Stepside bumpers
 

Hello.
I have a new factory rear bumper and brackets for my 1980 Chevy stepside but can't quite figure out how the brackets are supposed to mount to the frame. I'm worried I was sent the wrong brackets.
Can someone please share pictures of their stock rear bumper bracket setup?
Thanks!
Lawrence F.

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

... it doesn't help that a former owner welded a work bumper (a crappy weld at that!) directly to the frame. I sawed it off. So, I had nothing to reference for attaching the factory equipment.

--LF

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

I will be installing the rear bumper on my 80 stepside tomorrow morning, I will take a few pics for you.

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

Took me forever to find a rear number for a step side and the biggest part was finding the step side brackets :(

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

This is what my brackets look like.

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

This is how they bolt up.

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

Yep looks like the ones I found ��

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

Thanks to everyone for the help!

JaysonB,

Thanks for the pics! This confirms that we were sent incorrect brackets. We did some googling and believe we have 2nd gen stepside rear brackets. They are waaay too long and narrow. They use only a single bolt at the end of the bracket where it mounts to the bumper. They *do not* use the mounting hole in the bottom of the bumper like yours do.

Blu88,

Where did you find your brackets? We couldn't find them anywhere online.

--Lawrence F.

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

Hello, all.
I believe we've found a source for the brackets:

http://www.classicpartsusa.com/produ...?r=tellafriend

We are going to order a set and will share our experience.

http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...erbrackets.jpg

--Lawrence F.

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

That set says it is not for stepsides

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

Hmm, I kinda jumped the gun on that one.
It's funny that they look identical to Jaysonb's stepside brackets (this thread) - length, angles, etc.
Maybe Jaysonb's really aren't Stepside brackets?

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

Hate to point this out but in the parts description to the right of the brackets in the link above it clearly states NOT FOR STEPSIDES.

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

Show us your brackets?

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

I found these in an old thread here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...umper+stepside

'cept these have "gravel shields"? That's a new one on me.

--Lawrence F.

http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...erbracket1.jpg


http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...erbracket2.jpg

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

I don't have them I am the original owner who special ordered my truck and I ordered it with a custom STEP BUMPER so I don't have the sport bumper bracket's sorry. I wish I had now cuz I hated the bumper it came with the minuet I saw it and as soon as I found one that I liked I replaced it here's the pic's.

Attachment 1534514
New the day I picked up the truck stickers still in rear window

Attachment 1534515
About 10 or 12 years later junk yard bumper off '87 BMW 325I.

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

The 73-87 stepside trucks use the same rear bumper as the 67-72 stepside trucks.
The 73-87 stepside brackets are extremely hard to find.

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

I have these on my '78 Stepside, but the bumper is not mounted. I have the sport bumper that came with the truck. I'll have to line it up and see if it fits these brackets and take some pics of the setup.

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

We finally found a source for the CORRECT brackets here:

https://issuu.com/truckandcarshop/docs/ts_73-87_web_cat

We discovered this catalog after talking to a guy who was selling Chevy parts on Craigslist.

All four bracket pieces will cost nearly $200!

I will be fab'ing my own.

--Lawrence F.

Re: Stepside bumpers
 

I made some inner brackets and test fit them (phot0s w/ bumper installed later):

http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...611_102630.jpg

http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...611_102655.jpg

I'm going to need to cut a bit off the back (long side) to provide clearance for the mounting hole the outer brackets will use.

I used 3" wide 1/4" thick steel (overkill?). It is a total pain to cut using abrasive disks. Next, I'll try a carbide tip blade for my skilsaw. I am looking for better ways to cut stock such as this.

I still need to make the outer brackets. They will be considerably more work w/ difficult angles. I anticipate 3 pieces and two welds each.

--Lawrence F.