Front bra? Mask?

[mike boland]

used have bra on my 1991 Westy with fiberglass bumpers, but over time it got torn up, destroyed.

now lot small rock chips are in entire front...

rather than buy new Bra I was think painting it with like Rhino liner coating.

recall seeing photo of one like that before...any body have photo?

mike

[dabaron]

you MUST resolve all rust issues before applying a sealing coat that will lock in the moisture and rust. there will be rust where there are chips in the paint from rocks.
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1991 Vanagon GL Camper
i had no idea i wanted to be a mechanic

[mike boland]

[IdahoDoug]

You haven't lived until you have tried cleaning bugs off a rough surface like bedliner. If you want cosmetic looks, repaint and have a 3M Clear Bra applied. If you are a functional solution type, do the bedliner.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[connorsvw2]

2nd on the 3M clear bra. Super tough and no hassles. Love it, but $$.
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'85 Westy Wolfsburg camper/2002 2.5 Subaru since 2003.
'85 GTI 1.8L 1-owner 8v-gave up on 9A 2.0L 16v transplant. Keeping her stock!
'99 Passat 1.8T Variant-AKA "The Money Pit". Still limping along...
'09 Subaru Outback XT 5-speed, 245 hp rocket (wife's car)

[Corwyn]

[Red Ryder]

For long-lasting results, sand, prep and paint the front clip. Bedliner on the front will look great for one day…
_________________
“Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland

“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition (Tornado Red)
“Nigel” — 1999 Jaguar XK8 convertible (Alpine Green Metallic)

[bobbyblack]

I've used a bra on several VWs in my day, including my DD '87 Flash Silver Westy. I'd highly advise against putting another one on after you fix your paint. In my case, every time I put my bra's back on after fixing the paint, it would slowly grind away again until it wore through the paint yet again. They look cool and all, but the grit that gets under them is a disaster and you don't see it until something like you mention (your old one wore to tatters) and you take it off. Just go with multiple layers of your stock or chosen paint and clear (if that is what you do).

-bobby
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[Ahwahnee]

X3... I just accept that every 20 years or so the front apron will get repainted.

[DanHoug]

[vanis13]

Every van I looked at that had a bra had an unfixed front ding/dent.....that's the only reason to keep a F bra on.
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83.5 Westy with Subaru 2.5, 4 spd manual, center seat, COLD A/C on 134a!, Winter camp heated with an Espar B4 gasoline furnace

www.SuperVanagon.com - some stuff I make

[Red Ryder]

We only install our bra for extended trips. Leaving one on the van full time is asking for heartache…
Since you already have the heartache, you are free to proceed as your wallet dictates.
_________________
“Most everyone’s mad here. You may have noticed I am not quite all there myself.” — Cheshire Cat, Adventures of Alice in Wonderland

“Scarlett” — 1990 Vanagon Carat Wolfsburg Edition (Tornado Red)
“Nigel” — 1999 Jaguar XK8 convertible (Alpine Green Metallic)

[mike boland]

[Love My Westy]

I've been using a bra since new in 1986. Every time I wash the van, I also wash and dry the bra so a clean bra goes on a clean van. My paint looks good, and it's a whole lot better than if I had gathered 37 years of paint chips and the corresponding rust. To each his own.