can i take out the front bumper crash bar and not have a problem with the bumper cover

 

i've seen pictures of the front bumper folding in at the big end of the track, some are fine, others is bows into the car. personally i would swiss cheese it like i'm doing to mine to keep the structure in place for the nose but have it weigh a lot less. just sawzall it.

 

you could replace the one you have with an aluminum one if yours is steel. it is I think a 15 lbs weight reduction. I have done this on 2 of the birds I have now. I am not sure exactly which years the bumpers are interchangable for which bumper covers though.