How to fit mk3 bumpers? (non standard Capri)

Please restrict your questions and replies to Capri related technical issues!
Post Reply
CapriFreak
Posts: 131
Joined: Thu May 09, 2019 5:07 pm
Car(s): Capri 2.0 (Project) Escort mk3 (Daily Driver)

How to fit mk3 bumpers? (non standard Capri)

Post by CapriFreak »

Just picked up a rear bumper local with end caps and brackets which has spurred me on to try and fit them to my Car (already have the front beam, indicators and now indicators looms). Problem is someone has smoothed off the front and rear end so its going to be a little trial and error.

Problem 1: what size bolts do I need for the bumper irons and do they go through the wing with a nut and washer one side? Also is the iron to wing fitting threaded (I cant tell if mines just a bit rusty)? Lastly how do you tighten the iron up to the bumper beam? It seems to be a rivit type head so just spins?

Problem 2: As the rear has been smoothed off and a mk1 bumper fitted I dont have the original holes or indentations. Theres no way i'm doing anything like replacing the rear valence but how would you guys go about this?? I'm working alone and dont want to get it looking either on the piss or and end cap to tight one side compared to the other. Any help appreciated :D I understand the rear might be a few mm out without the indentations

I'm interested to see it looking standard but ill be honest... I'll miss the hybrid mk2 looking rear end. The front has never made much sense to me though. I thought about doing the landrover style lenses but its a bit make shift isnt it. If I drill through and the front (for the irons) and it doesnt fit i'll put this on pause for now.
Screenshot 2021-03-28 at 18.41.34.png
Screenshot 2021-03-28 at 18.39.51.png
User avatar
Peter-S
Donator
Donator
Posts: 7453
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:57 am
Car(s): 1985 Capri 2.0
1983 Capri 2.8i
Location: Kent
Contact:

Re: How to fit mk3 bumpers? (non standard Capri)

Post by Peter-S »

CapriFreak wrote: Sun Mar 28, 2021 5:50 pm Just picked up a rear bumper local with end caps and brackets which has spurred me on to try and fit them to my Car (already have the front beam, indicators and now indicators looms). Problem is someone has smoothed off the front and rear end so its going to be a little trial and error.

Problem 1: what size bolts do I need for the bumper irons and do they go through the wing with a nut and washer one side? Also is the iron to wing fitting threaded (I cant tell if mines just a bit rusty)? Lastly how do you tighten the iron up to the bumper beam? It seems to be a rivit type head so just spins?

Problem 2: As the rear has been smoothed off and a mk1 bumper fitted I dont have the original holes or indentations. Theres no way i'm doing anything like replacing the rear valence but how would you guys go about this?? I'm working alone and dont want to get it looking either on the piss or and end cap to tight one side compared to the other. Any help appreciated :D I understand the rear might be a few mm out without the indentations

I'm interested to see it looking standard but ill be honest... I'll miss the hybrid mk2 looking rear end. The front has never made much sense to me though. I thought about doing the landrover style lenses but its a bit make shift isnt it. If I drill through and the front (for the irons) and it doesnt fit i'll put this on pause for now.
Screenshot 2021-03-28 at 18.41.34.png
Screenshot 2021-03-28 at 18.39.51.png
The front bumper irons have captive nuts welded on them so the bolt goes through the inner wing from under the wheel arch and into the irons. Not sure on the size of bolts though. The bolts through the bumper would normally have a flat section that matches the hole in the bumper, i.e the hole in the bumper would not be round but have flat sides although most have probably been rounded by undoing seized nuts.

The rear bumper, depending how it has been done, might be more obvious from inside the car. The bumper brackets are normally accessed by looking under the panel inside the boot that supports the spare wheel cover. If you have a look you may see signs of where the original holes were. Similarly, if you remove the boot liners and look behind them at the inner wing it might be clear where the holes for the side bumper fixings used to be.
ImageBanner by Peter Smith, on Flickr
CapriFreak
Posts: 131
Joined: Thu May 09, 2019 5:07 pm
Car(s): Capri 2.0 (Project) Escort mk3 (Daily Driver)

Re: How to fit mk3 bumpers? (non standard Capri)

Post by CapriFreak »

Cheers mate! this make perfect sense now. I'll try find the right bolt size for the inner wing and buy a few galvanised ones. I wasnt sure where the bumper came through on the Capri rear. I'll get all the crap out the boot and check it out. fingers crossed I can see something.
User avatar
stevemarl
Donator
Donator
Posts: 4906
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2012 6:31 pm
Car(s): Capri 1.6 laser

Re: How to fit mk3 bumpers? (non standard Capri)

Post by stevemarl »

Peter-S wrote: Sun Mar 28, 2021 9:53 pm The front bumper irons have captive nuts welded on them so the bolt goes through the inner wing from under the wheel arch and into the irons. Not sure on the size of bolts though.
They`re standard M8 bolts.
CapriFreak
Posts: 131
Joined: Thu May 09, 2019 5:07 pm
Car(s): Capri 2.0 (Project) Escort mk3 (Daily Driver)

Re: How to fit mk3 bumpers? (non standard Capri)

Post by CapriFreak »

Looks like you can see where the rear has been plugged up and I found the front holes. makes sense now. Just hoping I can drill through the filler without too much mess. Will invest in some decent drill bits and do some pilot holes.
IMG_6975.jpg
IMG_6974.jpg
Post Reply