Problem Fitting Front Bumper Hoop - Need Some Feedback

[SCFFR]

After getting the rear bumper and over riders fitted with no problems at all, I started on the front but quickly ran into a real problem. The hoop appears to be too wide to fit in between the two overriders. I purchased the complete bumper/over rider assembly from FFR at the same time I ordered my MkIV base kit. I have the bumper bolts pushed out as far as they will go in the slots in the front frame brackets. I measured the distance between the center of the bolts which is 30". The over riders are exactly 3" wide and the mounting holes are exactly centered so subtracting the inside width of the over riders (2 x 1.5") from the width of the bolts you have a distance of 27". I measured the width of the hoop at the mounting brackets which is 27.5" so there is a half inch difference. I know this doesn't sound like much but it definitely creates a problem. If I try to spread the over riders out, it changes the angle between the side of the over riders and the mounting brackets on the hoop so much that there is a 1/4" gap on one side of the bracket.

Has anyone else run into this problem with their front bumper assembly? There is plenty of clearance in the holes in the body so there is no issue with the bolts being pushed inwards. About the only solution I came up with is to drill out the threaded hole in the mounting plate in the over riders and enlarge it into a slot so I can move the over riders further out to match the width of the hoop. I posted last week in the Tech section but thought I would put it in the main forum also.

Again, thanks for your help,


Ron

14027

[SCFFR]

Anyone got any suggestions or recommendations??? Getting the front hoop installed will finish up the front end on my car and I sure would like to get it marked off my "to do" list.

Thanks,

Ron

[bil1024]

I did, I assembled the hoop and overriders together then installed on bolts, had to do a little massaging here and there, but in my case it worked. If that des not work, call FFR andmaybe they can send a replacement, good luck

[pjdavis]

I had the same problem...I even used tie down straps to crank things in line - but it worked. I later decided that I wanted the look of the rubber grommets versus the FF5 setup. I ordered those and the stainless sleeves from Finish Line - enlarged the body holes to fit the gromments and found that I have much flexibilty afterwards!

PJ

[SCFFR]

Thanks for the info. I didn't mention it but I have the Finish Line body grommet and sleeves so there is plenty of clearance between the body and the bumper bolts. Even with that, I can't get the over riders spread out wide enough.
Will try bil1024's suggestion and assemble the hoop and over riders off the car.
Bil1024 - did you mount the hoop exactly in the center of the over riders, i.e., the center of the hoop mounting brackets was exactly positions between the two threaded holes on the back of the over riders?

Many thanks,

Ron

[bil1024]

Pretty much, I mocked it up best I could on the nose and marked overriders, I did put the hoop at a slight angle too I believe

[SCFFR]

Thanks again for the help and information. I spent the afternoon playing with the hoop and finally got it positioned. I did have to take the body grommets out to give the bolts some more play.
I looked at a bunch of pics of other folks front bumpers and it appeared that the center of the hoop was just below the top bolt. This turned out to be the right location for me also. If I moved it any further down, the side of the over rider started to curve so the hoop bracket wouldn't fit flush against the side of the over rider.
I covered the side of the over rider with masking tape so I could mark the bracket holes and drilled them out on the drill press. I bolted the hoop and over riders together and mounted it back on the car. Everything fit pretty good so I can mark this off my list.

Thanks again,

Ron