Nubi lip

Dillon · Post by **Dillon** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 8:59 pm

How hard would it be to make a front bumper lip from scratch do you guys think?

Post by **PrecisionBoost** » Fri Dec 30, 2005 7:11 pm

Depends on how complex the design is going to be.

You could make one out of MDF (medium density fibre board) to fit exactly how you want and then have a body shop make you a duplicate out of fibreglass.

I'd estimate that the wood lip would take at least 6-8 hours if your good with your hands.

How much for a shop to make a duplicate out of fibreglass???

Hard to say.... you'd be best off to take your MDF design and get a few quotes.

They could simply lay a very thin 1/16" thick piece of mat over the wood and when it cures they could carefully pull it off the wood piece.

Then they build up the inside of the lip to make it nice and strong.... then they sand the outside piece down and adjust it to fit your car.

A good fibreglass guy would probably get this done in a couple of hours but I'd imagine the cost to be in the range of $300 or more for a single lip as these shops usually have a really high shop rate. (upwards of $100/hr)

Dillon · Post by **Dillon** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:48 am

What is mfd board and how dose it work?

Post by **PrecisionBoost** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:28 am

Hmmm.... if you don't know what MDF is.... your probably not handy enough to make the lip out of it.... do you know anyone with carpentry skills that can help you??

Medium Density fibre board can be found at any local home depot in various sizes.

It's made of compressed sawdust with some type of glue.

It's widely used for sub boxes because it doesn't have a grain like plywood..... therefore it isn't as "colorfull".... which is to say the box doesn't flex or resonate like MDF.

Post by **PrecisionBoost** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:31 am

If woodworking is a problem.... just go down to Home Depot and pick yourself up some high density foam (like the stuff they use for insulating houses)

A sheet of that is cheap..... and you can get it in various thicknesses.

Then you can use an knife to carve out the shape you want.... and you can also use a sander..... but be carefull.... you will find that sandpaper takes a whole pile of foam off in each stroke.

Once you have a foam based representation of what you want it shouldn't be too hard for a fibreglass specialty shop to copy it for you.

Audacity Racing · Post by **Audacity Racing** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 5:53 am

an mdf bumper mold would take a flatbed truck to move around

mocpac · Post by **mocpac** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 1:53 pm

The real lip of my nubi is in fiber glas is a mix between the Protege masda speed real lip and the orciari rear side skirts... price 200.00

Dillon · Post by **Dillon** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:49 pm

ok i know what mdf board is... and i should have known since my dads a carpender but i think i mught try the foam first and then go to the wood... But will almost any fiberglass shop know what to do?

Audacity Racing · Post by **Audacity Racing** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:18 pm

here is my thoughts on adding lips to cars without pre-made ones...

use the stock bumper and add to it as you see fit. get a off the shelf lip, cut it, and get a fiberglass shop to repair the gap (or fix the break if you have to remove material).

that would be easier than trying to match-up a lip to the bumper based on a mold you made.

my $0.02

lanos2001 · Post by **lanos2001** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:29 pm

yeah i agree with kenny. A LOT easier to get a pre-made one and just shape it to your bumper. that way you have a starting point and not start from scratch. thats how i did my hood scoop. i got one from a friend and then cut it and molded it in.

nick

Post by **PrecisionBoost** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 1:47 am

Sure it's easy to buy one, cut it up and fit it on your car...... but then your stuck with what ever selection you made

I like the idea of making your own for the simple fact that it's a one of a kind piece that nobody else has.... and it's exactly what you want.

Plus... foam is cheap....they would cost about $1 per lip to make..... so if you don't like the looks of one.... simply throw it in the garbage.

Here is another option..... build it out of foam and then go out and search around to find one for another car that is very similar to the foam one you like.

For me.... making my own would cost me about $30..... but that's because I have mat and fibreglass at my shop and I have many years of experience in fibreglassing stuff.