My 89 MI16

5 minute(s) of a 84 minute read

I also ordered this universal lip, definitely minor trimming required

12-14-2019

Test fitting aftermarket front bumper lip, first impressions are flimsy AF and definitely needs trimming. Mostly like I’ll take about four inches out the middle and bond it back together, to reinforce it I’ll probably add fiberglass on bottom of lip which should make it not to be flimsy.

I definitely love the way it looks.

I end up repairing my fuel gauge sending unit as well, that little arm in the picture below that moves up and down lost one of the contact tabs and did not make any contacts with little resistance circuit board. I end up using it from another broken sending unit that had good working arm and contacts.

1-8-2020

You can attach it with screws, in my case I choose M6 button head bolts and flange nuts. Quality is good but it extremely flimsy, I fiberglassed under side to make it sturdy. Definitely needs to be cleaned up before I take it to paint shop.

Once this US to Euro swap is done I’ll make a separate thread on how to as usually keyboard mechanics that never have done this type of swap tell you it just bolts up, well let me tell you that ain’t the case. Now front bumper is definitely direct bolt on and it bolt up with out any drama.

Once I get my arch trims (arrives sometimes today) I’ll finish up with fitting it all and take it to paint shop, arch trim is by far the most important pice, with out it you just can get door moldings and side skirts to fit perfect.

For about five years now I’ve been waiting for this exhaust to look as it should, according to Dave at Euro Sports where I purchased it (it was new he’s old display unit) it was built in UK ?? in early 90’s on Euro platform so with US bumpers it would look short. Tail pipe was tucked in under rear bumper and I did not want to extend it as I knew this day would come when I would have proper bumpers on it.
I made some small adjustments on it as it’s more visible now, muffler just needed to be rotated up and to the left to look like it was in center. It really looks perfect now, tail pipe has about 10mm clearance between bumper and it sticks out about 15mm so it looks just right like it should.

Now one more problem that I ran in to is that US cars have rocker panels painted dark gray with texture on to of it so when you add Euro side skirts that texture is visible and it’s gonna need to be painted in color of the car.

Paul has included new front bumper side brackets and unfortunately they were about 10mm to long, so instead of having original rusted ones stripped and coated I decided to cut out 10mm out of new brackets and have them welded and powder coated.