Joe Flanagan Posted August 11, 2014 Report Posted August 11, 2014 I just checked the fit of my front bumper to its bracket and it looks like the two follow a different arc. There are three bolt holes across the front. If I put the bumper flush against the bracket at the center hole, the bumper and the bracket are about an inch or so apart at the other holes to the left and right. I would need a spacer and extra long bumper bolts to make that work. I no longer have the bumper guards so this could play into what's happening. I have an old corroded bumper guard and took a look at it but cannot see how it would address the problem. In any case, I was going to use the bumpers without the guards. I assume I can do that, but correct me if I'm wrong. If I put a bolt through the center hole, there is about an inch or more space between the bumper and the bracket on either side, meaning that the bolts left and right of the center hole would have to be extra long to reach. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 11, 2014 Report Posted August 11, 2014 Joe there are spacers here if my memory serves me correct..I will try to get a pic of a bumper that is still intact and send it to you... Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted August 11, 2014 Author Report Posted August 11, 2014 Thanks very much, TIm. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 11, 2014 Report Posted August 11, 2014 sad news Joe...I went to look at the bumper to get a pic...it will not photograph the spacers as the actual brackets cover them up and will not show in a picture...they do have spacers there however.. Quote
Niel Hoback Posted August 11, 2014 Report Posted August 11, 2014 By "spacers", do you mean a stack of washers? Or maybe a half inch pipe fitting? Washers are adjustable. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 11, 2014 Report Posted August 11, 2014 no..these are curved spacers that are ground matched to the bumper curve to allow you to tighten them without dimpling the bumper... Quote
Niel Hoback Posted August 12, 2014 Report Posted August 12, 2014 A piece of pipe could be ground to fit the curve. Courtesy Gus' Garage. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 12, 2014 Report Posted August 12, 2014 not really..it has to be large enough to support the bumper to the bracket which the pipe could be, yet small enough hole to prevent the head from dimpling when tightened unlike that pipe would then be...they are like a flat piece of stock that are profiled to the curve and taper of the brackets to the bar....I am sure if one is set on using a pipe it can be done and would be his choice entirely.. Quote
DJ194950 Posted August 12, 2014 Report Posted August 12, 2014 Plymouthy- What the OD of the spacers? Length? Could be made from a piece of sold stock steel, center hole drilled to clear bolt, then ground at proper angle? DJ Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 12, 2014 Report Posted August 12, 2014 of course one can make them DJ...that is why I described them as I did..flat stock would be the better choice in my opinion..but if one is resolved to using pipe that is their choice for material...they are there to fill the void and prevent dimpling when tightened..without taking my bumper apart I could not get a picture of them to post... Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted August 12, 2014 Author Report Posted August 12, 2014 Thanks. I was thinking the same thing, fabricating some kind of a spacer to serve the purpose. The bumper bolts I have (with chromed heads and that odd shape to match the ribbed 49 bumper) are not long enough to pass through both a spacer and the bracket. So I think I'd have to weld or bolt the spacer to the bracket and then bolt the bumper to the spacer. Also, just fitting everything up temporarily, it looks like the gravel shield has to go on first and my gravel shields are restoration projects all by themselves. Quote
DJ194950 Posted August 12, 2014 Report Posted August 12, 2014 (edited) Man Plymouthy, your going to make me crawl under my 50 tomorrow when it's a bit cooler on the outside cement drive and see whats on it!! Now I want to see what a 50 has. Never looked at this. DJ Edited August 12, 2014 by DJ194950 Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted August 12, 2014 Author Report Posted August 12, 2014 DJ, if you can get a picture, I'd appreciate it. Joe Quote
DJ194950 Posted August 12, 2014 Report Posted August 12, 2014 (edited) Joe I can try-but 1 thing I found out about 49 Ply. bumpers and mounting brackets after I bought 3 years ago to possibly use on my suburban. There were at least 4 diff. bumpers used, if I remember right, only one front and three diff. rears. All used diff. mount brackets and none of the brackets where the same for 50, front included. What I bought was a grab bag as the seller did not know anything about app. etc. And no mount bracket at all. Never used them at all, pretty rough shape chrome wise. Will see if my front has some spacers between bracket/bumper and get a pic. if possible for you. Believe the rears may have had something as spacers as I did replace it. DJ Edited August 12, 2014 by DJ194950 Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted August 12, 2014 Author Report Posted August 12, 2014 Thanks. I have a feeling this project is going to involve a lot of improvising. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 12, 2014 Report Posted August 12, 2014 Joe...as a possible bar stock to begin your job there are special muffler clamps that have a double cinch bar that draw the band tight..these may be of help http://www.ebay.com/itm/One-Torca-SS-3-25-3-1-4-Easy-Seal-Exhaust-Muffler-Pipe-Flat-Band-Clamp-/181455648036?pt=Other_Vehicle_Parts&hash=item2a3f997524&vxp=mtr Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted August 12, 2014 Author Report Posted August 12, 2014 Would that work as a spacer, Tim? Quote
Young Ed Posted August 12, 2014 Report Posted August 12, 2014 Joe do you have a parts list for this year? I have a set of 49 bumpers for a custom project and I don't recall any spacers when I took them apart. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 12, 2014 Report Posted August 12, 2014 I am thinking it may be a good place to start Joe...nothing else comes to mind that fits the bill..remember if still a bit narrow..you can use the solid form of these clamp ends and over lay with a cut section of pipe sidewall and layer to match... Quote
DJ194950 Posted August 12, 2014 Report Posted August 12, 2014 Copied from 49 Ply. parts book-No spacers. DJ Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted August 12, 2014 Report Posted August 12, 2014 I was in left field on this one..sorry Joe...I was looking at a 50's bumper..missed '49 all together... Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted August 12, 2014 Author Report Posted August 12, 2014 Maybe my bracket is bent. The arms that connect to the frame fit perfectly but there's too much "crown" to the very front of the bracket. The result is that when the center hole of the bumper is up tight against the bracket, the holes to the left and right are standing at least an inch away from the bracket. Quote
Young Ed Posted August 12, 2014 Report Posted August 12, 2014 Maybe my bracket is bent. The arms that connect to the frame fit perfectly but there's too much "crown" to the very front of the bracket. The result is that when the center hole of the bumper is up tight against the bracket, the holes to the left and right are standing at least an inch away from the bracket. Joe entirely possible. Its my experience they are also a little springy and need to be pushed into place. Quote
DJ194950 Posted August 12, 2014 Report Posted August 12, 2014 They (the brackets) bend Very easily. Just put a pull or c-clamp and pull together and use an long punch to align the bolt hole.! Done. I Hope! DJ Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted August 12, 2014 Author Report Posted August 12, 2014 OK, thanks. That sounds like something that might work. My gravel shields are heavily rusted and need to get the electrolysis treatment. There is heavy pitting on them, too, so I will be using a lot of glazing putty as well. That's one of those jobs I can see putting off into the distant future. Quote
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