GP Sports

[revat619]

basically what the title says. I was looking at their front bumpers for the s14 kouki ( i need a new one pretty bad) and i saw that they only use 3.5 layers of fiberglass...is that good/safe...i usually see companies using between 8 and 12 layers. I guess its mainly a safety issue for me. Thanks.

[ruf]

<!--QuoteBegin--revat619+Nov. 14 2002,12<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (revat619 @ Nov. 14 2002,12<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>6)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">basically what the title says. I was looking at their front bumpers for the s14 kouki ( i need a new one pretty bad) and i saw that they only use 3.5 layers of fiberglass...is that good/safe...i usually see companies using between 8 and 12 layers. I guess its mainly a safety issue for me. Thanks.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
A bumper is not going to be "safe" whether it's 3 layers or 20 layers of glass. Durability-wise a heavier bumper will last longer. The GP Sports stuff is very light. We are STILL waiting for our shipment (along with everyone else in the country), so I should be able to comment on the construction first-hand soon.

btw, can you link the location where it tells the thickness of the GP Sports bumpers? Thanks.

[revat619]

sure here ya go

http://www.autoimaging.com/shop/index.php?shop=1&cat=66

[ruf]

Ah I see. Thanks. I don't know how you can get "3.5" layers of glass. Oh well. Most of the Japanese drift bumpers I've seen are very light (K-Style, Uras, etc.), so they do flex more. When they break, they seem to break cleaner so maybe that's easier to repair? I dunno. Anyways, if you want any GP Sports stuff, PM me. I've also got a Uras kouki 180SX bumper in stock now if anyone's interested.

[Stee Flo]

Dont know about the quality, but they have the sweetest looking bodykits for the s13 and s14 imo. &nbsp;Clean and aggresive.

[ruf]

You want clean and aggressive? Check their new R32 kit. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/thumbs-up.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':thumbsup:'>

http://www.gpsports.co.jp/hcr01_600.jpg
http://www.gpsports.co.jp/hcr03_600.jpg

What's Motorex's number again? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sigh.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':rolleyes:'>

[adey]

Do you have any photos/pics of the Uras 180sx bumper? I'd be interested, if not in buying it, in seeing it. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

[silvia14]

they use FRP, Fiber Reinforced Plastic, instead of crappy fiberglass. frp behaves more like abs plastic (oem bumpers), they are elastic, easier to repair compared to fiberglass.

[ruf]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (adey @ Nov. 14 2002,5:09)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Do you have any photos/pics of the Uras 180sx bumper? I'd be interested, if not in buying it, in seeing it. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I'd have to wait til the weekend to get an actual pic of it, but it's pretty much the same as Type II.

http://www.biznetworking.com/ruf/images/uras/uras3.jpg

[ruf]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (silvia14 @ Nov. 14 2002,5:14)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">they use FRP, Fiber Reinforced Plastic, instead of crappy fiberglass. frp behaves more like abs plastic (oem bumpers), they are elastic, easier to repair compared to fiberglass.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
FRP is another name for fiberglass. There are construction qualities other than material that determine the characteristics of the part. Thinner parts flex more, but are flimsier. I think the thinness of the bumpers that we are talking about is what contributes the most to their elasticity.

Uras also has a G+ material which is basically urethane. GP Sports also offers certain kits in urethane. Both charge about another $100-150 per part.

[FRpilot]

does anyone know where i can get my hands on the Uras/monkey magic type 2 bumper and sides? or the entire kit in G+ material? Ruf, you seem to be the uras/monkey magic guy? shed some light?

[91CRXsiR]

i dont remember who i heard it from but i recall sum1 mentioning that they wanted to use bondo or some other form of fiberglass filler to make the body kit stronger by laying some on the inside of the kit, of course this would me it very heavy , but also stronger??

[revat619]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (silvia14 @ Nov. 14 2002,5:14)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">they use FRP, Fiber Reinforced Plastic, instead of crappy fiberglass. frp behaves more like abs plastic (oem bumpers), they are elastic, easier to repair compared to fiberglass.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
so does this mean that their bumpers are close to oem bumpers in strength and quality? My car is a daily driver, so is this a good choice? Im still kinda confused <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'> sorry everybody if i sound dumb.

oh and ruf, the bumpers i pm'd you about, do they make a urethane version?

[SilviaDriver]

im doing a s15 conversion and was looking at the Uras type 3 bumper, Ruf said they are light, so less layers of fiberglass, i dont want the thing ot crack so easly since it does cost over 500 bucks

doe anybody know if the GARAGE Mak bumper good quality?

[ruf]

Fiberglass/FRP is NO COMPARISON to oem/urethane in terms of durability. Some companies use an expensive hybrid that is very good, but urethane will still be tougher. Bondo will make a bumper heavy and stiffer in certain areas which may make it stronger, or may make it crack in other places.

What it boils down to is this. Thinner fiberglass = lighter, more flexible. This will soak up a light hit better. If pushed, it will snap. Thicker = heavier, stiffer. Will crack easier, but should be harder to break completely.

If you can afford it, urethane or hybrid like Ings or Uras G+ is the best way to go for street. As far as I know, GP Sports only makes the S13 Type R kit in urethane. The G+ versions should have extended to the majority of the Uras line now. If you want it, I can get it but it will not be cheap. PM me if anyone is serious about buying this stuff. I will answer PM's tomorrow. Tired. Need sleep. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sleeping.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':zzzz:'>

[SilviaDriver]

personally, weight to me isnt a factor on kits, its about quality.

if i were to get fiberglass, would it be a good idea to juss bondo the whole sucker to make it harder, so it wont break? or crack? is there any other ways to back up fiberglass so that its almost kinda like urathane..cant break it. of course i know u wont be able to bend it, but i just dont want it to crack or anything.

[adey]

It's hard to see the type-II, the black's not good for showing detail. (not to mention the DMax of the scanner isn't v. good...) Heh.
Unfortunately, from what I can see of the bumper, it's not my style. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'> &nbsp;

I don't think bondoing the whole bumper would be the best idea... if you want strenghth/durability, stay OEM! I don't think you're going to gain anything other than looks (and often times, not even looks) by going aftermarket.

[ruf]

SilviaDriver - DO YOU READ? Geez. For the last time, if you back up a fiberglass bumper to the point where it's super stiff, it WILL break instead of bend. You hit something with fiberglass and it will chip, crack or break. If it's ultra thin, it will bend a little before it does all of that.

adey - Type II just looks like kouki 180SX with the optional lip. Sorry if I don't feel like hosting 1MB images, when I went through the trouble of scanning the whole catalog. If you want a bigger hi-res pic, I can e-mail one to you.

[240fluke]

Personally, my favorite front bumper is the Edge front bumper. &nbsp;Does anybody know if Edge (or any other manufacturer of this same/similar front bumper) makes one in a Urethane kit or a hybrid style like INGS? &nbsp;Edge seems to me to be a clean/aggressive style look (BTW this is for a Zenki '95 S14).

Personally, I don't really care for fiberglass much. &nbsp;Spend a lot of money on something and end up having it break and crack and look like garbage, blech, no thanks. &nbsp;I would prefer to spend more to get a higher quality piece if I can.

GP Sports makes real quality kits from what I have seen. &nbsp;I love their S13 kits, but I don't like the S14 kits as much. &nbsp;If I had an S13 though, I would definitely be considering the GP Sports bodykit for my car.

Tim '95 SE