CMC front bumper mounting dimensions

The other guys out here know better than me but it does look too far out.

Boothy's right---it's way too far out!  7/8" between the nose of the car and the edge of the bumper is about right.

Yeah. What Jack said. somewhere in tgat area.  You can most likely cut down the mounts and move things back.

That is too far much gap between bumper and body. Show us pics of the rear bumper spacing. I don't know if the bumper brackets are specific as front or rear. If so, maybe the front and rear brackets have been switched.

here's the rear, it looks better? , but probably could get closer also. About 1.75" from bumper to car currently.  The front brackets are approx. 25% longer than the rear.  The Vintage site mentions inner and outer brackets. No such thing in the CMC manual.  I guess another small piece of the puzzle, why Vintage is still making cars.

Easy to fix.

Remove the bumper and the brackets and cut them off where they attach under the body, then drill new holes and remount.

Any gap from a carefully fitted 1/4" to 3/4" is OK, the closer the cooler.

My Vintage has grooves instead of hole, I can loosen the bolts, slide forward or back, then re-tighten.  It can be adjusted with no new drilling.  Take a look, you may get lucky.

Here are some pics of mine Art, its a CMC. The back still needs tweaking and the front is OK.

Where did you get your bumper bracket to body grommets ?.

Mike;

I didn't build my car, thus I'm not sure.  You might try Vintage Speedsters, I don't see them on their web site, but they carry lots of stuff not shown on the web page.  Thanks for the pics.

"The Vintage site mentions inner and outer brackets. No such thing in the CMC manual."

The CMC's have inner and outer brackets too.  The outer is the steel T looking pieces front and rear.  And the inner front ones like these:

I have just put bumper bracket grommets on my CMC w/ nerf bars. A VW builder friend of mine gave them to me. They came from Aircooled.net and they are for '54-'64(?) VW's, haven't checked but I'm sure other VW suppliers may have them also, cheaper than from Sierra Madre for sure and look the same. They fit perfectly after cutting off the inner lip and using either silicone or gasket compound to mount on the body.

I have the stock CMC Bumpers and brackets and test fitted them and the holes in the brackets where they alaign with the mounting plate sat the bumpers out about as much as the photos you posted...must have been a CMC thing.

As other have said, this is an easy fix if it really bothers you. 

Wolfgangs pic shows a modified CMC inner bracket (it was modified to clear a sway bay) but otherwise that's what the CMC will look like.  The VS brackets should look very similar as most of it is identical to CMC's, but with better execution in the build.

There's also some advice in the CMC build manual (available here on this site to premium members only).  I've seen real "P" cars where there is no gap at all and the bumpers are fitted tight to the body, and others with a bit of a space? 

The grommets are standard VW issues as noted also available in many locations.

I'd guess (2) 3/8 or 5/16 bolts on each bumper bracket would attach it to the brackets in Wolfgangs photo.  Disconnet those and slide the bumper off.  Mark it and move the existing holes and inch or so and use an oversize drill for adjustment.

Or just drive it as is and enjoy it.

Anyone been to UK and ride the "Tube" (aka sub-way)?  They have warning signs that say "Mind the Gap" which might be applicable here.  Although the flimsy un-reinforced fiberglass bumpers do little to prevent body damage - you want the illusion that they are indeed bumpers so I don't like the tight against body mounting.  I have noticed that VS uses a rubber stand off at the very ends (on either side) of their bumpers (not sure if both front and rear) to stabilize the bumper (guess at speed).  Or you could go the custom moulded in look:

Actually a very nice custom car at BHMotors -     http://www.thesamba.com/vw/cla...etail.php?id=1714590