HEY GUYS! can anyone tell me if a 56 bumper front will work on my 58 they sure look the same also cant seem to find some one to do chrome i need my grill and headlight buckets redone any help outtheir ive got my truck in the body shop now comeing along fin they say it will be done in about three weeks then i have to put dash and outside stuff back on floors look great got pans from clasicfab got my steps and fender tips from d-carpenter well this is a littel update hope all are doing well KEEP ON TRUCKING TERRY

 

Hi Terry,
Thanks for the update. Sounds like you are making real good progress on your project!

I did some checking on your front bumper question. Here's what I've found so far...............

Re-production companies that do sell these "channel" style front bumpers list the '53-'56, and '57-'58 seperately with different suffix letters to the part number.

In the original Ford parts manual, the '57-'58 "channel" style bumper shows the 1957 part number has a prefix of B7T. If it was used on previous years like the '56 or earlier, the prefix usually shows that.

Part number prefix......
B=1950's
7=1957
T=Truck

I'm pretty sure there was a frame width difference between '56 and '57. That might account for the difference, but I'm not sure.

John's F-Fun Hundreds http://www.f100.com sells chrome front bumpers on an exchange basis. Maybe they would be willing to accept your '56 on exchange. I believe they also sell chromed headlight doors/panels on exchange as well.

I don't know of any chrome plating shops off hand, but I'm sure a web search would yield a few. I realize it is better to have a recommendation though.

I know this wasn't much help as far as definate answers, but hopefully it will help a little.
Best of luck!

 

The prefix does not always reflect the earlier years that it may fit. On the older parts, usually what is listed in the parts books is the number before it went obsolete(say if you have a '64 edition of the 48-56 truck parts book.). There is a bumper on Ebay that shows the early and the later part number. Ford did that on some of their parts when they were superceded to a later part number for a while. it has the B7T and the FAAA prefixes on it. The 50's were a real transition period , especially for truck part numbers.

 

hey terry,i don't know if the bumper will fit or not,but try measuring the inside of the bumper bracket's and the outside of the frame rail's and see if they are the same,or very close.maybe that will help you.on my 58'i made my own bumper.hope this help's,scott.

 

Hey Terry -- maybe I'm stating the obvious, but I'd think the body shop would know some places that do chrome plating...