I and removing my gravel pan with the frame hole and going with a smooth one to remove the bumper. Yes, my state laws allow this. My question for those who have done this, is how much frame do I cut off? Do I cut it all the way back to the first cross member?

 

Never done that but I would leave enough frame so the guy who buys it some day and wants a front bumper will have something to weld to.
Edit: I would want enough horn left to fabricate some kind of a cross brace behind the pan that would offer some protection in the case of a frontal impact.

 

I like that second idea a lot. Thanks