Front Bumper to Frame Attachment

[Barry Maxwell]

I have recently started a multi-year total restoration of a '51 B3C. For some reason, a previous owner cut off the front of both frame rails with a torch and welded some plates on the stubs for attachment to the bumper. When the bumper is attached, it is too close to the grill, is canted, and looks lousy.

When I get to the rolling chasis stage (quite a while from now), I want to square up the frame stubs and weld on frame extentions that match as closly as possible the original. At this point all I have for reference is the illustration on page 13-1 of the parts book, and that doesn't help.

Can anyone provide photos of the front of the frame rail, together with the distance between the front of the spring hanger and the front of the frame extension? Also, I assume that there should be brackets that connect the bumper to the frame? If that is the case,I would appreciate information on those as well.

As you can probably tell, I am flying blind on this. Any help will be appreciated. Many thanks.

[HanksB3B]

Very underdesigned and more than likely snapped of from either pushing other cars or a 10mph + accident. Sorry that the pictures aren't too good, but this is all I had to go by, and my welder was able to figure it out. If you are talented with a torch, I would consider beefing things up around that area maybe by adding a double plate that spanned the wound and adding a vertical piece to tie the top and bottom of the frame rails together.

Hope this helps a little,

Hank

Edited September 23, 2010 by HanksB3B

[Bob_Koch]

There are blueprints for your truck B - 108" W.B. available on the DPETCA site. It takes awhile to figure them out but I think the dimensions you need are there.

http://dodgepilothouseclub.org/know/blueprints/index.htm

[Dennis_MN]

I had a similar situation, someone cut off the frame ends and welded on brackets for a Ford Ranger Bumper. I found a complete Dodge Frame (Actually Yound Ed found it on Craigs List) with a bumper so I cut off 12 inches of the frame and welded them on to my frame. There are no brackets, the bumper bolts directly on the the frame. I bolted the frame ends on to my bumper first, then welded the ends to my frame.

I screwed up just a tad because my truck was in the air when the cutting and welding was going on so the bumper is facing down by about a 1/2 inch or so. I'm about the only one that notices that detail.

[Barry Maxwell]

Bob: Thanks for the tip. Although the exact dimension I need is not shown, the print does show that the distance from the front spring eye to the front of the bumper is 13-1/2". If nobody has the exact dimension I need, I can approximate it by measuring from the front of the bumper to the mounting bolts.

The print does indicate that there are no separate mounting brackets between the frame and bumper. It shows that the bumper apparently mounts to the triangular plates which are part of the frame extensions I am missing. Is that correct?

[Barry Maxwell]

Dennis: Thanks for your response. It came in while I was typing my response to Bob Koch, and you confirmed what I thought regarding attaching the bumper to the frame.

Thanks also to HanksB3B for the pictures. They show that the bumper attachs with three bolts to both frame ends. Is that correct? Since my bumper is at the sand blasters, I can't tell whether I have holes on the bottom of the bumper for that third bolt. My picture does show two holes on the top on each end of the bumper.

[JJs 1948]

I have a 1948 B-1-B parts truck that I am going to cut up and scrap out. If you want the front frame rails I can send them to you. If you want them, give me the size and they will only cost you the shipping.

Jeff

[Barry Maxwell]

Jeff:

Bingo!! That sounds great to me! I am new to Dodge PH trucks, but I assume that the frame of your parts truck is the same as my '51 B3C. If so, I would ask that you cut them off just forward of the front spring hangers. That should give me more than enough to work with. My name and address is:

Barry Maxwell

1902 Pheasant Ridge Road

Lewisburg, PA 17837

(email: bmaxwell@bucknell.edu)

I REALLY appreciate your offer. Please email me when you are about to send them, and let me know the cost and your address. Many, many thanks.

Barry

[Dan Babb]

The whole front end and bumper is off my truck now. PM me if you still need pictures or measurements.

[JJs 1948]

OK Barry. I'll get the frame parts off next week and shipped to you.

Jeff

[Dennis_MN]

Is this a great list or what! Fantastic to volunteer to cut the ends off and ship them.

[Young Ed]

Are the pilothouse frames as tall as the bumper is? On the 39-47 trucks the frame isnt as tall and there is a filler panel.

[Barry Maxwell]

Jeff:

As I was going to sleep last night I suddenly remembered that I failed to specify the dimension that I need. Specifically, the distance between the front edge of the front spring hanger to the front of the triangular looking plate that attaches to the bumper. I think that my lapse is what you call a "brain fart". Sorry about that.

Young Ed raises a question that I hope someone can answer. I am hoping that the frame ends for your 1948 will work for my 1951, or that I can make them work.

