bracket, L.H. 3/5DRS
3201327 rear bracket, L.H. 4DRS
3296336 rear bracket, R.H. 3/5DRS
3201328 rear bracket, R.H. 4DR

I would look closely at the plastic slide blocks that hold the ends of the bumpers against the wings.

[Attack2001]

Thanks for the replies I like the idea of the tree haha, could hook it onto my valance while im at it and see if it'l pull the dent out as well

It is a mk2 grill yes, it does fit ok, on the bottom is three pins sticking out that should fit into holes in the metal strip that runs under the headlights on mk2's, with mk3 bumpers the 3 pins just slot behind the bumper so its all good Plus a well known purple 360 is the same

I have changed the plastic clips on there as well as they were different. Hmm, bend it is

[Hell Driver]

I have a Mk2 grill on a Mk3, yes the grills are different, I've just put up with the slight uneven gap near the lights and having it overlap the bumper slightly at the base. The fit should be ok next to the indicators so not sure whats going on there.

[Ride_on]

Thanks for the replies I like the idea of the tree haha, could hook it onto my valance while im at it and see if it'l pull the dent out as well

How bad is the valence, is the whole front panel caved in slightly? If so the bumper mounts might be pointing towards each other slightly, although they are at the end of the chassis leg, they overlap the edge.

[Attack2001]

Thanks for the replies I like the idea of the tree haha, could hook it onto my valance while im at it and see if it'l pull the dent out as well

How bad is the valence, is the whole front panel caved in slightly? If so the bumper mounts might be pointing towards each other slightly, although they are at the end of the chassis leg, they overlap the edge.

The dents not that bad, its really only folded the skin up under the box section thats behind it. I had a look across the back of the box section and its straight so its only the skin thats bent