Burkhart Chassis Front Bumper Support

**pajeff02** · 08-23-2012, 02:49 AM

It is definitely for the Firebird/Trans Am and not a Camaro as it has the mounts for the driving lights. Only the center support is off kilter on it -- I'll bolt it up and get some pics. Ended up home too late last night to make it out to the garage.

**pajeff02** · 08-25-2012, 05:43 PM

Finally managed to get a weight comparison between the stock bumper support and Burkhart tubular support. The difference is not all that great, only 6.5 pounds:

STOCK - 19.0 lbs. BURKHART - 12.5 lbs

I was really disappointed as it was my understanding that I would be shaving around 20 lbs. off the front end of the car. I know I have an email either on this computer or my one at work where I asked about the weight difference.

The alignment of the bumper support was definitely off. The three (3) rods are supposed to be pinned to the plastic panel between the headlights. These are also where the bumper cover wraps around and is attached by the same pins. As you can see, there is no way the pins would have worked and although the plastic panel could be flexed downward, this would have skewed the position of the bumper cover and resulted in a larger gap under the hood.

Anyway, I looked everything over again this evening and decided that if I re-drilled the two (2) small holes about 3/8" higher than the existing hole, I would be able to mate the plastic panel to the three (3) support rods. For whatever reason, the four (4) large hole are all slotted and have almost an inch of travel up and down. The small holes are just a bit oblong side to side so there is no movement. Once I drilled the hole the bumper support matched up quite a bit better and only some minor bending of the rods was required. The center rod must have really been bent down in shipping as I initially thought it would need to be extended to work.

**pajeff02** · 08-26-2012, 02:22 PM

***SMWS6TA*** · 08-26-2012, 04:10 PM

so you think it was damage in shipping?

**pajeff02** · 08-26-2012, 04:48 PM

The box wasn't damaged, so not sure if they bent it wrapping it up, or what. The rods are not very rigid and can easily be bent by hand.

Guess if weight is my issue, I should probably drain the washer tank - probably hasn't been used more than once or twice since we bought the car.

**ls1camino** · 08-26-2012, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

The box wasn't damaged, so not sure if they bent it wrapping it up, or what. The rods are not very rigid and can easily be bent by hand.

Guess if weight is my issue, I should probably drain the washer tank - probably hasn't been used more than once or twice since we bought the car.

Remove the tank, wipers, and wiper motor...easily 25-30 pounds there.

**02z28ttop** · 08-26-2012, 06:30 PM

Only problem with removing wipers is you could get a ticket for that

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**ls1camino** · 08-26-2012, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by 02z28ttop

Only problem with removing wipers is you could get a ticket for that

That's fine...it will go along with my illegal tint, exhaust, suspension (lowered), roll cage, 5-point harnesses, and disabled air bags.

**SuperSSguy** · 08-26-2012, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by ls1camino

That's fine...it will go along with my illegal tint, exhaust, suspension (lowered), roll cage, 5-point harnesses, and disabled air bags.

I can see the tint,exhaust,and disabled air bag being illegal but suspension(lowered)-roll cage-5pt harness..illegal too?...really?.......

**pajeff02** · 08-27-2012, 02:51 AM

Originally Posted by ls1camino

Remove the tank, wipers, and wiper motor...easily 25-30 pounds there.

We still street drive the car, so it'll stay for now. I just siphoned off a little over 1/2 gallon of fluid though.

Originally Posted by 02z28ttop

Only problem with removing wipers is you could get a ticket for that

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I actually possess a license to speed and break other traffic laws in my state.

**ls1camino** · 08-27-2012, 04:04 AM

Originally Posted by SuperSSguy

I can see the tint,exhaust,and disabled air bag being illegal but suspension(lowered)-roll cage-5pt harness..illegal too?...really?.......

Welcome to Maryland. They do not allow any modifications to cars.

My old insurance company actually dropped me because I installed a roll cage and harnesses. They said it proves that I race the car. I didn't deny this, and my argument was that insurance coverage stops at the gate of the track regardless, so why is having a cage on the street a problem? So much for 8 years of paying them premiums and only making ONE claim, and that claim wasn't even $1000

**kingls1** · 08-27-2012, 05:13 PM

I actually possess a license to speed and break other traffic laws in my state.

