Those of you who have shaved your front bumper and installed a valence without the cutouts, how much did you cut off the frame rails, and did you add any other support?

 

I cut about 10.5 inches off and bolted a jeep bumper to the frame ends. Do Not throw them away. Someone will need them.

 

Thanks! Great looking truck you got there!

 

They make a valance without the holes?? Sorry not trying to jack your thread. I cut my frame back about 10" on my 52 F1 and was just going to fill the holes in with some plates etc. they look soooo much cleaner without the front and rear bumpers. I'm roll panning the rear.

 

Yes they do. Midfifty has them. part # 1526-5556

 

That won't fit his truck, as it's for a 55-56.

 

I to like the look, however after deciding that mine would be a "driver". I decided not to shave them.


I hadn't given it much thought but as someone pointed out on the board, the hood sticks out beyond the lower valence. If you rearend someone, or they back into you, without a bumper its the hood and cowl areas that can get damaged.


So I shortened mine, and went with a polished stainless.

 

Yeah I never saw it one for my 48-52 truck. Sucks. Just the 55-56. Guess I'll be patching my holes lol

 

Hi Guys,
Our truck came from the farm without bumpers.
We ended up putting running lights in the holes.


Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Someone had cut the frame ends off on Gary's F1 frame and he like the look without the bumpers, so we filled the cutouts when we repaired the rust on his fenders. See here:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...g-try-2-a.html
On the F100 No extra support is needed, the entire front sheetmetal is supported by the radiator mount and support rods. For protection I might add a length of channel or large angle iron to frame horns just behind valance to act as hidden bumper otherwise even a light bump could cause some $$$ serious damage.

 

A member here in NY shaved the front bumper and filled in the valence holes. Wouldn't pass NY State Inspection until he installed a "bumper" behind the valence. The valence now became a "bumper cover" such as the new cars have. Good idea to check with the DMV to make sure.

 

We have the same law here.

 

Did he have to make this new "bumper" comply with the "5 MPH" rule? I find it absolutely amazing how snarled up "big brother" can make some common sense things. California has attempted to over-legislate our "hobby" but so far our "hobby lobby" has held them at bay.

 

After I shaved mine I read the Vermont inspection rules and it states there must be a front bumper. That's why I slapped on the hidden Jeep bumper. Street Rod inspections here don't require a bumper but my 53 isn't old enough to qualify for street rod status. I thinks it's 1950 and older.

 

1949 was the first year for independent front suspensions...I am not certain but the way that it has been explained to me is that this is the first year that cars could no longer be considered as street rods. Some States, PA for instance, have a street rod registration that states the vehicle must be 1948 or earlier.