I was pulling the hood and other parts from a 96 civic coupe at the yard today, and I noticed it has a steel bumper on the front, that appears to bolt on, mine just had a big foam block and plastic bumper cover, mine is a 98 civic lx four door, Am I supposed to have that bumper bar? or was it a design change? I'm trying to figure out if I'm missing anything.

 

you should have something similar behind or embedded inside of that foam. as its a safety requirement set on car manufactuers. its called a bumper reinforcement.