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Unplanned ARB Bumper Restoration


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This was from a few days ago, after the first guide coat went on and a fine layer of filler to address the remaining low spots. Now had the first coat of paint on but that has shown up more imperfections and areas where the filler isn't blended properly. I'm very pleased with the radius on the left hand bar and I also did the bottom of the same bar where it runs along the front, which is now invisible.

PXL_20210610_193302499.jpg.3a98c247475ecbd5ae910515707f1cf7.jpg

I can predict the "more filler than a U2 album" comments from those better at the bodywork witchcraft but this is about the best I can do. I would love to give it a go with a welder but I lack the cognitive capacity for such complex undertakings.

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Finished.

PXL_20210616_183539408.jpg.39d608dc060da63ea18c918f3c23f838.jpg

Before:

PXL_20210607_165036135.jpg.d9cd68a556b31

After:

PXL_20210616_183642074.jpg.500d34a4d70b5c32576a3d4bb4f4709a.jpg

Before:

PXL_20210607_165026399.jpg.4cc493ededc41

After:

PXL_20210616_183638170.jpg.8e7ffaaf89e8d0870d8d8429f424e73b.jpg

Before:

PXL_20210607_165008111.jpg.76785179605cb

After:

PXL_20210616_183628705.jpg.d6bbac97184fbeba87a25fc0b59970fe.jpg

By no means perfect, cheating a bit with a satin surface but it is undeniably better. If you weren't looking for it, you would not notice. Really that's all I was setting out to acheive.

The biggest issue with the bumper is the one that's the hardest to see in the photos - there was a huge dent next to the NS jacking hole which I was tempted to knock out but would have just ended up playing 'whack-a-dent' back and forward. The filler has solved it.

I've also coated the whole inside area in Bilt Hamber rust converter (great stuff) and painted that but have no photos as there's not much to see other than it's not rusting.

Now I need to finish off the indicators. I was going to fit them when I realised how the grommet isn't really doing any job and you can see right through it. I'll seal it up and while I'm at it, will seal the whole unit shut as the LED buld should last and it'll ensure no moisture gets in.

PXL_20210616_172739385.jpg.c5b2792432df65406e2ece7a4c515ec7.jpg

I also noticed the white plastic body of the lamp shows through the smoked lense, so I definitely didn't paint it black inside to make it look better . I would never do a mod just for the sake of aesthetics, that would make me a hypocrite.....

Also painted the spotlight support so I'll put it all together when it goes on the car and that's this little project finished.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial on how to avoid doing the jobs you really needed to do.

 

 

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Looking very tidy!

That grommet,  is  it actually going to seal anything? Are the lenses sealed in somewhat, and the back of the fitting? If not then maybe the grommet is just there to stop chafing?

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25 minutes ago, ThreePointFive said:

Finished.

PXL_20210616_183539408.jpg.39d608dc060da63ea18c918f3c23f838.jpg

Before:

PXL_20210607_165036135.jpg.d9cd68a556b31

After:

PXL_20210616_183642074.jpg.500d34a4d70b5c32576a3d4bb4f4709a.jpg

Before:

PXL_20210607_165026399.jpg.4cc493ededc41

After:

PXL_20210616_183638170.jpg.8e7ffaaf89e8d0870d8d8429f424e73b.jpg

Before:

PXL_20210607_165008111.jpg.76785179605cb

After:

PXL_20210616_183628705.jpg.d6bbac97184fbeba87a25fc0b59970fe.jpg

By no means perfect, cheating a bit with a satin surface but it is undeniably better. If you weren't looking for it, you would not notice. Really that's all I was setting out to acheive.

The biggest issue with the bumper is the one that's the hardest to see in the photos - there was a huge dent next to the NS jacking hole which I was tempted to knock out but would have just ended up playing 'whack-a-dent' back and forward. The filler has solved it.

I've also coated the whole inside area in Bilt Hamber rust converter (great stuff) and painted that but have no photos as there's not much to see other than it's not rusting.

Now I need to finish off the indicators. I was going to fit them when I realised how the grommet isn't really doing any job and you can see right through it. I'll seal it up and while I'm at it, will seal the whole unit shut as the LED buld should last and it'll ensure no moisture gets in.

PXL_20210616_172739385.jpg.c5b2792432df65406e2ece7a4c515ec7.jpg

I also noticed the white plastic body of the lamp shows through the smoked lense, so I definitely didn't paint it black inside to make it look better . I would never do a mod just for the sake of aesthetics, that would make me a hypocrite.....

Also painted the spotlight support so I'll put it all together when it goes on the car and that's this little project finished.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial on how to avoid doing the jobs you really needed to do.

 

 

Great result!

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59 minutes ago, Bowie69 said:

Looking very tidy!

That grommet,  is  it actually going to seal anything? Are the lenses sealed in somewhat, and the back of the fitting? If not then maybe the grommet is just there to stop chafing?

I think you're right that it prevents chafing. It means the lamp is otherwise completely unsealed at the rear and any moisture that gets in through that hole is going to stay in and rot the connectors and reflector. It's a really carp design so I'm going to address it before it becomes a problem.

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49 minutes ago, Arjan said:

Looking good !

Well done.

And bumpers..... well, they are there for a reason...

So keep the paint at hand.

 

That was a big reason for me to paint it, especially as the rust had already set in on the inner sections. This has hopefully bought more time and given me the opportunity to patch up in future, which of course you can't with powder coating.

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