aseychell

Can someone let me know if there were trans am bumper covers with a shape for a number plate. As you can see from the picture below mine has a strange shape however not sure if it has formed this way by time with the plate holder. I would really like to remove it but I have to find a way how to straighten it up. Perhaps heat gun?

rgauder

iTrader: (1)

If a heat gun doesn't work, IDK? Support it well from underneat, and then place some heavy weights on top?

aseychell

So it should be straight. Will need to see how to support it and be able to apply pressure then.

Anyone had any luck with this system?

stealtht/a

iTrader: (1)

I have straightened some of these covers, it takes a lot of work.
Have to use heat gun but it small stages so you don't overdo it. Then clamping with wooden blocks.
Yours might have been stretched past where you can shrink it back. To fix it you will need to cut out stretched areas and replace with reinforced plastic repair compound.
I use SEM "problem solver" plastic repair compound.

aseychell

Wow that sounds like a lot of work!!! We don't have the SEM brand in Malta so will have to see if I manage to find online if they ship it.

Might consider building a fiberglass copy.

stealtht/a

iTrader: (1)

The heat shaping is a lot of work.
Cutting and filling is actually pretty easy if you have the right material.
Making a whole fiberglass bumper is really hard, especially if you aren't set up for fiberglass work already with stuff like vacuum bagging equipment, etc.
Using the plastic filler is kind of like fiberglassing, just using the plastic stuff instead of resin and aluminum mesh instead of glass cloth. Plastic filler is too thick for glass cloth.
Some people use fiberglass and resin instead of the plastic filler. It works, but because the fiberglass resin and plastic have very different thermal properties and flex characteristics cracking results.
Your cover looks pretty straight besides the plate area so I would just cut some slits in the stretched out part and clamp back into place with the plastic repair. Then fill any defects with plastic repair and sand. Remember to use plastic adhesion promoter when you paint.
I'm sure some brand of plastic filler is available by mail order, it's very common these days.

aseychell

Note sure I understand what you mean by cutting slits on the stretched parts. I might try to clamp down with two pieces of wood back and front and will evaluate if it is over stretched or not. Didn't perform any attempts yet. For sure I will need some kind of plastic filler as there are some dents in the area currently painted grey. Maybe I manage to find some Wurth product.

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

The best and easiest way is to put a "PONTIAC" tag back on or just get another cover.
My 86 did that same thing,I changed it a while back with a different cover from another TA.

aseychell

So you didn't manage to fix the bend. Was it a failed attempt or you didn't try the repair? Was thinking of getting two metal pieces to straighten it rather than wooden blocks. These would allow me to blow heat on them while the bumper is clamped.

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

Body shop said that's not going to be fixed properly, nor is it worth the time and effort. I did have them repaint and fix the other damage to it. I keep this one as a spare.If I have to reuse this one(God forbid) I would just reinstall the License plate brackets and put a "PONTIAC" plate on it(I live in NJ and front license plates are no longer required on historical cars)

aseychell

Do you have a picture of these frames?

stealtht/a

iTrader: (1)

The mounting screws for the brackets have pulled the plastic out towards the front. It might be too stretched to just flatten back down. In that case , you have to remove some material.
A relief cut or slit in the raised ridge should allow it to lie flat again.
When using the heat gun you can use metal but you need something with rounded edges.
When you test it, the plastic will get soft and sharp edged will leave a mark.
You have to heat before you clamp and the braces you clamp with have to have a large surface area or they will dig into the plastic. Heating around the braces will form an impression of the brace.

jworks

iTrader: (1)

I'm with manta guy, you would probably be better off putting a plate bracket on the front, it doesn't fix the problem with the bumper but it covers it up.

jworks

iTrader: (1)

chucks gta before he passed

this is what I had on mine

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

The front plate does hide it.

superccs

My Front bumper cover on my Trans Am is also warped like yours due to a shitty front plate mount. I am thinking of carving out that section to make a bumper vent zone and forming up some mesh to fill in the cut out area.

Perhaps something like this. Can mold it with a heat gun to fit the contour of the bumper.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Unpainted-J...NZuF5f&vxp=mtr

Was thinking of replacing the front and rear hood vents with mesh as well though have not thought that through as far.

aseychell

Look at this thread post 63-65. That is what I did and it came out extremely good. Don’t have picture of finished product though yet.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...-88-gta-2.html

aseychell

For those interested this is how the bumper came out after spraying. It came out extremely good. One big problem though... the eyelet on the top which ensures the bumper sits flush to the fender has came off... this friggin material is sh.1ty. I will now see if I can glue some kind of metal support to the side. Will let you guys know.

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

That looks pretty goodWhat part broke off?have a pic.?

aseychell

Its not the actual photo with the broken tab but I have marked where it broke off. It is actually of the driver's side but you can get the idea.

stealtht/a

iTrader: (1)

You can glue that back on with the same plastic repair compound I referred to earlier.
Use aluminum mesh to reinforce.

stealtht/a

iTrader: (1)

Also, just to be sure you know, there is a metal support bar that goes there.

aseychell

Problem is that SEM is not available where I live and no one will post chemicals.

Re the support bar, yes I know about it but that is actually one of the problems. You cannot do a lot of thick stuff behind it for the reinforcement to be able to fit in.

aseychell

Is there perhaps a JB weld equivalent to it? We do get JB weld here.
Aluminium mesh is also another unknown

DynoDave43

iTrader: (11)

I used JB Weld and some aluminum mesh (window screen repair kit) to repair my center pod. It's probably not seeing the stresses the fender will, but if you want to see it...

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...ml#post5903981

aseychell

Thanks. Looks like you had quite some work to do.

I will first try to see if I manage to work some sheet metal. If that fails I will revert to JB weld and see how it holds up.

aseychell

I finally decied to form a sheet metal bracket. It took me quite a few hours of wood forming but the end rusult is probably stronger thatn it is meant to be from the factory.

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

That looks good,and with the reinforcement bar it will be even stronger

aseychell

Thanks man. The reinforcement bar fitted perfectly