Whats this thing for?

[jetice]

Working on getting the prep work done on my car, and when I pulled the rear bumper off I saw a little lip on the bumper where its meets quarter. Any ideas what it is for? Will it hurt anything to fill it in? Thanks for the help.

[OIF1VET]

Won't hurt anything to fill it, but if it ever needs replacement will be a pain... Would look good smoothed though..

[jetice]

Oh, I am not talking the gap between the bumper and the quarter, I mean that there is a little shelf on the bumper itself that looks like crap. I thought it was to to align the bumper up with the quarter, like if it tucked in behind the quarter, but it does not do that, so I see no need for it.

[OIF1VET]

Oh, I am not talking the gap between the bumper and the quarter, I mean that there is a little shelf on the bumper itself that looks like crap. I thought it was to to align the bumper up with the quarter, like if it tucked in behind the quarter, but it does not do that, so I see no need for it.

Ahhhh, got you.. No idea why.. After looking at my car, there is no reason you couldn't fill that... I'd like to see it...

[jetice]

First post edited with new photos.

[Lucky SOB]

My guess would be rigidity - putting a crease in the material like that would make it less prone to flexing

[JoeliusZ28]

My guess would be rigidity - putting a crease in the material like that would make it less prone to flexing

Agreed... and i would also add to that that it might be an intentional "gap creator." Reason being, the tighter the gaps are between panels, the more difficult it is to keep them appearing consistent - which is an issue on a production vehicle being slapped together on an assembly line.

[jetice]

Agreed... and i would also add to that that it might be an intentional "gap creator." Reason being, the tighter the gaps are between panels, the more difficult it is to keep them appearing consistent - which is an issue on a production vehicle being slapped together on an assembly line.

I think this makes the most sense, I wonder what gap are they trying to make it consistent with? The bumper its self, the taillights, the whole car? Just trying to do little things to make the car look "smoother". It should go along with some of the other stuff I am doing.

[JoeliusZ28]

I think this makes the most sense, I wonder what gap are they trying to make it consistent with? The bumper its self, the taillights, the whole car? Just trying to do little things to make the car look "smoother". It should go along with some of the other stuff I am doing.

I didn't mean consistent with another gap - moreso the nature of how an individual gap can appear to the eye. It is an issue of percentages. Lets say you have a 1/4" gap between two panels but due to manufacturing there might be 1/16" error from one end of the gap vs the other. Now take that same gap but make it 1/8" ... now your 1/16" error is suddenly twice as noticeable and your gap will look lobsided because it is half of what the original gap is supposed to be. In other words, the tighter you try to make your gaps, the more work you need to put into making them look right. But when you do manage to get narrow gaps perfect, it is no doubt beautiful