Rear Bumper Brackets

[jasinger01]

Hi, I'm wondering if I have my rear bumper brackets on correct? Truck is a 1969 GMC SWB with leaf springs. This is the only orientation that I could find that works for the brackets, and matched a picture that I found on an older thread.

Is the bumper supposed to stick this far out past the tailgate? There is a huge space there. Not sure if I have an incorrect combination of bumper/brackets?

Any feedback on if this is how it is supposed to look or if I'll need to buy a different bumper/brackets?

Thanks,
Jacob

[lolife99]

Looks correct to me.

[pjmoreland]

Member 71CHEVYSHORTBED402 has put significant time into tracking down the correct rear bumper brackets for a shortbed frame with rear leaf springs. They aren't reproduced, so he ended up modifying some other brackets to get the fit right.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...umper+brackets

[jasinger01]

Thank you, I did read that thread and it was helpful. I used the same holes as this image for my brackets. I did not realize the bumper is supposed to stick so far back from the tailgate.

Are there aftermarket bumpers/brackets that pull the bumper closer to the bed?

[jasinger01]

Can anyone confirm these measurements look right? From tailgate to top of bumper

[weq92f]

.

That looks excessive to me. My '67 SWB doesn't look like that.

Hth,

-Kevin

[jasinger01]

Originally Posted by weq92f

.

That looks excessive to me. My '67 SWB doesn't look like that.

Hth,

-Kevin

Thanks, yeah that's why I'm confused. Looks like the brackets match up to the frame fine but the bumper looks like it sticks out way too far.

[pjmoreland]

Take a look at post #240 in 71CHEVYSHORTBED402's build thread. He lists how much each hole needs to be moved in the bumper brackets.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...730025&page=10

[pjmoreland]

He also has a photo of the bumper and bed installed in post #306
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...730025&page=13

Look at post #389 too
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...730025&page=16

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

From my angle and best guess, the bumper mounts (literally) approx. 8" from the frame rails.

My sport bumper's top is 8/10” behind the bed’s body, located below the tail lamp bezels, and 4/10” below each tail lamps bezel phillips screw center. That's a guide only, I had to modify the brackets shown in the OP to fit the frame rails, and slotted the bracket bolt holes to allow for small adjustment.

My frame rails in a 2WD, SWB, with leafs has a 5.3" bolt pattern for the brackets. Most rails are 5" or 7.1", IMO. My brackets are not reproduced, and I wouldn't want reproductions anyway.

Is your truck 2 or 4wd?

[jasinger01]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Take a look at post #240 in 71CHEVYSHORTBED402's build thread. He lists how much each hole needs to be moved in the bumper brackets.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...730025&page=10

Thank you! I did come across his thread in my searches. I need to pull my brackets back off and measure to see which bracket I started with.

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

From my angle and best guess, the bumper mounts (literally) approx. 8" from the frame rails.

My sport bumper's top is 8/10” behind the bed’s body, located below the tail lamp bezels, and 4/10” below each tail lamps bezel phillips screw center. That's a guide only, I had to modify the brackets shown in the OP to fit the frame rails, and slotted the bracket bolt holes to allow for small adjustment.

My frame rails in a 2WD, SWB, with leafs has a 5.3" bolt pattern for the brackets. Most rails are 5" or 7.1", IMO. My brackets are not reproduced, and I wouldn't want reproductions anyway.

Is your truck 2 or 4wd?

Thanks for chiming in! It is a GMC 2wd SWB with leafs. I will measure from the back of the frame rail to the bumper mounting surface. These brackets looked like they came originally with the truck, since they mounted up easily, I will have to measure if they are 5.3" bolt pattern or if they just got slotted at some point in their life.

If they are the 5" 'coil' style brackets, I'm concerned that the modification to slot or re-drill 3/10" toward the rear will still not bring the bumper in close enough.

Will take some measurements/pictures this week. Thank you for the help