Removing Bumpers from 74 Manta

[jerseydave]

I have removed the rear bumper and all of the bumper trim from the Manta and am trying to figure out how the 5mph bumper shocks are removed. Hard to tell by visually looking so I thought I'd try the easy way and ask. I have sheet metal to replace in the rear from wheel well to wheel well, looks only like about 6 inches all the way around. My intentions are to put early bumpers back on.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by jerseydave I have removed the rear bumper and all of the bumper trim from the Manta and am trying to figure out how the 5mph bumper shocks are removed.

One end of the bumper shock bolts to the bumper itself as you've undoubtedly noticed, the other end is clipped in place by a large metal 'e' clip. On the front bumper they're obviously exposed, but out back you have to remove plastic plugs from the body to access them.

[jerseydave]

Thank you, I was trying to figure that out, couldn't spot a nut or head of a bolt(There was no plastic plug). So I guess I just basically pop it off with a big scredriver and hammer?

The car already looks better with that hunk of aluminum off the back.

[jerseydave]

OK, I just went out to try to pop the e-clip off on the passenger rear shock, no luck, I looked over and saw the one on the drivers side does have the rubber cover. But the muffler is in the way.

Tomorrow is another day OF RAIN!!!!!

[mdmanta]

Well, it's about time someone else came out about the big-bumper-manta and who also wants to get rid of this unsightly montrosity. I too have a 74 that I want to be big-bumper-free......So all you other bumper haters chime in, cause I'm all ears to your experinces and advise on this matter. Please no pro big bumper advise, this is about looks, not practicality. We want little bumpers, little..little..little.

Dean

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by mdmanta Well, it's about time someone else came out about the big-bumper-manta and who also wants to get rid of this unsightly montrosity. I too have a 74 that I want to be big-bumper-free......So all you other bumper haters chime in, cause I'm all ears to your experinces and advise on this matter. Please no pro big bumper advise, this is about looks, not practacaility. We want little bumpers, little..little..little. Dean

I like my 1975's "manly" bumpers. They're staying. You can have the little thin early "girly" bumpers.

[jerseydave]

There are those that actually like the looks of the big bumper?????????

Hopefully after I figure out how to remove that e-clip I will be big bumperless tomorrow evening. Then I can concentrate on some rust repair.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by jerseydave There are those that actually like the looks of the big bumper?????????

Heck yes. The big bumpers put the 'man' in Manta. Little bumpers look good on GT's but the Manta and Ascona look good with either, imo.

[timemachine]

Originally Posted by jerseydave There are those that actually like the looks of the big bumper?????????

Hey Dave,

That's some remark coming from a Manta newbie. You can start by asking Charles Goin what he thinks of big bumpers and their effect on the longevity of the car, especially with his son driving. Before I had a big bumper, every Manta I owned wound up with a nice fat ugly dent in the nose sooner or later, sometimes more than once, a losing battle even in the 70s. Thirty years ago I knew that repair by heart. Couldn't do much with a wrinkled bumper though. All a parallel parker in front of you has to do it touch it.

Yes, I like little bumpers - on the older cars. I'm now very used to the big bumpers and agree with Mark. I don't even see them really. Further, I wouldn't change them out for NOS skinnies. If I were serious about making this operation look right I'd also have to search out dimpled fenders, dimple the rear quarters, cut out the shock channels in the trunk floor and do a good job with the blinker holes on the front valence. Move the license plate and trunk emblem and you're pretty much done. Done right to look correct (short of removing the B-pillars which makes no sense) it's an honest bit of work, and I wouldn't personally want a Frankenstein, though I support you in that each person's car is to do with what they want.

I hope I will have an older Manta someday and if I do I will keep it period correct. But the big bumpers not only help to protect the driver and the car, they lengthen and flatten the profile view, make the trunk look noticeably lower and so on. Definitely looks sleeker from the side with the bigs, you'll notice it after you make the change. Plus, my bumpers are in good shape (as big ones tend to be). Good rubber is harder to find, but I've already rehabbed a bumper guard successfully. (Save yours for me if you're going to chuck them.)Later cars are a bit heavier but also stiffer.

Hey guys, the same thing happened with Mercedes, Volvo, Triumph, MG, Porsche, VW etc. and those cars still look old and are still loved by their owners. There is a reason there are so many more '74/'75 Mantas still out there.

But to each his own. Welcome to Mantaville Dave. Good luck with your swap and make sure you get the thing in good running shape for Carlisle before anything else.

Jim

[75 wagon]

Originally Posted by mdmanta Well, it's about time someone else came out about the big-bumper-manta and who also wants to get rid of this unsightly montrosity. I too have a 74 that I want to be big-bumper-free......So all you other bumper haters chime in, cause I'm all ears to your experinces and advise on this matter. Please no pro big bumper advise, this is about looks, not practacaility. We want little bumpers, little..little..little. Dean

On my 75 wagon I removed the mounting brackets from inside the bumpers.
Drilled and pinned the "bumper shocks" solid. Remounted the bumpers with carriage bolts / smooth head on outside. This moved the bumpers right up next to the body. 1/4" from rear and 5/16" from front. The thick rubber band across the bumper covers the smooth heads. Dumped the rubber flashings that covered the gaps. Looks factory and way better. Next best thing to the little chrome bumpers.

[timemachine]

Originally Posted by 75 wagon On my 75 wagon I removed the mounting brackets from inside the bumpers. Drilled and pinned the "bumper shocks" solid. Remounted the bumpers with carriage bolts / smooth head on outside. This moved the bumpers right up next to the body. 1/4" from rear and 5/16" from front. The thick rubber band across the bumper covers the smooth heads. Dumped the rubber flashings that covered the gaps. Looks factory and way better. Next best thing to the little chrome bumpers.

