Player1

I'm looking for a front bumper without license plate thing (ruins the smooth/rounded look) that also works with the OEM fog lights (which I already have).

Another option is to remove the license plate thing.

SatinSilver2k1

iTrader: (1)

i don't think honda makes them without it..

Silver2k1Dood

AFTERMARKET

sspem2

iTrader: (22)

get a tsunami bumper or some another aftermarket bumper[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

CivicVTec

iTrader: (9)

the only way u want factory front bumper w/o the license plate frame is to go to a body shop and have them shave it off for you...check member rise...one black civic has that done w/ the factory bumper...looks nice

ProDigy

iTrader: (5)

if you want that, won't you have to take the risk on getting a FIX it Ticket cuz no license plate in the front?

CivicVTec

iTrader: (9)

some states dont require license plate in the front [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]



sorry... "CivicMAN67" pull all his pics off so this is the best one i got from him

WhiteRabbit

it always seems that as soon as someone puts in general a topic about how something is dangerous or illegal, someone in parts or tech wants to know how to do it. *sigh*

factory bumper + grinder + fiberglass + touch-up-paint (preferrably repaint) = cheaper than a new bumper, and will definitely work with factory lights.

its simple:

#1 use a grinder, course sandpaper (power sander), or a dremel to remove the square on teh factory bumper.

#2 fill it from teh inside with foamcore, ducttape, bondo, chicken wire, or any combination to round the hole out.

#3 glass over it. be sure to rough up any area that your gonna put glass on cause it needs to adhere, and your gona needa paint it anyways, so dont worry about that, either.

#4 sand sand SAND! you gotta use sandpaper and lots of it to get it to smooth out and look integrated. this is the longest yet simplest step!

#5 take your bumper to a shop and have it paintmatched, or take it to honda and have them repaint your bumper. When my buddy in San Jose got his tsunami LIP painted, it was $115, so I would imagine it would cost a touch more to have your whole bumper done.

#6 install your foglights, install your bumper on teh car, get your fix-it ticket ( [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG] ) and enjoy!

SQCivic

iTrader: (4)

Please direct me to someone who has had this done to an OEM bumper. I have been trying to get this done ever since I got the car and have always been told that it is far from being a simple process.

CivicVTec

iTrader: (9)

go ask CIVICMAN67

fraga

iTrader: (3)

No front license plate = Ticket. Check your local laws. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/IMG]

WhiteRabbit

well, its only a concept at this stage, I dont know anyone who has done it, nor anyone who is willing to put teh time and effort into doing this.

as far as a simple project, at this point in time, my views are a bit skewed as to what a simple project really is [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]

but basically, its alot of work. a TON of work. sanding is not an easy process (unless the surface is flat) nor is it quick. this is where most of yoru work is gonna go. the nice thing, however, is that you cannot screw up. if it doesnt turn out good, you can cut or sand down areas and put a new glass layer on, that is teh nice thing about working with fiberglass.

but I can certainly do all this work, if someone doesnt want to try it themselves, Ill do it. I need my liscence plate on my bumper, and jsut like dimming headlights, I dont have a super big problem with it being there.

if it bugs you, ill do the work [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]

but BEFORE YOU START, make sure you visit a paint shop or the dealership and ask the price of painting, becasue you definitely dont want to hack your bumper, add fins and a bunch of stuff to make it look really cool, just to find out that noone can paint it, or worse, that they are gonna charge you $500 for paint matching >.<

I would LOVE to see someone do this, ive always thought about fabrication of trim pieces, and in teh end, i always decline due to other projects and just plain rediculousness of what i want to do (stuff like relocating the backup lights and stuf like that - not worth it!)

but you guys here all know how much i love home brewed projects that are nutty (allman's strut hood was a really good example of this) so if anyone ever makes an attempt at this, lemme know, i wanna see project pics!

SQCivic

iTrader: (4)

No front license plate = absolutely nothing in Mississippi.

NickDaMans02Civic

That would be sweet to have that done its just stupid I think to have a front plate, just gives the cops another thing to target for radar I am going to just throw the plate up on my dash or under the seat when I move back to Oregon since they give you 2 plates. But yeah Arizona only has one plate, they have been trying to get it passed to have 2 now so dunno I heard that back in 2000 since only one plate saved them money.

