Hurt the Mustang yesterday.

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Tue Nov 18, 2003 5:48 pm

Well, It was bound to happen. I was driving down Glenwood (from the Best Buy area) yesterday and was in the exit lane to get onto the inner loop of the beltline. That is when some jackhole

about 5 cars up decides that he wants to get on the beltline also. Why do people feel they can do this!!! :banghead:

Well of course everybody slams on the brakes, as do I :eek:

. Cars 3 & 4 in front of me hit and I hit the car in front of me (a Toyota Corrola for those that care.) Somehow the Corrola got the better end of the stick. No visible damage. The Mustang on the other hand...bumper damage, probably support damage and the headlight is askew.

That leads me to my question for all of you...Has anybody done a bumper replacement, is it hard, is it something that can be done in your garage with normal hand tools?

If not, could someone recommend a good, reputable, CHEAP body shop that could do it for me?

The good side of the story is, behind me was a BIG utility type truck with a trailer loaded with equipment that somehow missed me and ended up in the next lane right beside me. If he would have hit me, it could have been real ugly.

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Tue Nov 18, 2003 5:58 pm

If you can get a new bumper cover already painted the right color or find someplace that will paint it with the right paint (requires a plasticizer added to keep the paint from cracking/peeling) it should be a pretty easy do it yourself project.

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Tue Nov 18, 2003 6:00 pm

Is the plasticizer a special item? Wouldn't most paint shops (True2Form, Colorz on Parade etc.) have it, or is this something that I will have to pay big bucks for?

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Tue Nov 18, 2003 6:58 pm

Todd Breakey wrote:

Is the plasticizer a special item? Wouldn't most paint shops (True2Form, Colorz on Parade etc.) have it, or is this something that I will have to pay big bucks for?

Todd,

Sorry about the bad part of your luck (the good part being the big truck missing you). The plasticizer is a normal thing for auto body paint shops. Pick a good one and they should do all the right stuff. You might even ask the shop to get the parts . . . that way they get the markup instead of Ford if their price to you is no more than our club discount price.

Per my shop manual (2001 Mustang GT) both the bumper cover and the bumper itself are simply "bolt ons".

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Tue Nov 18, 2003 8:41 pm

Some cheap places may try to skip the plasticizer since it makes that paint only useable on plastic.

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2003 3:54 pm

Thanks Dick. What does it say about the bumper supports. I'm not sure if those are messed up but just in case...

Chuck - Who do you think might not use the plasticizer? I want to make sure I avoid them.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2003 4:23 pm

Todd Breakey wrote:

Thanks Dick. What does it say about the bumper supports. I'm not sure if those are messed up but just in case...

Todd,

The 2001 Manual doesn't use the term "supports" but the manual for our 97 Mustang does. If the "support" is molded foam support for the cover, it is riveted to to metal bumper on the 97.

Note that when I replaced a couple of the tiny "mini spoiler" pieces riveted to the bottom of the 97's front bumper the rivets were something like 3/16 pop rivets (maybe bigger) and I couldn't find a cheap rivet tool for the size. I ended up bolting the part(s) instead. The 2001 style doesn't have these parts but some of the other riveted parts may use large rivets.

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Wed Nov 19, 2003 8:34 pm

It's usually more a problem with cheap repaint and collision places. Instead of mixing two batches of paint, say after repairing a hood or fender, they'll just spray the bumpercover with the same paint in the gun that they're using on the metal. First good bump and the paint cracks and peels off in sheets. (even a cone hit... ?) If all they are painting is the bumper cover itself off the car, then it's less likely to be a problem, but discuss it first! Some shops don't like to use it on a repaired car because it may give a slightly different shade or gloss to the paint, and the customer complains that it doesn't match.

Todd Breakey · **Posted:** Thu Nov 20, 2003 3:53 pm

Thanks for the help guys.

After looking at it a little closer with a clear mind, not that post accident frustration, the damage doesn't appear that bad. Still going to have to get the bumper repainted, but I probably won't have to replace it. Also the headlight is askew, so I am going to have to try to get that straight. All in all, the damage isn't as bad as I first thought.

Thaks again.

THSCC Forums

Hurt the Mustang yesterday.

Who is online