WARNING: Drilling bumper shocks.

[InuFaye]

I think ill stay with plastic bumper cars.

[Streichholzschächtelchen]

Vert bumper shocks ftw.

[Schnitzer318is]

I know this is a very old thread... but I came upon it searching for "drill diving board shock e30" on google so I figured someone else might do the same.

I am glad I read this before doing this mod today getting my car ready to go to the body shop. I was able to prepare and plan a lot more appropriately. I made no mess, and more importantly, did not injure myself or anyone else in the process.

First, as others stated, have a breathing mask and goggles. I ended up not needing either one (don't know if I was lucky or good).

Second, when you drill the shock, do it at the end close to where the bumper mounts, not where the shock mounts to the car. Doing this will let the compressed gas out before any of the fluid comes out. This prevents any and all vaporization which according to this thread is extremely dangerous. You will hear the gas escaping once you penetrate your shock with a large drill bit. I used a multibit which made at least a 1/4" hole. Look away once you break through just as a precaution.

Lastly, get a bucket ready. After you let the gas out you can take a small mallet (I used a 5lb mini sledge) and hit the shock in to the desired depth. The fluid will now begin to push out and into your bucket. Catch whatever comes out. It will continue to ooze our for some time. Either park the car outside, put towels under the drips, or leave buckets under them.

The bumpers are now tucked... safely.

I was also curious why the stuff looks like smurf blood. It's like a green blue and has the consistency of a very light weight oil.

[expressfish]

noted

[Exodus_2pt0]

You know, shocks from '88 bumpers are already tucked (and will still work as they should if you hit something or something hits you).



Didn't know if ya'll knew that... . .

I know this is a really old thread, but since someone else already bumped it...

I have an 88, and the above statement is false... At least on mine.

Oh, and this should be sticky'd. I too had to Neo-dodge that shit.

[OBryan562]

GLAD YOU OKAY! But fuck drilling them! im just going to run into a wall! at least i wont inhale Poison whatever!

[delatlanta1281]

I know this is a really old thread, but since someone else already bumped it...

I have an 88, and the above statement is false... At least on mine.

Oh, and this should be sticky'd. I too had to Neo-dodge that shit.

Yeah, you're wrong. I have a set of 88s on my 87, and it brings them in @ 1/2-3/4 of an inch. It looks much better than total compression.

[delatlanta1281]

For reference:
Mine is the black one ;)

Not Totally tucked like a high school kid's car, but tucked enough.
And another

[smooth]

Yeah I didn't realize how bad they really were until I went to a meet years ago and I was compared my diving boards to *real* diving boards. I was a bit taken aback by the size

[delatlanta1281]

yeah, it's a pretty noticeable tuck compared to original. On the IS it looks good b/c it matches up with the mad max front fairing.

[smooth]

because if you put yours side by side with a completely untucked, early model diving board setup you'll see how drastic the difference is.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Wow wouldn't have noticed.

However, I did notice how the 88 has DB's and the lower rear arch... On one hand I don't like it, but on the other a plastic bumper swap should be easy.

[smooth]

yeah, like I wrote earlier, when I was driving around with my US metal bumpers years ago I didn't realize what all the hoopla was about (89 cabrios have non-DB metal bumpers with the lower rear arches)...until I went to a meet and parked next to a kid with diving board bumpers and was like, whoooooaaaaaa :O

it's pretty drastic side by side but kinda hard to see otherwise :)

[McGyver]

you sure about the lower rear arches on an 89 vert? why would they change that and not the tail lights? (i have an 89 vert)

it is true that an 89 vert doesnt have as massive DB though.

everything is so damn confusing when it comes to a vert and the body changes...

[Holland]

you sure about the lower rear arches on an 89 vert? why would they change that and not the tail lights? (i have an 89 vert)

it is true that an 89 vert doesnt have as massive DB though.

everything is so damn confusing when it comes to a vert and the body changes...

Convertibles are early bodies until mid 90. There aren't any betweens.