73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Body, Glass & Paint => Topic started by: DnStClr on September 24, 2008, 12:58:25 pm
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My rear bumper is bent down and in,like somebody jumped up and down on it .Previous owner might have backed into something I guess.
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/Dnstclr/DonBrooksy2008013.jpg)
I took the two bolts out of the strut and tried to bend it upward, but it didn't work too well.
(http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd22/Dnstclr/DonBrooksy2008015.jpg)
What's the right way to straighten the bumper?
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Hook a chain to it and to a tree and pull forward slowly :)
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Try a 4x4 block of wood against something solid with a comealong and slowly pull pressure til you get it out usally works fine.
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Do the supports look bent?
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Judging by your pics(looks like it is shifted off to the left, as well as being bent down) I would say your supports are bent, and some replacements from Capt. should help straighten it out for you.... One of the things that urk me about the bumpers, and I try to fix that as soon as I can(Seriously OCD with truck bumpers, and my front one is getting me to climb the walls, but nobody offers the '73-80's with the Impact Strip Holes :-\)....
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I used a set of channel lock 480's (the biggest pliers and grabbed it and pulled up real hard and mine straightened out. You can use a pipe wrench too, just make sure whatever you do you put a piece of wood between the jaws so you dont put a dent in the bumper or ruin the finish. Once you get the bumper straight (with the brackets loose) then you can tell what to do to your brackets to straighten them.
Here's my before and after application of pipe wrench...
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/78%20C20/bentbumper.jpg)
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t195/wes2880/78%20C20/straightenedbumper.jpg)
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I don't sell aftermarket bumper brackets, only factory brackets. (step bumpers weren't factory)
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I don't sell aftermarket bumper brackets, only factory brackets. (step bumpers weren't factory)
No not made by GM, but were outsourced just like other accessory parts(Rear Slider, Dually Rear Fenders,Etc)... Still one could order the Truck from the Factory, with the Step Bumper in place though....
(http://brochures.slosh.com/1977ctv/pickups21.jpg)
Judging from the design of the bumpers, I would guess both DnStClr, and 78Chevyrado had the Factory Optioned & installed Steps, so the Universal Aftermarkets brackets might be different....
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That is true. I guess it would have been better if I said I don't sell step bumper brackets.
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Wow a power failure at the house took out my computer's hard drive!
Back in action now- lost quite a few bookmarks with truck stuff info-- :'( anyway- no brackets, at the store huh? OK I'll give it a pull and see what developes. I might be buying a bumper after this.. :D
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As mentioned here, an aftermarket rear mounting bracket should do the job. That is what I used to install my new Diamond Step Bumper for my resto project http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=6879.0
Your local auto parts store should be able get one for you, or you can try searching on ebay (will be cheapest). I could only find this one which is for 88 and newer truck however, the brackets will look the same. I believe the product code you'd be looking for is 92230.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Fey-Bumper-Mounting-Kit-88-00-Chevy-GMC-FS-Crew-Cab_W0QQitemZ360092955426QQihZ023QQcategoryZ33640QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247
Good luck!
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The brackets look a lot different than mine but if they wew ok for your 86 they should certainly be good for mine too.. Thanks!