Skip to main content
Gerry | Vanagon
Checking account...
← vanagon.com home · Continue the discussion in the forum
Subject:Re: Doing another rear aluminum bumper
From:Alistair Bell
Date:Tue, 2 Aug 2022 18:57:22 -0700

If you want, yes :-)

> On Aug 2, 2022, at 5:11 PM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Will they come with bottle cap removers?
> 
> BT
> 
>> On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> Hey Bruce. I hope to make more bumpers, well I have to make at least 2 sets. We will see how it goes.
>> 
>> I’m kinda slightly regretting my orange choice before seeing it. But hey, live a little .
>> 
>> Ab
>> 
>> > On Aug 2, 2022, at 1:28 PM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > 
>> > Or one side orange and the other side brown to compliment Alistair’s best
>> > in class colour scheme!
>> > 
>> > Thebumper looks very nice.  I could also be a beta tester - and you know
>> > where my van currently lives.   I decided to to go with my stock bumpers
>> > and not upgrade to keep project costs somewhat in line.  Anyway if you
>> > begin to roll these off the Bell Industry’s assembly line - you have
>> > another client…I can even pick up factory seconds directly from the factory.
>> > 
>> > Bruce
>> > 
>> >> On Tuesday, August 2, 2022, David Boan <dboan@outlook.com> wrote:
>> >> 
>> >> I think you should paint one side white and the other orange, and promote
>> >> it as an example of the spirit of compromise in marriage,
>> >> 
>> >> Dave B
>> >> Boise
>> >> ________________________________
>> >> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> on behalf of Eric
>> >> Caron <ericcaron96@COMCAST.NET>
>> >> Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2022 12:40 PM
>> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
>> >> Subject: Re: Doing another rear aluminum bumper
>> >> 
>> >> I would love to have my van be orange!  But, white is so darn practical
>> >> for heat when camping.  Also, my wife is anti orange color for us.  Still a
>> >> orange 76 westy still fills my dreams!
>> >> 
>> >> The bumpers in Orange sound great to me!
>> >> 
>> >> Still aluminum can’t just be pretty polished?  I don’t know these things
>> >> but simple care is appealing.
>> >> 
>> >> Eric
>> >> 
>> >> 
>> >>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 1:34 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>> >>> 
>> >>> Hey Eric,
>> >>> 
>> >>> Got a line of beta testers waiting here…. But I’ll put you on the list
>> >> :-)
>> >>> 
>> >>> It’s 1/4” 5052 aluminum. Yes it’s strong enough to stand on, that’s
>> >> important to me too. And the top plate, the standing surface, is flat, not
>> >> slightly angled as in the stock steel. So less chance of slipping off in
>> >> the wet.
>> >>> 
>> >>> Took bumper to powdercoat today. Was going to be all black, a very
>> >> slight texture . But he showed me a gloss orange that so very closely
>> >> matches the orange doors I’ve got on van… so why not, encaps still black.
>> >>> 
>> >>> I can repaint if the orange looks silly
>> >>> 
>> >>> 
>> >>> Ab
>> >>> 
>> >>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 9:17 AM, Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net> wrote:
>> >>>> 
>> >>>> Hey,
>> >>>> 
>> >>>> Looking for a Beta tester?  I’ll pay shipping and more!
>> >>>> 
>> >>>> Light, strong, rust proof, and stock like look?  What is not to love?
>> >> And, Bell Industries reputation behind it!
>> >>>> I’m happy with a not perfect version!
>> >>>> I only want to know is it strong enough for one  to stand on to get up
>> >> on the luggage rack or rear of bus?
>> >>>> My stock one on the front wants to bend if I try to step up on it.
>> >>>> 
>> >>>> I’m blind, but why paint?  Would brushed or polished aluminum stand up
>> >> without need of touch ups?
>> >>>> 
>> >>>> Eric Caron
>> >>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 11:08 AM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>> >>>>> 
>> >>>>> Four years :-)
>> >>>>> 
>> >>>>> Well , since I measured the stock bumper and drew first model .
>> >>>>> 
>> >>>>> Then this spring I had bumper 3D scanned. More or less fit my measured
>> >> model.
>> >>>>> 
>> >>>>> Then more computer modelling , time wasting .
>> >>>>> 
>> >>>>> The main part of the bumper is quite fast. Cnc router cut panels, 3,
>> >> then held in curve on a jig, top and bottom plates tacked on. Then full
>> >> weld. I tig welded this one, but I’d mig the next.
>> >>>>> 
>> >>>>> Router a chamfer on top weld, flap disc grind the bottom weld to blend.
>> >>>>> 
>> >>>>> It was the endcaps that took the most time. I have I think four failed
>> >> versions. Flat pattern cnc cut, then brake press to bend, then a front face
>> >> and a wee little rear face welded. Grind and blend etc.
>> >>>>> 
>> >>>>> Now that the endcaps figured out, not so bad , or slow .
>> >>>>> 
>> >>>>> So all the hard work done. I’d say less than 4 hours to make one , not
>> >> counting cnc machine cut time .
>> >>>>> 
>> >>>>> Ab
>> >>>>> 
>> >>>>>>> On Aug 2, 2022, at 7:59 AM, Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@gmail.com>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>>>>> 
>> >>>>>> 
>> >>>>>> That is really nice, you must have 40 hours in it?
>> >>>>>> 
>> >>>>>>                       Stacy
>> >>>>>> 
>> >>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 2, 2022 at 7:54 AM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> >>>>>>> Wanted something lighter than my previous and with no trailer hitch.
>> >> Trying to mimic the stock steel bumper.
>> >>>>>>> Got one made well enough to powder coat and use.
>> >>>>>>> https://shufti.blog/2022/08/01/vanagon-making-another-
>> >> aluminum-bumper/
>> >>>>>>> 
>> >>>>>>> Alistair
>> >>>>>> --
>> >>>>>> 1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
>> >>>>>> Oldest son is an Eagle scout.
>> >>>> 
>> >> 
>>