Black plastic structure behind front bumper?

[Nicad]

1993 green SHO mtx.
A couple of weeks ago, someone partially pulled out in front of me and stopped and I could not stop in time before the front right of my bumper bumped into him going somewhere around 10-15 mph. It bent my hood slightly on the front right, broke the bumper cover, headlight assembly, and broke up the large black plastic mount that holds the headlights and bumper to the frame. The frame seems to be fine.

It was deemed not my fault and the Insurance comp totaled the car and paid me $2400. I am thinking of going with a CF hood from Ebay, new headlights, and painted bumper "cover"... but I can not find the name or a source of the large plastic mount that holds everything (it looks like it went the full width of the car). Anyone know?
Right now it is called "lots of zip-ties!"
Thanks!

 

[frosho]

The part that the headlights mount to is the header panel.

 

[Nicad]

Did some more searching, and came up with this thread: http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=89771 It seems it is called a "header panel" or "Headlamp Mounting Panel". Can anyone confirm if this is the part I am needing? And it seems one for a Sable will fit on the SHO (but a normal Taurus part will not work with the SHO).

**edit** ok thanks FroSho.

 

[frosho]

I always thought the normal Taurus part would fit, but I haven't personally used one. I can confirm that the Sable panel fits. Any year from 92-95 will work.

 

[Eric VerValin]

EBAY has em...

"header panel" is what you are looking for...

 

[sperold]

The bumper cover sits on a ********* piece of plastic, as well, that is attached to the car by a couple of shock absorber type things. How did it fare in the collision?

 

[rubydist]

sperold is right - there are actually 2 large black parts - one is the header panel that mounts the headlights and the top flap of the bumper cover, the other is the actual bumper and is 'inside' the bumper cover.

 

[shonuffmine]

rockauto has header panels for $31 and $43 they are called headlight mounting panel on there

 

[Nicad]

sperold-
Ah ok, I thought there was a LOT of plastic pieces coming out from under it to be just the headlight header panel. Where would I look for this part? Everything I find relating to a bumper is just the cover.
I was very fortunate in that no frame/structural damage was done, and is still drivable.
I have just about every bolt-on mod on it, and when the ins company paid me $2800 for it with a $400 option to "buy it back" it was a no brainier.
So far I have purchased new Sable headlights, new Sable headlight header panel, and an OEM bumper cover. This "bumper" structure behind the cover has me wondering now tho... Any more info would be much appreciated.

 

[sperold]

You have to post a "wanted to buy" on our forum and someone has this thing, and will give you a reply. It is long, and has the corners included, so it ends up being a big parcel to ship, even though it doesn't weight much.
You would be further ahead looking in your area for a used one or maybe one of the replys will be close enough to pick up. I think either a Taurus or Sable will work, and take a look at those shock absorbers and see if they are both the same lenght. These parts won't be expensive used, I think the headlight header panel is actually more money, but they are just hard to get your hands on.
Have a good look at your damaged one, maybe you can reinforce it with steel and re install if it is not shattered badly.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Actually, what you can do.... I actually hit one of those yellow "bullocks" (I think thats what they're called... and it cracked my header panel on my 92. Didn't push the real "bumper" in, and my bumpercover bounced right back... so the only thing that really happend was the header panel cracked right where one of the headlight screws went into.

I "fixed" it using some of those "irwin" speed clamps, and jb weld... held up like that for 10 years. So if it's not really bad, it might be possible to put a bandaid on it.. Just depends on how bad it's messed up.

If you were closer, I'd just let ya have the stuff off my "skeleton" car.. lol

 

[Nicad]

Is this the "bumper" part yall are talking about? It looks like it would span the two shock absorbers:
http://www.jjbumpers.com/pictures/FD06925FR0.jpg
it is called a "Bumper Reinforcement". Wanting $185 shipped tho. :-/

Eric VerValin- Thanks for the offer. I might take you up on it, if you would be willing to take it to a local UPS store or something and have them box it up and send me the bill.

 

[shonuffmine]

That be the critter,don,t cheap out ya got the money just order on line n have it shipped or see if a local parts store can get them for you.that will save on the shipping!

 

[Eric VerValin]

Go local man for that... All that crap would fit in one box but it'll be 40 or 50 more than likley as it would probally be a 'freight' item due to the size..

Plus as I see your from a non rust area, that "bumper" should come off pretty easy.. shop around different yards too... not all of em have the same prices..

 

[shonuffmine]

Amen Eric,last yard i went to in Maine the guy wanted 50 for the header and 45 apiece for headlights, had to tell em that that was almost twice as much as i could get them for new either on rock auto or e-bay or the local auto parts store

 

[Eric VerValin]

LoL... there is one here in town that swears every SHO part is dipped in gold. I can't count the times I had something or a few somethings I wanted, and had to laugh and leave em on the counter as I walked out the door.

All that being said... they are the only ones open on Sunday til noon.... sooooooooo.... every once in a while they get a little money from people who don't really want to pay their prices..

 

[Nicad]

Is the bumper (not the cover) for my Gen2 SHO compatible with the same gen Sable or non-SHO Taurus? In other words- do I nee to be looking for a SHO-specific bumper part, or will one from any of the above will work?
Thanks again yall!

 

[sperold]

I believe they all work, you have what is left of your old one, so when you see one, you will recognise it. The mounting location will be the same for sure. If you have a choice, go from SHO, to Sable, to Taurus. But all will work, I believe.
After seeing what is really behind the bumper cover, you begin to understand you don't have to concern yourself with the level of protection it gives you. They don't call them 5 mile-an-hour bumpers for nothing.

 

[needaQuaife]

if the front bumper reinforcement is removed from behind the front bumper, will it cause a safety issue at highway speeds?
meaning , will it deform and rip itself loose or fly around ???

 

[needaQuaife]

well, I removed it, so far ok at 80mph. definetly can feel it respond quicker to steering inputs. Not nearly as heavy as I thought, maybe 30-40 lbs or less.