[Stinkin_V8]

I'd like to hear what some of you have done to mount bumpers on a vehicle that's been clipped or had the frame swapped out. I've got a 52 Suburban on an S-10 chassis, obviously the bumper brackets don't line up - that's OK, nothing else did, either!

The only place I have to mount any bumper brackets is the front suspension crossmember. The frame sits up too high, and the sway bar mounts right at the front-most part of what's left of the frame. So I have to coume out from the crossmember until I clear the sway bar, then up to meet the bumpers. I'd planned on using 2"x3" 0.125" wall rectangular tubing, but I've got a paranoia about the whole darn thing falling off while I'm on the highway. Or bashing it pulling into the driveway, it sits pretty low.

If anyone's been through this before, I'd sure like to hear what you did..

 

[Madd Syntst]

Been there, done that! My 55 flatbed is on a 75 Elco frame. Sounds like we had similar problems. Had to laugh at "nothing else lined up either.
I have temporarily solved my bumper problem by dropping down off the frame with some 3/8 plate steel. Then I came forward with bar stock into an old dragster pushbar set up. I have a tilt nose on this rig. I had the bumper set to tilt with the nose, but if you tap a speed bump or parking lot bump, the whole nose goes out of line.
My real solution is to split a 53 car bumper at the rivets into three pieces. The center will be hard mounted to the drop downs, while the side curves will rotate with the nose. As far as low, I can not get my fist between the rockers and the street. It really is too low, but it looks killer on the interstate!

 

[Stinkin_V8]

Woah, that sounds real low.. Cool!

I really don't much room to come down off the frame. I thought maybe a 1/4"x2" bar coming down as a strap to help support the whole bumer assy would help, and that's about all the room there is..

BTW - didn't I read in a post some ways back that you used to be into 'Vettes and minitrucks, Madd?

 

[Madd Syntst]

63 Split Window and 59 Roadster
Had a topless 87 Mitzu that I really had a ball with until a 3/4 ton Ford t-boned me. That truck folded up like a wet box!
I like many many rides, but for some reason, trucks really trip my trigger. I'm seriously giving consideration to a 61B Mack Truck or a 59 White Mustang (Thats a rig)

 

[Stinkin_V8]

Heh heh.. We got way too much in common. A little different, but the evolution is there.

'75 Vette, '78 Vette (ragtop conversion), '81 Vette, '74 'Vette, '84 S-10 Blazer 4x4 (V8 conversion), '52 Suburban. Everything but the Blazer and the '81 had fairly serious body mods. I think my next project would be a '58-'59 Suburban or a '57 Nomad or 2-door Wagon.

But back to the bumper stuff - I've never seen a dragster pushbar.. Can you explain it a bit?

Thanks