front bumper

[brokenbolt]

Hey everyone,
I pulled the heavy duty front bumper off my 93 and picked up what I was told a front bumper off another 93. The brackets that came with it where home made. So I went down to the wrecking yard and got another set of front bumper brackets off a 1989. I was told that the brackets would fit all truck front bumpers from 1988-1993. Anyways when I bolted up the brackets (guess what?) They did not match the front bumper holes. So what I need to know is what years will interchange with my 93. Oh yah, another guy told me that 91-93 would interchange.

[RumbleFish]

it should go all the way back to 85 or 86. my 91 had a bumper off my 87 ramcharger on it. sounds as if you might not have brackets that match your bumper, or vice versa.

[burnt_servo]

poked around www.car-part.com and it looks like everything should interchange from 1981 to 1993 ......

i would not be surpised if the same part will interchange into the early '70's .

[RumbleFish]

not quite. the 70's trucks use a different, smaller bumper and brackets. you can make it work, but you need a matched bumper/bracket set.

[Mark Nixon]

'91-'93 (LE) use a frame extension bracket, anything else does not.
I will have pics up momentarily to illustrate.

Mark.

[Mark Nixon]

From what I have seen, these are on LE bumpers, but I honestly haven't paid attention to the few non-LE trucks I have seen to say if they have them or not, but it SEEMS like the non-LE trucks use the '90 style bumper.

Front bumper attached, wheel side:

Frame w/o bumper w/frame extension, wheel side:

Back side of frame w/frame extension:


With all of this, I did notice that my '90 C&C truck also has some other brackets that are designed to re-inforce the frame where the bumper mounts, which most other '90s I have seen DON'T have.

Mark.

[Richie O]

Here is a pic of my 89 LE's bumper mount. The cut in it is where I had to relieve it for my powerstroke cooler to fit.

[Mark Nixon]

To the original poster, I do have a spare set of the '91-'93 bumper brackets if you end up needing some.
Also have a decent complete LE bumper, too.

Mark.

[brokenbolt]

My truck is an 93 LE. Do these trucks have the extension brackets on them because of the plastic piece that on the top of the bumper? What I was hoping to do is put a nice chrome front bumper that did not have the plastic on the top or the bumper guards. So if I got the bumper and brackets off a 89 they should still bolt up, right? Would the mounting holes on the bumpers be in the same location?

[dpuckett]

I think the extensions have more to do with the grille design than the bumper itself.

The plain bumper should bolt onto the 93 brackets.

[brokenbolt]

I think that I was given the wrong front bumper. Does anyone have the ability to measure the carrier bolt holes (the distance in between the holes) on a late 80's truck and then on a 1993 front bumper?

[RumbleFish]

I think the extensions have more to do with the grille design than the bumper itself.

this would make sense. again, i took the bumper off my 87 ramcharger and bolted it straight onto the brackets on my 91. it was the same bumper, minus the plastic stuff on top.

[brokenbolt]

Was your 91 a LE?

[RumbleFish]

yes it was. it can be seen here, its the black/silver rig with the grille gaurd.

http://1stgen.org/viewtopic.php?t=5809

this bumper was off my 87 rc, it bolted right up to the 91 brackets. the 91-93 le bumper is the same as the non-le other than the plastic trim.

[brokenbolt]

Just want to say thanks for all the help! You all have been great.