47-55.1 '54 rear bumper on a '53?

[Chopped53]

Hey there. I'm new to the forum. I posted an introduction and photo in the welcome section. I am hoping you guys can help me with this one. My plan is to put a '54 rear bumper on my '53. I like the little license plate bump. I'm thinking of mounting it upside down with the dual exhaust coming out in the bump.

I was in Vegas last week and stopped in at Tuckers Truck Parts to pick up some bed sides and asked about the bumper. They told me that the '54 frame is a different width than the '53 so the rear bumper won't fit, upside down or otherwise.

Is that true? Have any of you managed to get a '54 bumper onto an earlier model truck?

Here's a couple pics to give you an idea of my build.

Appreciate the help!

[mongocanfly]

welcome...
there are several here that run 54s on the early trucks..i was unaware of a difference in frame width at the rear on the 3100s...you could always make your own brackets if that is the case..
47-55.1 should be 46-1/32 at the rear

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...esto/54129.htm
http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com...resto/5070.htm

[Chopped53]

Thanks Mongo.....or Greg - still learning forum protocol Great forum. I knew you guys would have the answer!

[oldman3]

I agree with Greg. I mounted a 54 bed on a 52 frame, just had to cut the hump down 2" for everything to line up. Bumper should be no problem. Nice ride you got going...Jim

[nvrdone]

I put a '54 rear bumper on my'49. used the stock '49 brackets. just bolted it on - no mods needed.

[mr48chev]

As the guys said the only difference at the back is that the hump over the rear axle on 54 frames is flatter. Meaning you can't lower a 54 quite as much as a 47/53 before you have to notch it.

Width at the rear of a 54 3100 frame is exactly the same as width on 47/53.

The only other difference between the frames is that the crossmember under the bellhousing on the 54 is different than the 47/53 crossmember.That shouldn't be an issue on your truck but guys who use a Cast iron V8 bellhousing can bolt it right to a 54 but have to modify the 47/53 a bit to make it work.

That's going to be a wicked truck 4-1/2 or 5 inch chop or slightly more?

[Chopped53]

Thanks everyone for the info. I'll give the bumper a go.

Mr48 - It's a 4-1/2 inch chop. We angled the front posts instead of lengthening the roof, so it ended up a bit lower in the front. Real tough getting the glass to fit! Looks like yours is chopped too. Have you got any pics that you can share?

I'll be driving to her first show 'n shine in two weeks. Then I need to get it inspected for proper registration. Will probably need to get the wipers working and add an e-brake, but I hope it passes. I wanna drive it while I'm finishing it.

[jweb]

Like everyone said, it works fine. I ran a '54 bumper flipped for a few years and used the opening for a hitch.

Took it off when I had my truck painted since I won't be towing my camper any more.

[Marty68]

Originally Posted by Chopped53

Thanks everyone for the info. I'll give the bumper a go.

Mr48 - It's a 4-1/2 inch chop. We angled the front posts instead of lengthening the roof, so it ended up a bit lower in the front. Real tough getting the glass to fit! Looks like yours is chopped too. Have you got any pics that you can share?

I'll be driving to her first show 'n shine in two weeks. Then I need to get it inspected for proper registration. Will probably need to get the wipers working and add an e-brake, but I hope it passes. I wanna drive it while I'm finishing it.

LOVE the swept back look. I usually am not to fond of this body style chopped... NICE JOB. I Believe MR 48's reworked hood will help the chop look right.

[mr48chev]

The hood on my avatar isn't reworked outside of 120 louvers. Just an angle that makes it look slicker. Plan is to use the top half of a 4000 series hood and the bottom few inches of a 3000 series hood when I section it though.

This truck that I saw a couple of times at the Portland Roadster show has one of the nicest hood profiles I have ever seen.


I didn't take a lot of photos of it because of the crowd at the show and that is the only one in the show album.

[Marty68]

I like that... a lowered roof makes the hood look so tall.
usually

[Chopped53]

LOVE the swept back look. I usually am not to fond of this body style chopped... NICE JOB.

Thanks Marty. My dad and I chopped it in 1981, when I was in high school. Also grafted a front frame section from a full size '68 Olds. The chop worked much better than the graft! The truck sat for decades until I could find the time and figure out what to do with my mangled frame. Finally bit the bullet and ordered an Art Morrison chassis last year. The project has really taken off since then.

[dsraven]

hey chopped, that looks awesome. the upside down bumper will look great too, with some exhaust poking through. nice work on the chop with the raked windshield, it looks like it's already flying down the road when it's sitting still.
i wish my project was as far along. probbly see yours driving before mine.

[Chopped53]

Originally Posted by dsraven

hey chopped, that looks awesome. the upside down bumper will look great too, with some exhaust poking through. nice work on the chop with the raked windshield, it looks like it's already flying down the road when it's sitting still.
i wish my project was as far along. probbly see yours driving before mine.

Dsraven - a fellow Canadian! How's it goin', eh? I couldn't find any pics of your project on the forum. Post a pic or tell us about your build.

[dsraven]

my build is a 57 gmc on a 2004 envoy awd frame and running gear. 4.2l inline 6 with auto o/d and 3.73 gears. been building and changing the plans for about 12 years between other jobs. started with the original frame, boxed it, installed ford 8.8 rear with 4 link, also TCI MII front end with airbags all around, ls powerplant with 2wd auto . changed the plan, sold the old frame and now doing this route. just can't get enough shop time to do anything. retire in a year and half, maybe then. or send the wife on a long holiday somewhere so I can get something done without interuptions.
haha.
your truck looks great. good planning if you can stick with it till completion. I like the front window with no rail, is it one piece or glued at the seam?

[Chopped53]

@dsraven - nice truck. I like the extended cab with the extra window. Good proportions and just-right stance. Keep at it. Twelve years is nothing in "truck years"! And we need more classic trucks in Calgary.

My windshield is a two-piece with a tiny gap in the middle (poor man's A/C!). Filling the gap with silicone is on the list. My whole project focus has been to "get it on the road". Now that we've done that, I can spend the winter on all the things we skipped along the way (bed, rear fenders. bumpers, hood, seats, dynamat, carpet.....and the list goes on)

[58pan]

Here you go. A 54 bumber on a 53. No mod's. You have a great looking truck there.

[Chopped53]

Originally Posted by 58pan

Here you go. A 54 bumber on a 53. No mod's. You have a great looking truck there.

Thanks. I love that little license plate bump. I don't know what that guy at Tucker's Truck Parts was talking about. Maybe he was thinking of a '55.2 frame.....?