I am filling some holes in a bumper for a 50 Merc before it gets rechromed. I was going to leave the four holes for mounting the bumper to the brackets then I got to thinking. Has anyone tried glueing on some bolts to a bumper on the back side for mounting? I was thinking to leave the outside two holes for bolts and filling the other two holes. Then welding a bolt to a washer and glueing the washer to the back of the bumper. Did not have a glue in mind but maybe something like JB weld or some other epoxy-type glue. So, would this work or should I go with the four bolts through the bumper? If I filled the holes, I would still leave the outside holes with regular bolts just in case the glue did not hold, the bumper would still be on the car. Neal
The ones I have seen done have the bolts "welded" to the bumper, the holes welded shut and smoothed off. You seem to have a hell of a lot more trust in "glue" than I have.
Why not use carraige bolts with the round of the head cut off and weld them flush into the mounting holes, work it smooth, chrome the bumper and run a tap over thebolts before mounting
After you weld them and before you mount them try them on the car it's a lot cheaper to do adjustments before the Chrome.
I was told that they may pull through when tightened. Was told this by someone that knows more about this than I do. Is he wrong? Neal
I usually set the carriage bolt in weld it on the back side, grind the head off the front an weld again.
Hey, I asked first. I was only thinking of doing this on the center two holes. Leaving the end two holes with the traditional bumper bolts. Neal
Just use a jam nut in front of the bumper bracket and a regular nut on the back side. Tighten the nuts against each other and no pull through.
First off, I hope you have contacted the shop that is going to do the plating on your bumper BEFORE you did ANY welding on it, as many shops will reject a bumper core that has someone else's welding or prep work done to it. Just like many painters won't paint over someone else's bodywork. With that said, no, glue isn't going to hold a bumper on. Welding studs has worked for many, I welded a washer to the back side of the bumper around the studs after welding to avoid pull-through, a thin jamb nut would also work as mentioned, or consider the way DeSoto did theirs at the factory, they have a tab welded to the back of the bumper with a "key hole" in it that a carriage bolt can slip in behind. That way they're replaceable if the bolt ever gets stripped or has to be cut off, and avoids pull-through. A bit more work but works well.
How does he have over 1000 posts? Seriously? Glue? Don't like welders huh? If you use the glue let me know if you're in the area.I'll stay home so the bumper doesn't fall off and bust the hell out of my car
It's best not to weld the bolt directly to the bumper after you have filled the hole because when you tighten the bolt the chrome will crack. Mount the bolt on a separate piece of metal that you first weld to the back of the bumper so as to distribute the load induced by tightning the bolt. Check out post #18 here. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161432&highlight=how+to+weld+on+bumper+bolts
I am having the chrome shop fill the holes. I asked which way they preferred and they want to do it. I questioned if I asked them to weld in studs for mounting that they would get put in the correct way. Therefore checking for other options. I thank everyone for the feedback. Even you Hooligan. You help remind me that I am on the internet.
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