I have a problem, a problem concerning appearance. I know older Volvos aren't the most appealing cars, but little things can help. I've grown to notice that the extened bumpers are about as attractive as a hideously large nose. Now I know the engineers would cringe at this, but hear me out. Is there a way to modify or shorten the impact absorbers in the bumpers to make them shorter? I know as soon as i cut one open with a torch, a wall of flame will lunge forth at me. Anyway, any feedback is appreciated.

Consider painting the shiny aluminum (and probably pitted and corroded) bumpers with a flat black or semi-gloss black, as are the early turbo cars. This way you retain the superior crash worthiness of the 10-mph (pre Reagan) bumpers, but reduce their visibility.

And if you can find and transplant an air dam from a turbo or a later model 240, it further softens the visibility of the aluminum bumper.

The newer style plastic bumpers really are flimsy as hell.

Be aware that the plastic el-flimso bumpers are slightly different after '85, so if you insist on install them, go for '83 or '84 US cars (Canadian models still had commando bumpers into '85).

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

Don exagerates a bit. The post '85 bumpers aren't ALL plastic. Under the black plastic cover is a hunk of aluminum channel, maybe 3/8 inch thick.

Some new cars DO have all plastic bumpers - under the flexible plastic cover is a grid of rigid plastic, with some styrofoam thrown in for good messure. Seems scary to me, but I'm not a materials scientist - they could be stronger than steel, for all I know. I don't know what the new Volvos use for bumpers.

"Don exagerates a bit."

Well, not exactly exagerating, but I did sidestep the engineering details. I know well the aluminum subframe. One morning several years ago, wife backed her 740 outta the garage and kissed the rear bumper on daughter's (now my) '86 245.

Result: Loud noise, 240 bumper laying on the ground, scrape in side of 740, and me very, very unhappy (resulting in more loud noise).

I removed the black plastic cover and reattached the aluminum frame using new bolts and big mutha washers to cover the holes torn at the original bolts.

I think the aluminum subframe is manufactured by Alcoa after they finish their aluminum foil run for the day, and on the same mills.

Don Foster (near Cape Cod, MA)

You can convert to post 1983 240 bumpers, which are shorter and all black. They are also lighter...You will need the bumpers, trim, and bumper shocks from the later car...I've done it on mine and it looks a lot nicer...plus the reduced weight doesn't hurt a thing!

Rob

>...plus the reduced weight doesn't hurt a thing!

umm, excepting your crashworthiness. I've converted 2 of my '83+ cars back to real bumpers. 2 more to go.

Replaced the front bumper on daughter's '83. So light I carried it through the pick and pull under the arm I had my toolbox in. So light I had to sort through 7 cars to find one straight and it still needed a small crimp removed. Did that with a channel-lock plier. Looked like about 7/32" or maybe even 3/16" thin.

Replaced bumper cover on my '79. Had to sort through 4 of them to find one un-cut, but all the bumpers they were on were straight and looked to be 7/16" thick.

Hope I'm keeping the exaggeration to a minimum, since I've had to wear magnifying glasses my ability to measure by sight has suffered. You can drive so as to hit nothing, but PO's and other drivers can make your bumpers unsightly as well as ineffective.

Uhm, I dunno how much stuff you guys usually run into, but I try NOT to hit stuff...maybe you should try that. Besides I trust my driving abilities, and the fact that I have a slightly weaker bumper doesn't bother me cause it's a 240...I'm sure the bumper won't stop much but fender benders....

Rob

Good job, Evan!

I'm one of these function-over-style people. Reducing the crashworthiness because it 'looks better' (how subjective) just makes no sense to me. These commando bumpers work great to fend off the Hondas and Toyotas. Now if we could only get 3' high nerf bars to fend off the Explorers...

Rob

agreed with your Evan.Real bumpers are much stronger and its dont

look bad either.