As of now, I am making covers for the GT bumper only.
These can be attached in a few different ways. 1) GM part# 15999788 clip is available from your local GM dealer for around $9 each or cheaper online. 2) An extruded "U" nut can be substituted for the more expensive GM clip and can be had at any hardware store for around 50 cents each Just reach up from underneath the bumper to access the back side and install the clips.
[This message has been edited by seajai (edited 02-11-2017).]
Interested, but would like to know about installation. I see no holes in the covers. Is the buyer responsible for drilling the lenses to utilize clips? Secondly, any quantity discount? I'd be up for two sets. Lastly, how durable would you say these might be against rock/gravel chipping or shattering? Love the look, appreciate the big effort put in to make these, just want your opinion on durability for daily driver cars.
Interested, but would like to know about installation. I see no holes in the covers. Is the buyer responsible for drilling the lenses to utilize clips? Secondly, any quantity discount? I'd be up for two sets. Lastly, how durable would you say these might be against rock/gravel chipping or shattering? Love the look, appreciate the big effort put in to make these, just want your opinion on durability for daily driver cars.
Holes are not needed in the covers. If you do not have an aftermerket chin spoiler on your car you should be able to reach up from underneath and install the clips to hold the covers in place. In which case you could get the GM #15999788 clips from your local GM dealership or buy the "U" clips from a hardware store.
The modified clips I sell require you to drill a hole in the bumper in the lamp opening to attach the clip to the bumper as shown in the picture above.
Shipping is figured into the price so an additional pairs would be cheaper if I could get them all into the same box.
The covers are made from 3mm Acrylite FF. While Lexan is more impact resistant than acrylic, acrylic is more scratch resistant than lexan, and does not turn yellow with UV exposure. Light scratches in acrylic can be removed with Novus #2 or #3 plastic polish. As for durability in a daily driver situation, I would think they would hold up just fine. Check out THIS link comparing the two.
Give me a few weeks, but I am in for a smoked set without clips. Not lip service...
Great looking product. A bit pricey on the face of it, but where else are you going to get these. I can appreciate the effort put forward, and want this as an addition to my GT.
If you add up just the dollars spent on materials and construction of the vacuum forming equipment, the first pair I sold should have went for at least $300 bucks or more. Now add in all of my R&D time and labor in making multiple prototypes to refine the shape and fit of the covers, then top it off with 2 hand machined and hand finished aluminum molds, the first pair of covers sold should have been at least $1300 bucks or more. As for the production run, figure in the cost of the acrylic sheet per pair, misc materials, the electricity to run the oven, and the cost to pack & ship each pair. Subtract all of that from the $40 bucks a pair I'm selling them for, and the remainder is my "hourly wage" to make these things.....which puts it somewhere around Wal-Mart greeter wages. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the challenge of getting these things made, and I like being able to provide a custom part to the Fiero community. I think $40 bucks a pair is plenty fair, and the little bit of profit I make on each pair of covers gets put right back in my own Fiero project (or spent on the wife).
I apologize if it seems that I came off as rude. I assure that was NOT the intention. You quoted only a fraction of what I wrote. The rest has context, and was to show the VALUE in this product. In no way was I degrading what you are selling.
Edit: I am still very much in for a set here shortly.
[This message has been edited by Tony Kania (edited 01-31-2016).]
I've made and sold these a couple years ago ... The gm clips work the best
Price seems right on I shipped to Canada for 5 dollars more so mine were running for 40 with two clips shipped USA 45 to Canada and had many colors too
How are the lenses attached to the clips? Is there a bent tab at the top of the lenses to slide into the clips that are fastened under the bumper opening as shown in the photo?
How are the lenses attached to the clips? Is there a bent tab at the top of the lenses to slide into the clips that are fastened under the bumper opening as shown in the photo?
The cover is held in place by friction between the clip and bumper. The clips are a modified spring steel extruded "U" nut. They act like a regular spring clip would except you don't have to reach up from underneath the car to slide them in place. When I test fit the ones on my car, the clips seemed to hold the covers quite firmly and I had to reach in around the side of the cover with an angled pick tool and pull to release it from the clip. This type of clip was the solution I came up with to the access issue my fiberglass chin spoiler was causing. I suppose there could be other ways to do it too.
Here is a pic of the modified clip and screw (bottom) next to the standard "U" nut and flat head screw.
The screws are 1/4"-20 thread. I drilled a 1/4" hole on the underside of the lamp opening in the bumper.
Lens clipped in place.
There may a bit of fine tuning needed to get the clip to grip just right but they're close to start, it just depends on how your bumper has held up over the last 25+ years.
[This message has been edited by seajai (edited 02-05-2016).]
Looks fantastic. Will be a multi set buyer when you get the 87-88 Coup/Form lenses done!
------------------ <---- did you buy Cliff a beer? ............... @NorthTexasFiero , friend us on FB: North Texas Fieros , www.northtexasfieroclub.org
[This message has been edited by blakeinspace (edited 02-05-2016).]
The cover is held in place by friction between the clip and bumper. The clips are a modified spring steel extruded "U" nut. They act like a regular spring clip would except you don't have to reach up from underneath the car to slide them in place. When I test fit the ones on my car, the clips seemed to hold the covers quite firmly and I had to reach in around the side of the cover with an angled pick tool and pull to release it from the clip. This type of clip was the solution I came up with to the access issue my fiberglass chin spoiler was causing. I suppose there could be other ways to do it too.
Here is a pic of the modified clip and screw (bottom) next to the standard "U" nut and flat head screw.
The screws are 1/4"-20 thread. I drilled a 1/4" hole on the underside of the lamp opening in the bumper.
Lens clipped in place.
There may a bit of fine tuning needed to get the clip to grip just right but they're close to start, it just depends on how your bumper has held up over the last 25+ years.
Thank you for addressing my question, now I understand they are held in place by friction at the top with C-spring clips. Is there any concern about them popping out from vibration when driving on a rough road or from a high pressure touchless car wash? As you noted there could be other ways to do it and it would be terrific if someone came up with a way to invisibly secure the lenses at the top and bottom or on both sides.
I ordered mine without clips to evaluate an improved mounting system. Initial ideas are double-sided 3m tape, or the ever-reliable "right stuff" gasket maker that sets in 5 minutes. A razor blade will facilitate removal, if need be.
Thank you for addressing my question, now I understand they are held in place by friction at the top with C-spring clips. Is there any concern about them popping out from vibration when driving on a rough road or from a high pressure touchless car wash? As you noted there could be other ways to do it and it would be terrific if someone came up with a way to invisibly secure the lenses at the top and bottom or on both sides.
I would think they would stay in place. The dual clips prevent it from being levered out by pushing on 1 side or the other. I haven't driven my car with the covers in place to test it because it's in storage for the winter, but I did flex the bumper cover quite a bit with the covers mounted and they stayed in place. The addition of a thin strip of double sided tape in concert with the clips may give some added security. The issue with mounting is with the opening itself, it's smooth on 3 sides and the bottom is sloped so there really isn't any place for an attachment point, the lip along the top is really the only spot. I thought about molding a "plug" that would fit into the opening ( like a hearing aid in an ear canal) which the lens could mount to but figured the clips were sufficient.
I read somewhere that drilling a hole in the acrylic will cause it to stress crack so I didn't want to take a chance doing that.
<---- did you buy Cliff a beer? ...............
