Back of my car looks distorted!

[james911rs]

Just tried on my new GRP RS bumper from Martin & Walker, no problem with the bumper, but ive noticed that my rear indicators are drooping. (I would post a photo but i am totally useless at computers.) So where the straight line of the bottom edge of the boot should follow across the top of the indicators giving a horizontal line, mine droop down towards the outer edge of the tyre. Now i know this is not right but what is the best way to bring it back stright, i am concerned that if i pull it straight i will crack the paint i have just had done. It also appears that the back of the car is not as wide as the GRP bumper, therefore they need pulling out as well as up. Any ideas please as a trolley jack is looking the only way to me right now!

[1972_911t]

My newly welded on arches were about 15mm too far in on one side to match the bumper I just gave it a good pull with my hand and got it out far enough to line up no jack needed.

Steve

[james911rs]

I would agree with you, but mine has to go up as well as out, it has just come out of the bodyshop after a £4500 baremetal respray and am concerned any filler will crack. its only become apparent i believe because the boot has just been fitted with a one piece rs bumper. Before i had the three piece original bumpers on and they would have a certain amount of movement to follow the wheel arch whether it be right or wrong, but the one piece bumper is fixed. It also does not want to bend upwards that willingly. It is going to need a fair amount of force to level it out. Any ideas welcome

[1972_911t]

Are you using genuine RS arches or SC arches? they are slightly different and the bumper needs a bit of modding to look right with the SC flares. I also got barrie to make me the 2 side sections only not the full bumper I have then bonded on some original mounts so I can use them with the propper overriders and valence like the RS touring. This as you say gives you more adjustment as each one can be adjusted individually to match each side. I have got a nice fit on each side now with mine. I profer this look to the one piece GRP setup.

Steve

[Barry]

James, is it worth considering cutting and shutting the bumper?

I think that if it was me, I would do an experimental lifting of the underside of the rear wing. You won't do any damage by hand, but I'd avoid the trolley jack now the paint's on. With the jack, you run the risk of distorting the panel (probably near the side window), and more to the point you might shift some filler, or worse, start to rip the spot welds at the base of the panel near the over-rider area. Also to get the panel to stay in a new position, you would have to lift it well beyond that point to get it to return to the right place.

If that fails, I would regard altering the bumper as the lesser of two evils: even if it's been painted: at least the paint rectification is restricted to just one part. Also, if you are really up against it, see if there's a way of tweaking the light unit itself: altering mounting holes, shaving the lens etc etc. Often with these things you end up gaining 2mm here, 1 mm there, plus another 2mm somewhere else: all of a sudden you've found nearly 1/4in almost from nowhere .

Hope you get it sorted: also bare in mind that now you know it's like it, you will be fixated by it. We've all been there: it looks perfect to everyone else, except you: call in a fresh pair of eyes when you're getting close .

[Barry]

Forgot to say, the RS rear bootlid that was here recently positively refused to be altered to fit the profile of the rear window base (it's miles out: different make BTW). The owner tried heat, but to no avail.

I would think that the only way of altering it is to cut it apart and re-bond it all again. In your case it may be appropriate to cut it down where the 'overiders' are moulded in, bolt / clamp it to the car where it looks best, and re-glass it in place: at least enough to allow it to hold it's shape whilst the job is finished on the bench.

Going back to your arches: I'd simply pull them in/out as appropriate, so that the tyre fit is roughly the same side-to-side. After that, alter the bumper to get the best fit from there.

Best wishes, and good luck

[1972_911t]

James why did you go with the one piece bumper over the three piece? were the side bits that you had not the flared ones or did you just like the one piece look better? Heres what I did with mine I got barrie from martin and walker to make me just the side bits then I bonded on the steel mount from a standard bumper.



Now I can use them with the original valence and over-riders, and it has the added adavntage that there individually adjustable to match the contour of my arches. It may be worth you while doing something like this or modding the onepiece as barry say's rather than pulling out your arches to match the bumper as it is and risk damaging any filler or paint.

Steve