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Hi All, I just replaced the "shoebox" bulky ugly tail lights on my 544 Volvo with 40 Ford Chevrons. The original car setup had separate brake and turn signals; I bought a trailer light converter that works well. The look is much better, however they are very dim. I bought the aftermarket 40...

Finished bending and cutting the rear bumper. I had to add more curve outbioard to match the fenders. This time I weighted down the press with a motorcycle jack, concrete filled coffee can and a bench vise. Cut 5 inches off each end. Rounded off and polished one end then just had to put it on...

It took a couple of days to make the patterns, adjusting and fitting, then removing the old bumper brackets, etc. The prep work, assembling the press, cutting the wood, making the wood triangles, figgern' everything out took another half day. The actual bending only took a half hour or so. I...

Got the press set up. I used a big block of wood for the pressure applier. Hole in the top for a big socket, two layers of foam board on the bottom. I made a couple of triangle supports for the ends of the bumper. Marked the center and every three inches out on the bumper with blue painter’s...

Update: Made up the form from particle board for the rear bumper. I had to remove the brackets. After much adjusting sanding and cutting I think I have a nice curve pattern. Just for grins I mocked up the still curved bumper and took pics. I think it will look good with the excess arc taken...

Yesterday bought the 12 ton hydraulic press at HF. Went to Home Depot and purchased some 2 by 4s for the outlying tripods, which will support the ends of the bumpers. Push down in the middle and take out a bit of bend then work incrementally towards the ends is the idea. Another buy was some...

Hi All, Got the bumpers FedEx today. They are thicker than I anticipated. I don't think there will be a problem of kinking them. Now to get the press and make all the wood blocks, supports, etc. They look like they will really enhance the looks of the car, compared to the stock bumpers. What...

Keep those ideas coming, all input is welcome. Unfortunately, I don't have any welding equipment, yet. While I was still in Kalifornia I had my brother do all my welding. He's still there. Might just obtain some aluminum stock and experiment. Unfortunately, the local scrap yard went out of...

Another excuse to go to HF. appropriate to use a Chinese tool on Chinese parts. Suspect I will find lots of use for this thing once I get it home. Looks like it will take a while to assemble. I like to put stuff together. John in Prescott, AZ

That's a good idea. One could just project a line down from the body to the floor using an "L" square. That would establish the curve. If one used butcher paper then would be able to transfer this line to a piece of thick wood to be used as a three dimensional pattern. Would have "male" and...

Here's a quote from the description blurb from one of the suppliers of the VW bumpers. I assume they are all made in the same Chinese "factory", whoever sells them. Even reads like Chinglish! Billet Aluminum Front Bumper, Beetle, is the beautiful Billet Aluminum 3-RIb Bumper Blade. They are not...

Here is how I took the excess curve out of the trunk lid on the Volvo. I cut some wood blocks to support the ends of the lid, following the contours of the edges. Then I used a big padded wood block as a press. The weight of the car provided the force. Don't know why can't use the same general...

Well, if I was still in Kalifornia I could probably find a "Cal Look" VW Bug with these bumpers on it. That way one could find out how easy it would be to bend the extruded metal. This would require, of course, someone to distract the owner while the experiment was taking place. I doubt they are...

Hi All, Looking for bumper options for my 544 Volvo "lead sled". The original ones are old, dented, and too big, especially with the overiders. So far I have tried on Morris Minor front and rear and old (non BMW) Mini bumpers, that were donated to me. They weren't right. Here is the look I'm...

Hi Again, Car is just your standard white Volvo, so far. Originally six volt, somebody converted it to a later B20 engine with alternator and Weber carb. I noticed there was no return spring on carb so I added a bracket and hooked one up. Just a start; I'll be posting more pics as I work on...

Hi All, I'm a retired guy from Kalifornia now located in Prescott, Arizona. Lots of other ex Kalifornia gearheads here also. I was able to find a house with a big separate garage for my toys and NO HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION. Looking forward to doing some wrenching. So far the people I have met...