Nick

Grey

iTrader: (61)

I've been driving around without a front lecense plate for something like 8 months now and I haven't been pulled over yet. I live in Massachusetts. If and when that does happen I'll say that the license plate was damaged in the accident I had and that the body shop didn't get to put one on because I wasn't issued a new one. Anyway, I doubt that it'll get to that. We'll see...

Player1

Where I'm from, you don't need a front license plate. Alberta, Canada.

If I went for an aftermarket bumper, is there anything that would work with the OEM foglights?

WhiteRabbit

i dont know 100% sure, but I would guess that if you dont wanna cut yoru bumper, then youll probably have to sell your foglights.

someone in market place is selling their bumpers. you can get one for $150, then cut, paint, if it doesnt work, you didnt mess up your car, if it does, then you can sell your stock one.

$250 investment for a stock bumper thats rounded.

Player1

I haven't taken off my front bumper so does anyone know if I can shave it off without leaving a hole? Also, how thin will it be where it's shaved?

WhiteRabbit

if you wanna shave it, the basic directions are up there ^^^^^^

yeah, there will be a big hole, and youll need to fiberglass it round, then sand it to hell, then get yoru bumper repainted. its up there, i wrote it

Player1

I heard that new bumpers come unpainted. Can anyone confirm this? Also, what is our bumper made of? Fibreglass? Poly Urethane?

Anyway, does anyone think the bumper for the Acura EL (see Acura Canada) would work? If so, would the OEM front skirts work on it as well? And yeah, I know this means I'd have to scrap my fog lights but the EL bumper has its own.

Grey

iTrader: (61)

The OE bumpers do come unpainted, true.
The OE bumpers are made out of urethane, yep.

I'm not sure about the Acura EL front bumper though. I know that the headlights are shaped differently, so the hood is a no go without the EL's headlights. I also know the grill is differently shaped. You'de need the front grill along with the bumper if you were to get the bumper itself. You'de also need the front grill backing as well. The different shape of the Acura EL front bumper definately doesn't allow for the OE body kit.

merz

Lot's of states ONLY use rear plates. For example... Florida where I only have a back plate. I wish Honda hadn't molded it into the front bumper either, but the work to grind & patch hardly seems worth it.

WhiteRabbit

theres lotsa eally stoopid stuff we all do that seems hardly worth it [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]

the fun isnt in the having, its in the building! im surrounded by failed projects, but it makes those that succeed all the more sweet!

better learning experience.

and like i said, someone is selling a bumper in marketplace for $150. so if your scared to mess your bumper, theres a guiney pig right there doesnt matter the color, since you gotta repaint anyways....

besides, stock looks better than tsunami full bumper and all teh kits ive seen out there, so hwo could you go wrong if it was sucessful? [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/IMG]

definitely worth a try, IMO, if it bugs ya that much. definitely

Grey

iTrader: (61)

I agree 100% with that. I totally know what you mean. [IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]

sumama

good quote. That's the best part, and if you have a friend that has the same car, its even better and fun...

merz

Well... Santa, a Bunny, and a Hair Cutter? You guys definately win this one... hehehe... meanwhile I too wait for a good looking aftermarket kit that doesn't mess with the nice clean lines of my ride.

Grey

iTrader: (61)

Hair Cutter! [IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]
To understand that you need to check this out: DIY: 7thgencivic.com Sticker

merz

Obviously, Grey is a cut above the rest! - seriously, I checked the link and your DIY mod is nice.

Grey

iTrader: (61)

[IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG] Hehe, thanks.

anibal

iTrader: (1)

All I know, is the our bumpers are made of about 1/8" thick polymer shaped the way you look at it....if you hack the plate piece, you'll have a hole of the same size...you'll have to cover that up....I guess if you're very careful cutting that pice you could get to use it to cover it...how??? it's flat....with a bit of heat you can get to shape it the same form as the rest of the bumper...then add some fiberglass or something else to attach it and work it out to look perfectly shaped....then paint it..it's a long and very detailed process....and you should really leave that to a pro...a good body shop could do it really good...but you're not carefull you'll end up screwing your bumper...I now we love to do things ourselves, but body work is no walk in park...no bolt-on or plug and play...I've worked on body shops, and my uncle and my sister's boyfriend are pros on that, so I know....but anyway...Good luck on the project...[IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/IMG]

Edit: If you want to see how it'll look, just take a look at the Civic Brochure...all pics there have no front plate holder