View Full Version : Pros and Cons of using a fiberglass front nose?
On my 71 firebird, there is a fiberglass fron tnose available from VFN that looks really good. For those who don't know my nose is made from endura and steel, and probaly weighs around 100ibls. I am guessing the fibergalss is around 10? I am running a BBC with aluminum heads, intake, water pump, and a fiberglass hood, so i have saved some weight. I think saving 90ilbs from the nose woudl be HUGE! The only thing is that I am worried about, is that if i was to get into an accident i think the whole front end would crush and ruin the car. Also if i got bumped in a parking lot or such it would probably mess up the nose. On the other hand a lot of frist gen camaros owners run no front bumper? SO what do you think?? :worship:
C4Bird
02-23-2005, 12:09 AM
I have been looking at the VFN nose as a serious option now (can't find a decent priced good endura anyway). In my opinion, the weight savings makes up for the risk run of some one breaking it. How much to they run? If you are worried about strength, could always have a shop add some extra glass to stiffen it up....
-Nate
C4Bird
02-23-2005, 12:16 AM
Found this on the web a few months ago, can't remember where. It's a low speed head on or rear end. Not sure a endura would be all that much better than a glass one at low speed, high speed won't matter either way.....
-Nate
sunkistcamaro
02-23-2005, 04:56 AM
I used to have a 5-piece glass front end on my Camaro. The only problem I had was that the front end would shake and flex as Im driving down the road. Maybe it would have been better with the fiberglass wheel wells...
mdprovee
02-23-2005, 07:21 AM
You could buy the fiberglass one, and install, paint it, and use it. Also paint the endura one, and if the fiberglass one becomes too much of a problem put the endura one back on. The wieght savings may be worth a try.
Mike
c.schulz
02-23-2005, 09:32 AM
You could buy the fiberglass one, and install, paint it, and use it. Also paint the endura one, and if the fiberglass one becomes too much of a problem put the endura one back on. The wieght savings may be worth a try.
Mike
I very much agree!!!
Chris
that was the plan, but i am worried about getting in an accident. the guy who had the car before me rearend a stopped car, when he was going about 15 miles per hour, all it did was mess up the nose and hood a little, and put a little bend in the radiator support. I am thinking with a fiberglass nose it would crush the whole front end in a simliar encounter.
gauder
02-23-2005, 10:24 AM
That's what insurance is for. You could always have a tubular support that ties into the front frame-horns built to give you some added protection.
jeff s
02-23-2005, 06:45 PM
Anyone know where I can get a fiberglass bumper cover for a 82 firebird or ta?
Been looking everywhere.
jeffandre
02-24-2005, 10:09 AM
That's what insurance is for. You could always have a tubular support that ties into the front frame-horns built to give you some added protection.
I will incorporate some front end protection into the roll cage when I go to a completely glass front end. Plus I will need some kind of radiator support strengthening, something that will keep everything lined up for the panels to work off of. Still not sure if I want a one-piece, had one on a Nova, PITA unless done right (like modern Vette's). I may get separate pieces so that I can remove and replace what I need to instead of the whole front.
SHANE 73Z
02-24-2005, 10:39 AM
http://www.grapeaperacing.com/GrapeApeRacing/camaro/diet.cfm
Scroll down towards the bottom. This is a very clean install and wouldnt require a ton of extra bracing. I will be doing something similar to this to my car in the future. I would definitely run welded subframe connectors and also the Alston Racing front support bar kit. These are Y-shaped braces that run from the front cross shaft bolt to the fender bolt that runs in the front of the firewall and the other leg of the Y runs to the top of the firewall. Check out pictures of Dale Bruegers 79 in the cars section. There is a pic with the front clip off and you can just barely make them out.
Take care,
Shane
F70t/a
02-25-2005, 11:45 AM
I weighted my firebird nose today and it was only 40 lbs. I guess 71's got heavier :bicycle:
how did you weight it? only 40ilbs?? I am definetly going to have to weigh mine. THat thing is heavy as hell
F70t/a
02-25-2005, 11:55 AM
I used a scale that my uncle has at his box company. The use it for all kinds of things. I also weighted my fenders and they were 32 lbs. the hood was 86 lbs.
well if it truly is 40 ilbs i will probably just use it. 35ilbs weight savings is nice but not worth it on a street car. Already got rid of the stock fiberglass super heavy hood, put the battery in the trunk, aluminum radiator, heads, water pump, intake, and got rid of the AC box, so that should all help.
F70t/a
02-25-2005, 12:18 PM
I sold a 73 nose like 3 years ago and that sucker was 72 lbs.
Are you sure we are talking about the same things here? 70-73 all use the exact same nose! so how does one weigh 40 and the other 73?
F70t/a
02-25-2005, 01:27 PM
the 73 nose was alot heavier than my 70 nose
SHANE 73Z
02-25-2005, 02:22 PM
The same thing you guys are encountering with your firebird noses occurred with the Camaros also. Even though the RS front end looks exactly the same from 70-73 there was a bunch of extra crash structure/metal bracketry involved with the 73 front ends. This was all done in the name of crash safety.
Shane
hmmm. maybe i have a 73 frontend?
Jim Nilsen
02-26-2005, 12:42 AM
A couple of ideas would be to make a tubular shape that fit tight behind the glass and mount it to the original mounting points for the stock endura bumper or make one that mounts to the frame like was already stated.
I once crashed a 73 RS Camaro and I can truly say that endura bumpers if not rusted away can seemingly offer better protection than the standard bumpers.
I would definately make an attempt at using anything compared to nothing at all. In my 67 Camaro I was at a burger king drive thru and a guy rolled back into my car, if it hadn't been for me having that thin flimsy bumper matching up with his it would have been a lot of damage. Instead I got out and looked and I had made a dent in his bumper and not mine so I laughed and thanked the world for goodluck.
So if you don't want to loose the hood and front fenders along with the nose in a small roll accident, any attempt would help. Think of it like a brush guard on a truck. It might even be the best place to find the pieces to modify to make it work rather inexpensivley.
Jim Nilsen
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