I did a search and found some stuff but I'm still not 100% clear.

I have an '87 Duke. It came with smooth belt molding. That is what I like and want. I also wanted the dual exhaust and ground effects rear bumper. Well I had all the parts to do the swap on my other car but that bumper is ribbed. I went ahead and did the swap and it all fits on there fine. I've got the look I want but I really don't want the mixed moldings. I'll also say that I like the recessed PONTIAC lettering in my ribbed bumper.

Should I change the whole bumper to get the smooth molding or fill in the ribs somehow?

Keep in mind, I've already done the swap so from this point... If I change the bumper, do I need a different upper plate? Do I need a different eggcrate? Do I need a different I-beam? Do I need different wheel well liners?

If filling the ribs is a GOOD option, what should I use and is there a thread on it somewhere?

Thanks,
Jonathan

[This message has been edited by Boostdreamer (edited 01-01-2010).]

i may be wrong but if you have the body work nolage. cut off the ribbed molding and put the round molding on. bond it/ pacth it/ paint it.

Check the JC Whitney catalog. They sell all kinds of molding -- they may have something that will do if you cut down the ribbed molding.

I don't really want to weaken the bumper at the molding. Cutting it off or sanding it down sounds like a lot more work than filling it in (if that is possible).

I did some more archive searching and it looks like the rear wheel well liners ARE DIFFERENT for '87 SE and GT bumpers. Is this correct? Anyone know about the flat metal plate on top?

Jonathan

I believe if you try to Cut The ribs OFF, all you'll have are 2 pieces, a TOP cover & a Bottom cover, you will probly cut it in half.(bad idea) To Fill It, you will have to get in between the groves PERFECTLY Clean & roughed up so you can fill them with 3M Flex parts repair.

quote Originally posted by Lou6t4gto: I believe if you try to Cut The ribs OFF, all you'll have are 2 pieces, a TOP cover & a Bottom cover, you will probly cut it in half.(bad idea) To Fill It, you will have to get in between the groves PERFECTLY Clean & roughed up so you can fill them with 3M Flex parts repair.

Lou, I think you're right. Thanks for the tip about the 3M Flex.

Jonathan

Hey Dude, let me see what I can find out tomorrow.

You really do not want to try & fill the grooves. The flex filler is expensive. It'll be time consuming, & most likely it'll shrink long after you've painted it - & you'll have to redo it.
Rob is a great guy to do business with & very reasonable on parts. Maybe he can find you one.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

America - made in China!

quote Originally posted by Tha Driver: You really do not want to try & fill the grooves. The flex filler is expensive. It'll be time consuming, & most likely it'll shrink long after you've painted it - & you'll have to redo it. Rob is a great guy to do business with & very reasonable on parts. Maybe he can find you one. ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver" America - made in China!

Expensive - BAD, Cheap - GOOD

Jonathan

I just got confirmation that the upper metal mounting plate is different and the wheel well liners are also different.

Jonathan

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Jonathan
1987 Duke Notchie

Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not. - Thomas Jefferson

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. - Lord Acton

I'm not sure which two you meant were different. Your stock wheel liner is different than the aero wheel liner, which I'm sure you already figured out.


However, the AERO bumpers can use the SAME wheel liners regardless if they are ribbed or smooth.

quote Originally posted by Jncomutt: I'm not sure which two you meant were different. Your stock wheel liner is different than the aero wheel liner, which I'm sure you already figured out. However, the AERO bumpers can use the SAME wheel liners regardless if they are ribbed or smooth.

According to what I have found from searching lots of threads and a PM from a guy who did what I want to do, - The SE aero rear wheel well liners are different from the GT aero rear wheel well liners.

Basically that means that the GT and SE rear aero bumpers are slightly different requiring different supporting parts or at a minimum, the modification of those parts.

Jonathan

Gotcha. I never had them side by side to compare. I did put smooth GT liners on my 84 when I put the aero se rear bumper on and knew that I was able to make them fit.