Remember the Safety Bummper from the '70s?- a huge ugly black bumper that
was filled with water. Since water is about 8lbs/gallon, I would not want
to have that weight hanging out there. How about a leaf spring?

Paul
'87 WhiteWestie

> Date:    Fri, 24 May 2002 14:13:37 -0700
> From:    Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
> Subject: Re: Hung in the middle - Bumper drawings
>
> Way back in the mid-70s, there was much outrage at auto manufacturers
> charging a few hundred bucks extra for crashworthy bumpers.
>
> One of the engineering schools (Cal-Tech, perhaps, but probably not) made
> the design of a better bumper cheaper a semester project.  I don't recall
> the exact parameters of the project, but do remember that the winning design
> used a redwood 2x6 mounted to the original bumper brackets, two rows of full
> beer (or soda pop) cans glued to the lumber, and another 2x6 glued to the
> outsides of the beer cans.  In a collision, the cans exploded, but in doing
> so, absorbed a bunch of energy.
>
> I'd like to propose that someone take this design and incorporate it into
> the fancy and expensive Projekt Zwo-style bumpers.  No, not a bunch of beer
> cans, but possibly some sort of a valved hydraulic system, like horizontal
> shock absorbers between two sections of bumper.
>
> This does nothing to protect you from the vagaries of our legal system, but
> it might tend to protect our beloved Vanagons a bit more than simply
> attaching cow catchers to them.
>
> Karl Wolz
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Phil S." <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Friday, May 24, 2002 10:47 AM
> Subject: Re: Hung in the middle - Bumper drawings
>
>
>> Mannnn, a month ago I studied the drawings and
>> discussed this bumper in wreck scenario with some
>> welders of The List,and welders that I work with.
>>
>> IMO I have concluded that this bumper is great for
>> protecting the front from tree branches, grocery
>> carts, wheelchairs and bicycles. It is NOT as stout as
>> it looks. The way it bolts to the front end and frame
>> members is too MickeyMouse for a REAL head on 40MPH
>> collision with another car-IF THIS IS WHAT ITS PURPOSE
>> IS:)
>>
>> For this bumper to give any significant collision
>> protection, it needs to be welded to the frame members
>>
>> and the top and bottom tubes should be re-enforced
>> some how some way......but i am no welder and please
>> correct me if im wrong!
>>
>> Phil
>>