Also, I totally agree with Dennis MN about this forum. I am convinced that Dodge PH trucks collect the greatest folks.

[Merle Coggins]

Yes, the bumper is slightly wider than the frame tips. The bumper bolts directly to the upper frame flange where it flares out at the ends. Then there is an adapter plate that has a bit of an offset bend in it to attach the bottom of the bumper.

Not the best photo of that particular area, but it's the best I have

[Barry Maxwell]

Merle:

Thank you for the photo. Your rolling chassis is where I hope to be sometime this winter. I take it that you think that the frame ends of a '48 will work on my '51??

A totally unrelated question. I see that there is a way on this forum to imbed a previous post in a new post in the same thread, so that it is very clear that you are responding to the previous post. How do you do that? I am sure that it a simple matter, but I can't figure it out. As you can probably tell, I am relatively new here. Thanks again.

Barry

[Dennis_MN]

A totally unrelated question. I see that there is a way on this forum to imbed a previous post in a new post in the same thread, so that it is very clear that you are responding to the previous post. How do you do that? I am sure that it a simple matter, but I can't figure it out. As you can probably tell, I am relatively new here. Thanks again.

Barry

There is a little button off to the right called "quote" which does it nicely.

And once there, you can edit using backspace, etc.

Also, if you move this input screen up, there is a space way at the bottom called additional options, and you can add phtos using the manage attachments button. That gets you the little ikons, Merle used a copy and paste of a link to Photobucket.com to get a full sized photo.

[Barry Maxwell]

There is a little button off to the right called "quote" which does it nicely.

And once there, you can edit using backspace, etc.

Also, if you move this input screen up, there is a space way at the bottom called additional options, and you can add phtos using the manage attachments button. That gets you the little ikons, Merle used a copy and paste of a link to Photobucket.com to get a full sized photo.

Dennis:

Many thanks. I knew that it would be simple. It's just that I'm a little dense sometimes (at least that is what my wife tells me - she is normally right).

Barry

[JJs 1948]

Jeff:

As I was going to sleep last night I suddenly remembered that I failed to specify the dimension that I need. Specifically, the distance between the front edge of the front spring hanger to the front of the triangular looking plate that attaches to the bumper. I think that my lapse is what you call a "brain fart". Sorry about that.

Young Ed raises a question that I hope someone can answer. I am hoping that the frame ends for your 1948 will work for my 1951, or that I can make them work.

Also, I totally agree with Dennis MN about this forum. I am convinced that Dodge PH trucks collect the greatest folks.

Barry, The frame is the same from 1948 thru 1951 from everything I have seen here on the forum and the photo of Merle's truck. I'll get the parts out to you next week. I have an out of town wedding to go to this weekend. Once you get the parts you will see how the bumper attaches to the frame. Send a measurement if you want but I should have a pretty good sense of where to cut the pieces off at. I will leave you plenty of metal to work with and keep the shipping cost down too. Should be fine so don't lose anymore sleep.

Jeff

[48Dodger]

Mounting holes on a few components for the 48-49 frame change in 1950. Steering box for one, but the frame forward of the hangers is the same. I believe the only change for the bumper was the brackets that attach to the frame. They went from a single wing to a full triangle.

first picture 1948

second picture 1950

48D

[Merle Coggins]

Mounting holes on a few components for the 48-49 frame change in 1950. Steering box for one, but the frame forward of the hangers is the same. I believe the only change for the bumper was the brackets that attach to the frame. They went from a single wing to a full triangle.

first picture 1948

second picture 1950

48D

I thought '51 (B-3 series) was when they changed the steering box angle, and hence the mounting.

[48Dodger]

I have several 48 trucks and frames, one 49, and two 1950 trucks. Both 50's have the 3 long bolts and L shaped boxing bracket. I have no 51 to 53's in my posession....yet.

48D

[Dave72dt]

You may want to have a close look at any frame remaining on the left side as that is where the frame numbers/ vehicle ID numbers are at. You'll want to retain those if possible.

[Barry Maxwell]

You may want to have a close look at any frame remaining on the left side as that is where the frame numbers/ vehicle ID numbers are at. You'll want to retain those if possible.

Good advice. Thanks.

Barry

[Merle Coggins]

I have several 48 trucks and frames, one 49, and two 1950 trucks. Both 50's have the 3 long bolts and L shaped boxing bracket. I have no 51 to 53's in my posession....yet.

48D

The B-1 frames don't have the angled bracket that reinforces the steering box between the front cross member and the box mount?

[Tony_Urwin]

My B-1-C has it.