Should I start hacking away on the Sarona Rear Bumper ?
10-19-2007, 11:49 AM
#1
Old Maxima Legend
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Should I start hacking away on the Sarona Rear Bumper ?
Should I start hacking away on the Sarona Rear Bumper ? Years back when I saw the Sarona rear bumper in photos online, I thought hey thats not to bad and ended up finding a good deal on one.
Anyways with many days gone by, I have grown to hate the Sarona rear bumper
This morning I grabbed some black tape and marked off how much of the rear bumper I wouldnt mind hacking. Approx 8 inches off each side and approx 10 inches off the back (rear).
Curious if anyone thinks I should try something else or just hack away on this thing cause it stinks anyways. What I thought i would do is tell a body shop in town (they work on fiberglass as well) what i want to do and let them even the lines up and then cut out the pattern.
Its hard to tell in photos but the sarona rear is also quite larger. I do a wee bit of drag racing and I wonder if the bumper is acting like a parachute ? Another reason why this thing is either going to be modified or trashed.
Another beef of mine is to me the car doesnt look aggressive enough with this bumper, it looks more like a show style bumper. i knew i should have went with those stillen pieces for the oem bumper.
With where the tape is now, i would be getting rid of those weird bubbly uneven patterns in the bumper.
images
cutting off approx 8 inches off each side
Anyways with many days gone by, I have grown to hate the Sarona rear bumper
This morning I grabbed some black tape and marked off how much of the rear bumper I wouldnt mind hacking. Approx 8 inches off each side and approx 10 inches off the back (rear).
Curious if anyone thinks I should try something else or just hack away on this thing cause it stinks anyways. What I thought i would do is tell a body shop in town (they work on fiberglass as well) what i want to do and let them even the lines up and then cut out the pattern.
Its hard to tell in photos but the sarona rear is also quite larger. I do a wee bit of drag racing and I wonder if the bumper is acting like a parachute ?
Another reason why this thing is either going to be modified or trashed.Another beef of mine is to me the car doesnt look aggressive enough with this bumper, it looks more like a show style bumper. i knew i should have went with those stillen pieces for the oem bumper.
With where the tape is now, i would be getting rid of those weird bubbly uneven patterns in the bumper.
images
cutting off approx 8 inches off each side
Last edited by Ceasars Chariot; 10-19-2007 at 11:59 AM.
10-19-2007, 11:50 AM
#2
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cutting off 10 inches from the rear (what is with those lame bubble parts sticking out on each corner side? lol thats got to go!)
cutting off approx 8 inches
Last edited by Ceasars Chariot; 10-19-2007 at 12:00 PM.
10-19-2007, 12:00 PM
#4
i cant comment on the fiberglass stucture or whether you should hack it by yourself - but i think if you managed to do a good job cutting where the bottom of the black tape is it would look good with the rest of the body.
10-19-2007, 12:09 PM
#5
By looking at your rear fascia, I also believe it could be acting as a parachute! Holy crap!
If possible, I would try to find a stock rear cover for it and have them spray it. It seems as though you want to eliminate what would end up resembling the stock cover. Except what you have still would not follow the factory rear wheel lip, which I also feel is a disadvantage on the Sarona rear.
It is your your decision ultimately, and that is only my opinion. I just feel it would be easier to use an OEM style rear for what you stated you wanted to remove. Plus, I have always believed out front and rear covers were designed by Nissan with intent to include side skirts and they forgot to add them, or needed to cut cost in production and just didn't include them. (All you see now is the stylish body lip dangling from the sides of our cars on a side view. But the rest of the 4th gen is neat, clean and sleek.)
My point with that last statement is, I think even with OEM front and rear Fascias, your sideskirts (and few others - and I know you have a front lip) will still match. If not, another option is the typical rear 1/2 lips, which "sort of" act as a rear diffuser*, to your benefit since you race.
*- Yes they are not a complete diffuser, but do direct the air straight out the back for better control of the car at higher speeds. With addition of a rear valence on the underbody to direct air 'upwards', it would provide more downforce and pull the car down more adding traction. But I feel is unnecessary for our cars and the speeds our cars can reach (plus our cars are not rear wheel drive). I just added this tid bit for explanation purposes to those who may be unclear.
If possible, I would try to find a stock rear cover for it and have them spray it. It seems as though you want to eliminate what would end up resembling the stock cover. Except what you have still would not follow the factory rear wheel lip, which I also feel is a disadvantage on the Sarona rear.
It is your your decision ultimately, and that is only my opinion. I just feel it would be easier to use an OEM style rear for what you stated you wanted to remove. Plus, I have always believed out front and rear covers were designed by Nissan with intent to include side skirts and they forgot to add them, or needed to cut cost in production and just didn't include them. (All you see now is the stylish body lip dangling from the sides of our cars on a side view. But the rest of the 4th gen is neat, clean and sleek.)
My point with that last statement is, I think even with OEM front and rear Fascias, your sideskirts (and few others - and I know you have a front lip) will still match. If not, another option is the typical rear 1/2 lips, which "sort of" act as a rear diffuser*, to your benefit since you race.
*- Yes they are not a complete diffuser, but do direct the air straight out the back for better control of the car at higher speeds. With addition of a rear valence on the underbody to direct air 'upwards', it would provide more downforce and pull the car down more adding traction. But I feel is unnecessary for our cars and the speeds our cars can reach (plus our cars are not rear wheel drive). I just added this tid bit for explanation purposes to those who may be unclear.