That's a different thing to me, going for a custom look. I'd like to see a pic of how it came out.

Jim

[opelnut10]

Originally Posted by 75 wagon On my 75 wagon I removed the mounting brackets from inside the bumpers. Drilled and pinned the "bumper shocks" solid. Remounted the bumpers with carriage bolts / smooth head on outside. This moved the bumpers right up next to the body. 1/4" from rear and 5/16" from front. The thick rubber band across the bumper covers the smooth heads. Dumped the rubber flashings that covered the gaps. Looks factory and way better. Next best thing to the little chrome bumpers.

I have also seen (I think someone on this site) the big bumpers "bobbed" by cutting some off each end after it makes the turn and to me that helped the looks of the bumpers a lot IMO along with the modification mentioned above.

[tomking]

Originally Posted by Aardvaark I like my 1975's "manly" bumpers. They're staying. You can have the little thin early "girly" bumpers.

LOL! But if she's a girl to start with the girly bumpers look great Aarkvaark.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by 75 wagon On my 75 wagon I removed the mounting brackets from inside the bumpers. Drilled and pinned the "bumper shocks" solid. Remounted the bumpers with carriage bolts / smooth head on outside. This moved the bumpers right up next to the body. 1/4" from rear and 5/16" from front. The thick rubber band across the bumper covers the smooth heads. Dumped the rubber flashings that covered the gaps. Looks factory and way better. Next best thing to the little chrome bumpers.

That is something that I've wanted to see for a while.

I think that the big bumpered cars look meaner then the small ones. BUT I like the looks of the small ones too with a few other accents. Euro-cars didn't get them, so you can see some really cool looking small bumpered cars over there. I also like the look of no bumbers on Mantas and Asconas. GT's look unfinished without bumpers unless you do a little more work. I thimk Dwane's looks pretty good without the front bumper. Dwane's I also like the way that custom bumpers look when molded in but not to many people do them on Mantas and Asconas. Here's a pic of Harry's. Harry's

It al depends on the execution.

[jlthunder]

Originally Posted by jerseydave There are those that actually like the looks of the big bumper?????????

I had a '72 Manta Raylle & a '74 Manta Luxus so I experienced both cars. I liked the big bumpers for the same reasons Jim mentioned. It gives the car a meaner look.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you would also have to change your hood with the different squirter set up if you want exact period replication or does the '73 version come with the '74 washer set up?

[jerseydave]

Churn, churn, churn

Yes to each his own, I like chrome little bumpers and over time will make all of the modifications as warranted. I have to remove the rear bumper to do some rust repair so we'll see how it goes from there. My car was mfg 7/73 so it was near the beginning of the assembly line for big bumpers. Keep the argument going you may or may not convince me.

[jlthunder]

How's this for an argument for big bumpers?

You Live in NJ, need I say more

[73Manta72gt]

I hate those big bumpers..ugh. Looks like they belong on a delivery truck where the bumper is used as a step into the box. I know the small bumpers are fragile, so I never park the Manta at Walmart, but they look so much better, especially the 70-72 all chrome ones.

[jerseydave]

Jeff haven't heard from you in sometime. That is correct-live in NJ.

Would much rather live in PA where I was raised AND drove my 72 Rallye when I was in the Army. Liked little bumpers then, still like them now, so I am really not a newbie Manta owner.

[GoinManta]

If you would like to sell the bumper shocks.. I have a 17 year old driving a Opel Manta daily, and lets just say at least 3 of the current bumper shocks have done thier job..

May not like the looks of the big bumpers.. but they sure do allow for a bit of forgiveness to new drivers..

Charles

[jlthunder]

Originally Posted by jerseydave Would much rather live in PA where I was raised AND drove my 72 Rallye when I was in the Army. Liked little bumpers then, still like them now, so I am really not a newbie Manta owner.

I'm with you. I'd love to live along the Route 6 corridor. Not many jobs up there though. Maybe in retirement(20+ years away for me).

If someone gave me either Manta, I wouldn't turn it away just because of the bumpers. Both have their (+)'s and (-)'s. Keep us posted on your work.

[azopelnut]

There was a Colorado Ascona owner Mike White (??) That had a very nice 74 Ascona with small bumpers. It looked great! The reality is that the massive bumpers were not designed with the car but mandated by the US. Here is a sketch of Dave Hargreeves SW with the bumpers pushed in as described. That and the ground effects make it look awesome. The real SW had dual side drafts to boot!http://www.opelgt.com/forums/attachm...e-bay-a965.jpg

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by jerseydave Churn, churn, churn Keep the argument going you may or may not convince me.

Look at this way Dave. Changing your Manta's bumpers could hurt it's
originality to serious collectors. Possibly knocking ten'$ if not hundered'$
of dollard$ off of it's collector value.

[azopelnut]

Originally Posted by Aardvaark Look at this way Dave. Changing your Manta's bumpers could hurt it's originality to serious collectors. Possibly knocking ten'$ if not hundered'$ of dollard$ off of it's collector value.

If done correctly you could change it back to total US spec stock in 30 minutes

[RallyBob]

Another option is to leave the shock-absorbing bumper rams in place on the body. Simply unbolt the bumper, and then rotate the shock-absorbing bumper rams 90° so the bolt holes are lined up horizontally. Then make a tubular steel bumper (I've used 1.75" steel rollcage tubing), and make a mounting plate to bolt it to the shock-absorbing bumper rams. Slip the thin steel early bumpers over the tubing, and attach via longer stainless cariage bolts in the factory mounting holes (you'll need to drill through the tubing of course).

Now you have early-style stock appearance, but with the later shock-absorbing bumper rams, and a bit more strength under the sheetmetal bumpers via the tubing. At least they'll do something in a 10 mph impact which would otherwise destroy the body of the car.

Bob