Bumper Guard Nerfs

Has anyone ever tried this approach for nerf bars utilizing the existing bumper guards?
Mine's a Beck, are these aluminum or stainless? To do them right, I'm sure a little surgery and possibly some welding and polishing would be needed to eliminate the bumper profile.
I'm likin' the look. Any thoughts from the grizzled veterans?

Ya know I kinda like it.

The most important opinion is yours. If you like the look, go for it. Other options: curved nerf bars and T-bars, both round tube and hex tube, polished aluminum.

Rich, before going to nerf bars of any kind, you might want to check out your state laws. I wouldn't have passed inspection in Michigan with them.

Jim, I did explore the 'standard" nerf bar look, but I'm liking the little meatier look of the bumperettes. If this is doable, I may be heading in this direction. So you think they're polished aluminum? I think you're correct.
Tom, you bring up the necessary evil, I suppose I should check into it just to be the responsible citizen I am. I did get my Hobbyist plates and so far i have not been notified of any inspection needed. But if there is a law that wouldn't really matter now, would it?

Looking into the WI DMV Frequently Asked Questions section about bumpers, I found this:

I am replacing my rear bumper. What rules must I follow?
Cars must have a rear bumper attached the same way it came from the manufacturer. Pickup trucks do need a rear bumper.

Carey, do you remember if my car had a bumper when it left Bremen? Or did it have these cool little bumperettes that you sell :-) ?

All that says is you need a bumper(s), and it must be attached to the manufacturer's bumper mounts. Your nerf bars are technically correct, the best kind of correct.

Thank you, Officer Hoefer.

If you already have your plate, you're good to go.

"good to go"...I like the sound of that...maybe tomorrow!!!

I never would have thought of that idea.

That is kooollll!!!

Rich, next to Beehives and Superwide body's, Nerfs are my favorite, and your idea was great...

Thank you gentlemen, After getting another closer look at them at the mechanic's shop today, major surgery and grafting aluminum will definitely be needed to accomplish this goal. Photoshop is so easy, real work is reality. But we'll see. Them's real purdy nerfs, Vinny.

After a few other notations, I see where the bumper guards will need to be extended further outward so as to utilize the existing bumper bracket connection points on the frame. Still seems to be working for me.

are those Beetle bumperettes?

I do not see a through bolt so the attachment must be internal?

I like it

No, Robert, I do not believe they are Beetle bumperettes. If they are of Beetle origin that is news to me. They're the same bumper guards that came with the car as you will note from this photo. Some metal work would be needed to eliminate the profile that is currently scribed to the shape of the bumper. Yes, the attachment is from within.

They are aluminum, and I actually like the look. I've seen a few old photos that had something very similar with no traditional bumpers and bumper guards flush up to the body. I'll see if I can dig them up.

Rich,
Looks good - looking forward to seeing how they come out - I may adopt your idea on my build.

Thanks, Dale. Now I just need a car to make it happen. Today COULD be my lucky day!

Those look a neat as can be ! ! !

What a terrific idea. I'd like to try something like that for my little Fiat, and every car to follow; and all of my friend's cars as well. Might even "plate" the back side in with some thin aluminum sheet trimmed to fit, and a bead of JB Weld. The bumperettes on the old Mercedes were finished/closed on the back side and always looked kind of elegant to me.

VERY sweet idea !

Yes, TC, I had thought about enclosing them. Maybe I should send these out to you to complete the welding, grinding and polishing. I know you love doing this kinda stuff.
Glad you like the idea, so far everyone seems to concur. And just a couple of weeks ago, I figured I'd be trying to sell them to finance nerf bars.

Rather than sacrifice those 356 bumper guards, you may want to pick up a set of European Beetle bumper guards and use those as a starting point>

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC-C10-1132

The curved indent where the bumper blade fits could be smoothed out in no time and the lower part where the guard curves under could really be left as it is.

Totally cheap to buy and, after the cutting, really no finish work necessary. Add a backing of thin aluminum sheet, JB Weld it in place for a finished look, and fasten your brackets. I really believe that the aluminum sheet backing will make the smoothed out shape look entirely intentional, you know? Even if the profile doesn't completely conform to the lower nose of the 356, the sealed in/finished look of the guard will complete the masquerade.

Done ! ! And you can sell or save your 356 guards should you sell the car and the next owner wants more of a stock look.

TC, nowhere on the site do I find a dimension. Me thinks they may be considerably shorter, but it is worth looking into. I see where they also offer the same thing in stainless for 3x the price. You sure I can't do this with "goop", you seem to endorse that product for everything. Well, that and Weldon.:-)

I have a set of guards here and just looked at them, they're a bit longer than the Beetle guards are, but tht might not be a bad thing.

Once the aluminum was cut away on the sides to conform to the 356 front body metal and remove the hollow where the bumper would normally fit, the 356 guards are a little thin in the side profile. The length accentuates this and the dead on front profile begins to look a little bit spindly. A shorter, stockier Beetle guard might be a better choice.

Just saying.

IF you decide on using the 356 guards, you should only trim the sides a small bit and rely of the fit and finish work to carry the day. Trimming and then filling the missing area with welded in aluminum stock will cost you. It demands someone good with tig welding, and someone who is very good with metal finishing to grind the welds flat, fill the pin holes, grind, sand, and polish back up again.

Custom finish work always costs more than it's worth. Chroming is always double what you expect for a good outcome. JB Weld can NEVER be under utilized and always performs unexpectedly well. GOOP was God's gift to Man, I suspect that he slipped a case or two to Noah . . . can't be sure until one of those folks on the crack-pot religious channels finally locates the Arc. I like to think that they'll find it buried along the Harlem River having sailed all the way to the New Jerusalem, where the flood waters receded depositing Noah and his boys within a short journey to Borough Park.

I'm almost following you, TC, before I jump to this project I just want to be able to drive my Speedster with bumpers on it. Damn, I thought this was fianlly going to ne my lucky day. Tomorrow, I think it's time to lay down the law with my mechanic. Oh, I forgot, he's kinda making the laws. I'm screwed. So, Noah made it to the Bronx and beyond., cool.

Ya know Rich, you have an excellent attitude. It WILL be worth the wait.

Rick, it could be worse. I waited 7 months. I think the SAS guys wait decades?? Hang in there :-)

Rich - it'll make your first drive THAT much sweeter!