steel front bumper

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Dec 8, 2014 | 09:23 AM

59203shop

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Mountain Pass

Joined: Apr 2012

Posts: 196

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steel front bumper

Hey guys im getting ready to build a steel front bumper, what do you think of this design? I have it built out of cardboard right now just to mock it up. I sprayed it flat black just to see how it would look. I have some more prelim work to do like that right fender needs to be replaced and I need to get a new headlight core support. After that I am going to start building this bumper, I am probably going to use 3/16" for the center section since I am going to have a front receiver hitch, and then ill probably use 1/8" for the sides.

Last edited by 59203shop; Dec 10, 2014 at 08:08 AM. Reason: title change

Dec 9, 2014 | 01:26 PM

59203shop

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Apr 2012

Posts: 196

Likes: 1

what do you guys think?

I am trying to figure out a good way to mount the factory fog lights...its going to be tricky.

Dec 10, 2014 | 08:28 AM

ukexplorer

Senior User

Joined: Apr 2004

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Why use factory fog lights? You've a lot of choice out there!

Dec 10, 2014 | 08:30 AM

59203shop

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Apr 2012

Posts: 196

Likes: 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukexplorer

Why use factory fog lights? You've a lot of choice out there!

oh just trying to pinch every penny I have, I already have the factory lights, so I would like to try to use them instead of buying new, what do you think of the bumper design? I free handed that out of cardboard probably took an hour.

Dec 12, 2014 | 07:09 PM

59203shop

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Apr 2012

Posts: 196

Likes: 1

what do you think?

Would really appreciate your opinions or constructive criticism

Dec 12, 2014 | 08:26 PM

shorod

Logistics Pro

Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 4,817

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From: Cedar Rapids, IA

Okay, since you also asked for constructive criticism, I like the look and fit in the first image, but in the 2nd and 3rd images I'm not a fan of the gaps between the bumper and the fenders/headlights or the way the bumper does not track the contour of the body panels and lights. In particular, I don't the way the bumper looks under the headlights in the 3rd image. And I'm not sure building this out of sheet metal and welding it all up would ultimately save money over picking something up in a salvage yard. With as many of these Explorers as Ford sold, it seems very likely that there will be a lot of them in salvage yards.

-Rod

Dec 12, 2014 | 08:39 PM

Ford_Six

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Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 18,488

Likes: 22

From: The Big, Oregon

I have to agree, as far as looks. Narrow the dip in the center to track the grille outline a bit closer, maybe make the opening square instead of trapezoid, plus I would put about a 1.5" long 45* section between the front and side panels. It'll look cleaner and be more of a bump than a gouge if you walk into it or hit something.
Other than that it's a pretty good mockup.