[/QUOTE]
I got that license also

However reading this about the bumper support pretty much seals the deal of never putting one one my car! You got about as much weight savings from removing the washer fluid! Once again nice wright up Jeff

**pajeff02** · 08-27-2012, 05:18 PM

Thanks!

I just spent 30 minutes frogging with the lights -- they do not even remotely line up in the bumper cutouts. The support rod is quite heavy and I have not been able to bend it. Need to get a stand under the car so it can't rock on the lift arms. I have drilled out the mounting holes in the brackets on both the light assembly and bumper support. Closer now, but still not quite right yet. Can someone give me an approximate depth measurement? Put a piece of wood or something (gently) parallel to the floor centered across the front of the opening and measure back to the face of the light.

**02z28ttop** · 08-27-2012, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by ls1camino

Welcome to Maryland. They do not allow any modifications to cars.

My old insurance company actually dropped me because I installed a roll cage and harnesses. They said it proves that I race the car. I didn't deny this, and my argument was that insurance coverage stops at the gate of the track regardless, so why is having a cage on the street a problem? So much for 8 years of paying them premiums and only making ONE claim, and that claim wasn't even $1000

Daaaaang az isnt to bad at least with what ive donw. City cops dont ca eem to mind but when heading up to flagstaff they have a stick up thier butts lol

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**pajeff02** · 08-27-2012, 05:35 PM

We were in Arizona earlier this year. Saw more police in one day there along the highways than I see in 6 months out here.

**02z28ttop** · 08-27-2012, 05:42 PM

Yep most of the timw you can see them chilling up north along highways waiting to bust people for tint, loud exhaust speeding in phoenix they dont care aa much except for maybe speeding

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**kingls1** · 08-27-2012, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

Thanks!

I just spent 30 minutes frogging with the lights -- they do not even remotely line up in the bumper cutouts. The support rod is quite heavy and I have not been able to bend it. Need to get a stand under the car so it can't rock on the lift arms. I have drilled out the mounting holes in the brackets on both the light assembly and bumper support. Closer now, but still not quite right yet. Can someone give me an approximate depth measurement? Put a piece of wood or something (gently) parallel to the floor centered across the front of the opening and measure back to the face of the light.

Put a 4' level on floor touching the lowest point on bumper cover centered bubble, level did not touch the bumper above fog light got 4.75" from inside center of light to the closest point of level

**SuperSSguy** · 08-28-2012, 12:24 AM

Originally Posted by ls1camino

Welcome to Maryland. They do not allow any modifications to cars.

My old insurance company actually dropped me because I installed a roll cage and harnesses. They said it proves that I race the car. I didn't deny this, and my argument was that insurance coverage stops at the gate of the track regardless, so why is having a cage on the street a problem? So much for 8 years of paying them premiums and only making ONE claim, and that claim wasn't even $1000

I was just curious..being in Ca. i have no room to talk about Legality..but here almost any mod you do CAN be illegal depending....Lowering= body of car cannot be lower then the bottom of the rim ( they used to go crazy with this law back in the day,,mainly to harass lowriders..i havent heard of any lowering tickest in years cause everyone including yuppies and grandpas lower their rides) There is a heighth reg too!......tinted side windows arent allowed at all!.......But all Lt`s and exhaust mods are illegal too. The insurance co. should be glad you have a cage thats actually a safety device! Itll do more then the 100 mph airbags that sock you in the face

Its bad out here for HP people..didnt know MD was too!

**SuperSSguy** · 08-28-2012, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

We were in Arizona earlier this year. Saw more police in one day there along the highways than I see in 6 months out here.

They are looking for illegals and cartel runners runnin drugs through the state! Its bad out west Az is a main hub(one of them) for that kind of activity.

**pajeff02** · 08-28-2012, 02:42 AM

Originally Posted by kingls1

Put a 4' level on floor touching the lowest point on bumper cover centered bubble, level did not touch the bumper above fog light got 4.75" from inside center of light to the closest point of level

Thanks! They appear to be too far forward right now. I may have to notch the bolt holes and move them back. I'll know more when I get a measurement tonight and check it against yours.