Strips or no strips on ss rear bumper seam covers?

[Highnote1]

Trying to decide if I should use these or not. Most of the time I do not see people using strips. 
 

I obviously haven’t crimped the ends down yet. 
 

 

[2002#3]

Highnote1,

     After a 5-year restore (yes, purists, define that word any way you want) the single neglected job I regret most is not adding those 4 rubber strips.  I did so on the front bumper - nice.  In my mind's eye, absence of those strips makes the bumper and, really, the entire car look a little unfinished.  To me those little strips add a certain solidity, boldness, finish-ness, or sealed-gap-ness to the bumper.  Call my issue what you want; it's mine and I'll own it. 

     I am looking forward to the addition of those strips this spring.  Yours are a POC (one smooth curve).  Mine will be a bear to install because of the presence of 2 bends and the long rubber strip.  I know because I tried it 4 years ago. 

 

     Q:  Other's opinions?

     Q:  Black or grey?  I've seen both.     

     Q:  Were the strips originally part of all or some 2002's?

     Q:  Did '74 Euro versions have the strips?  Maybe my status quo is copacetic. 

 

Regards,

Larry

 

PS:  Nice quilt.

 

[Highnote1]

Thanks Larry. 
 

I’m on year 5 too just back from paint. Here is the rest of the scene of our guest room...

 

My wife loves it obviously...?

 

 

[02Les]

8 hours ago, 2002#3 said:

Highnote1,

     After a 5-year restore (yes, purists, define that word any way you want) the single neglected job I regret most is not adding those 4 rubber strips.  I did so on the front bumper - nice.  In my mind's eye, absence of those strips makes the bumper and, really, the entire car look a little unfinished.  To me those little strips add a certain solidity, boldness, finish-ness, or sealed-gap-ness to the bumper.  Call my issue what you want; it's mine and I'll own it. 

     I am looking forward to the addition of those strips this spring.  Yours are a POC (one smooth curve).  Mine will be a bear to install because of the presence of 2 bends and the long rubber strip.  I know because I tried it 4 years ago. 

 

     Q:  Other's opinions?

     Q:  Black or grey?  I've seen both.     

     Q:  Were the strips originally part of all or some 2002's?

     Q:  Did '74 Euro versions have the strips?  Maybe my status quo is copacetic. 

 

Regards,

Larry

 

PS:  Nice quilt.

 

 

The rubber strips were only used on the seam covers on the early (up to early '71) bumpers (+ the Turbo).

They were not used on the seam covers for the '71 & on chrome Euro bumpers like you have.

[stephers]

Much cleaner look without any rubber shim         I believe that there was nothing on the original set up

 

Thanks, Rick

[Highnote1]

Technically what I have are the early shorty bumpers...so did all shortys have rubber strips?

They “seam” to help with the gap that you never quite close without them. 

 

[calw]

Do you have any details about the black rubber strips on the cover in the first photo?  I can't find an available OEM part that looks like those.

 

I have those same early, no-horizontal-rubber-strip-bumpers.  And a set of the seam covers as in the first photo, from Blunt several years ago.  They seem really long without a strip, but I haven't taken the plunge to bend them fully yet.

 

According to realoem, the "synthetic strip", p/n 51111816063 is used on all years that have the no-horizontal-rubber-strip bumpers.  Besides being silver, not black, that strip has a profile that works on overriders, but not with the chrome covers, and doesn't look anything like the first photo black strips.  There is another part, p/n 51111808420, that is black, listed for US horizontal-rubber-strip bumpers  but I haven't seen it in person.

 

Yes, I'm confused...

[2002#3]

Thank you, 02Les, for informing me '74 Euros did not have the seam strips.  I will officially stop fretting about the strips, grow up, and live a pleasant '02 life without them.  

Regards, 

Larry

[Highnote1]

The rubber came in one strip from Vietnam for my bumpers. Here it is in the front. WN carries it too. 
 

 

[calw]

hmmm, that looks like a different profile.  I have examples of the silver version from both W&N and a dealer which are sold individually for each side of the overrider or cover, that look like the photo below (photo found online, sorry about focus). 

 

I think yours is more like a basic "U" shape, can you confirm?

 

W&N calls this P/N A51115470054, the dealer ones that I have are marked 51111816063, they look the same.

 

 

[stephers]

The profile's for the 2 different colors are the same, Yes bumpers with overiders do have the shim but only the ones with overiders

[Highnote1]

18 hours ago, calw said:

hmmm, that looks like a different profile.  I have examples of the silver version from both W&N and a dealer which are sold individually for each side of the overrider or cover, that look like the photo below (photo found online, sorry about focus). 

 

I think yours is more like a basic "U" shape, can you confirm?

 

W&N calls this P/N A51115470054, the dealer ones that I have are marked 51111816063, they look the same.

 

 

Yes. For sure mine are more u shaped. Seem to work ok.