I'm getting ready to have the front clip repaired after my deer accident last year. Since those repairs need to be done, I'd also like to address a smaller issue that has bothered me. This car came from Ohio where front license plates are required. When I removed the bracket, it left two dents (recessions) in the bumper area (see pic, sorry it's not the best, but you get the idea). What is the best way to repair this? I was thinking about buying one of those soft bumper repair kits and using the 2-part epoxy as glue to adhere a piece of plexiglass on the underside to re-enforce it? Is this a good idea? Is there a better way?

Thanks....
Art

[This message has been edited by a_bartle (edited 04-13-2012).]

Was it a factory bracket for the Fiero that you removed? I use to have one on my 86-SE sporting the Pontiac plate and when I removed it I saw no trace of a dent.
Perhaps if it was over-tightened it could of buckled the bumper,,,, not sure. As far a a fix up job you may want to contact a body shop. I heard they can do wonders with a heat gun in the right spot.

Spoon

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"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut

Im curious to see what people say because I have the same problem. When I bought the car it had a factory bracket on the front and assume it was on there since new.

Jason

I had misshape in mine before I painted and worked it straight with a heat gun. Be careful if you are not repainting you don't blister the paint.

Body shop filled in the depressions in mine with the flexible filler for the nose material, just like bondo in a dent, when I had mine refinished. Still looks great 4 years later.
Mark

Yes, it was factory licence plate holder.

The nose has memory and will respond to heat and go back into shape, BUT you need to know how to do it. I took a beat up noes to a place in Florida that used their magic and I got back what looked like an NOS nose. http://web.userinstinct.com...-bumper-shop-the.htm They do a great job and the work is not inexpensive.

So nobody likes my idea to adhere a piece of Plexiglas on the underside to re-enforce it?

quote Originally posted by a_bartle: So nobody likes my idea to adhere a piece of Plexiglas on the underside to re-enforce it?

Nope, have the shop heat it or fill it with proper material. Plexiglas could pop right off.

I would start with a heat gun. Reinforcing the back is not a bad idea, but I would use another piece of RIM for that. Get it the best you can, & if it still has an indention fill it with the same repair material you used for the reinforcement (RIM compatible repair material).
http://gafieroclub.org/bbs/index.php?topic=469.0
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

Custom Fiberglass Parts

Thanks Paul, I'll give that a try. Now my problem is finding piece of RIM laying around to use. I had an old Venture mini-van front fascia, but finally got rid of it. As always, "after" you throw something away is when you'll find a need for it, LOL.

I'll let you guys know how it turns out...

Thanks!
Art

I just wish my Fiero only had those dimples.
The PO screwed the front plate on thru the front bumper. I have two holes to patch when I finally get around to it.

It's been a while, but I finally got the fascia pulled off and started to work on it (had fuel pump issues, but that's fixed now so I can focus on the fascia). I ended up using the heat gun idea, which worked really well (thanks for the suggestions guys) to push the indents back out. Then just to be sure it stayed in place, I reinforced the back using the Bondo flexible bumper repair kit #280. I roughed the surface up with sandpaper, spread a thin layer of the 2-part repair product over the area, then pressed some of the screen mesh that comes with the kit into it and let it dry. Seems to do the trick, it looks very nice, so that's the process I'd advise if anyone else has this problem....

[This message has been edited by a_bartle (edited 06-17-2013).]

quote Originally posted by n7vrz: I just wish my Fiero only had those dimples. The PO screwed the front plate on thru the front bumper. I have two holes to patch when I finally get around to it.

I had the same dilemma as your PO had ....I needed a front plate holder (front plate required in Oregon)...but the plate holders for areo nose are rare and I had to improvise. Rather than drilling holes in the from fascia, I came up with another plan. I bought a plastic, universal plate bracket...and attached it with nylon zip ties (the big kind) to the inner metal piece...tightened them up nice and snug (to keep from sliding around)...attached the plate and a generic black metal license plate frame. looks nice and neat. I am still looking for a oem bracket but this works in the mean time.

universal bracket
Zip Ties

[This message has been edited by 92wastheyear (edited 06-17-2013).]

92.... I have an OEM bracket. PM or email me if you're interested.

quote Originally posted by fierofool: 92.... I have an OEM bracket. PM or email me if you're interested.

Sent!!

To "a_bartle": I got the license plate bracket today ....thanks it was in great shape. I already put it on too. Thanks again