Last edited by alcatranz518; 10-19-2007 at 12:12 PM.
10-19-2007, 01:32 PM
#6
im not gonna give advise as far as cutting goes cause i dont know what its like to cut fiberglass, but as fas looks go: i think you are cutting too much off, also just doing a straight line wont give it any style or agressive look that you want. If it were me i would leave the sides the way they are so it lines up with the sideskirts, then in the back cut it so it comes up from the edges towards the bottom of the plate then back down to the other side
10-19-2007, 03:07 PM
#8
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^ ha ! some good post here, thanks for the replies ! its always good to get some opinions before you go off and end up doing something stupid. my car is presently in New Zealand which makes getting the US Spec rear bumper a pain.
10-19-2007, 06:27 PM
#11
i didnt notice that the tape line would cut the bottom of the lisence plate indent. that would look bad if there was no bottom wall in that rectangle.
im guess im with blackonblack98, try to sell it, even if you take a hundred dollar loss. better than attempting to alter it and hating the outcome.
im guess im with blackonblack98, try to sell it, even if you take a hundred dollar loss. better than attempting to alter it and hating the outcome.
10-19-2007, 07:58 PM
#16
If you are limited to options, I actually think the photoshop'd pic in an earlier post was reasonable, and functional if done right, which you stated it would be.
Last edited by alcatranz518; 10-19-2007 at 08:02 PM.
10-20-2007, 02:14 PM
#18
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ha, no kidding that side arch is lame ! i would settle to just cut out a pattern like on the 300zx. it would eliminate much of rear kit. that rear bumper actually goes pretty deep up under the car.
but with the bubbles and curves and those side arches, on a basic hack/cutting job (to be cheap) if i cut out something like close the the 300zx rear, i would have those arches still showing. which would still be sorry but one could debate it already is sorry.
thats what lead to the extreme, just cut all that mess off and worry about it later.
i did measure the kit and on the sides it is 6 inches off the ground (front, side skirts, and side part of the rear bumper) where i have it marked on the sides of the rear bumper it would end up being an inch or two higher, lol !
im waiting to hear back from a friend that works at a panel beaters here. maybe he has some better ideas.
but with the bubbles and curves and those side arches, on a basic hack/cutting job (to be cheap) if i cut out something like close the the 300zx rear, i would have those arches still showing. which would still be sorry but one could debate it already is sorry.
thats what lead to the extreme, just cut all that mess off and worry about it later.
i did measure the kit and on the sides it is 6 inches off the ground (front, side skirts, and side part of the rear bumper) where i have it marked on the sides of the rear bumper it would end up being an inch or two higher, lol !
im waiting to hear back from a friend that works at a panel beaters here. maybe he has some better ideas.
10-20-2007, 02:17 PM
#19
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quick post: what was i thinking when i bought this thing ? i would trade for a stock bumper straight up any day of the week if in the states ! lol ! ebay actually sales the front and rear bumpers, i replaced my front with an ebay bumper several years ago, it was 50 bucks i think, and was perfect. i could do the same here, but for the size of the item shipping to NZ would be crazy
10-20-2007, 10:11 PM
#23
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Join Date: May 2007
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I definitly dont like the looks of that rear bumper, but where you masked off would be the perfect place to cut. The only thing of concern would be how sharp it would be, not much over hang for smooth lines. I say hack, it looks better, plus YOUR SAVING WEIGHT 
10-24-2007, 08:23 AM
#26
10-24-2007, 12:42 PM
#29
If you decide to do it, post pics afterward. I'm under the impression that if you cut the bumper where you're marked off, it will look near-OEM.. what's the point? Sell the bumper and buy a stock with a stillen lip kit. It'll look much better.
10-24-2007, 02:12 PM
#31
.
10-24-2007, 03:39 PM
#33
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no worries, i just appreciate all the feedback. if i were still living in the states i wouldnt even bother with the sarona rear. i would put the stock rear bumper on and do the stillen thing. the problem is having the US Spec Maxima in New Zealand. the a32 body style is different.
what i need to do is just take the darn thing into a body shop and have them take a look. cut a pattern and do whatever they need to do to make it look aggressive. ha, honestly i just hate spending money on cosmetics lol !
i guess the main thing is a thread like this to come up with some ideas on this rear bumper that would look good before wasting money. i think with a little thought though, it could turn out better than it is.
what i need to do is just take the darn thing into a body shop and have them take a look. cut a pattern and do whatever they need to do to make it look aggressive. ha, honestly i just hate spending money on cosmetics lol !
i guess the main thing is a thread like this to come up with some ideas on this rear bumper that would look good before wasting money. i think with a little thought though, it could turn out better than it is.
10-24-2007, 04:08 PM
#34
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tried to get some photos, car was boxed in the garage.
ive always been happy with the stillen front lip, thats one tough front lip !! Sarona sides are nice too , but as disscussed, not a big fan on the sarona rear.
stillen front rocks !
ive always been happy with the stillen front lip, thats one tough front lip !! Sarona sides are nice too , but as disscussed, not a big fan on the sarona rear.
stillen front rocks !
Last edited by Ceasars Chariot; 10-24-2007 at 04:11 PM.
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