Just trying to get to the bottom of the ill-fitting front bumper setup from the conversion on my L-99.

Heres what I did; I stripped everything back to the core support.

I installed an aftermarket '07 header panel which fit perfectly.

I installed new OEM headlights and used the adaptor wiring harness.

I installed a great used OEM grille.

I installed a brand new aftermarket bumper using aftermarket brackets.

I installed aftermarket versions of the oem fog lights-they fit perfectly.

I installed an aftermarket top painted pad-had a rough time getting it to fit the bumper so I got an OEM crash foam inside-then it fit much better-still had to really work at it-edges stick out as I'm told some do......not happy with this look at all.

My problem is that the bumper with its aftermarket brackets doesn't seem to go back far enough to have the pad lines line up with the fenders......

I am suspecting that the aftermarket main brackets are the problem-(I have no OEM to compare)

I DO now have a brand new OEM bumper to use....

I'm apt to get OEM brackets and upper painted pad so everything will be OEM except the header panel, which, again fits perfectly, headlights mount to it perfect, IT mounts perfectly to the header panel, the OEM grille mounts to IT perfectly.

Who here HAS done this conversion using ALL OEM parts and hasn't had problems?

Who here HAS done it using aftermarket parts and HAD the same fitment problems that I've had?

Comments welcome guys, just got get my truck straightened out once and for all. Thanks!

 

im going to do this conversion my self however IIRC (will check) the panel I am using for the headlamps are OEM, but my bumper is going to be after market. So I am not sure if that will effect anything...

 

Pictures or it didn't happen! Sounds like your having fun. Truck will look great.

 

The frame is a tad different if I remember correctly. You'll never get an 05 -07 bumper to sit perfect on the older trucks. Get the front part level and perfect, and the rear edges go too far up towards the fenders. Align it with the fenders, it leans back a hair.

At least that's been my experience. I've tried shimming things every way I could think of and it just doesn't fit perfect.

 

Thanks! I have been told both ways that the frame is different and that the frame is the same.........

May be I shouldn't waste my $ on OEM brackets then......

Boy, I remember 5-6 years ago LOTS of folks did this conversion.....

The only other thing to do is the '11-'16 front conversion and THAT one scares me seeing all the cutting that's required.....

 

I did the oem grille only. Trimmed the 3/8 off and fit finish is "good"...what look im now digging, is 05 grill with 11-16 bumper👍

 

I believe I've seen the '11-'16 bumper on '99'-'07 trucks......only in pictures though......how is the fit? does it look reasonable? did you continue to use the cut-down grille Timmy? or use a full length one?

On mine I first went to the cut-down one, then later did the full conversion....

 

Sorry Cab..i fixed my statement. Everyone around me on clist are VERY proud of their bumper😡

 

Looking to do this but would like to see some pictures of other people who did this.

 

I did it a while ago mine is all factory I just cant put Chinese parts on my trucks if I can help it! heres a couple pics. it wasn't to bad to line up and I thought it looked good. truck is a little bigger now but still looks good

 

That's really nice very well done

 

Here are the only pictures I have on hand and none are from the side. I believe mine do not line up exactly and I used all OEM parts for the project but they were not all from the same vehicle.

Here they are.....

 

Both of these look way better than mine. I just cannot help but to believe that the aftermarket brackets I have are the problem...…..I would be satisfied if mine turned out that nice!

Thanks for the great pictures!

 

what I noticed when doing mine is they stuck out a little from the fender like they were made to line up with the flairs like tim has . and they wouldn't go all the way back to line up the curve in the wheel well perfect but its close and gives you a little room for a bigger tire. a/m stuff sucks not custom a/m but cheap oem alternatives and I order 5 to 10 k worth of these junk parts a month because the insurance companies don't want to spend the money to fix it right just how is the cheapest way out is there goal ! you should be able to slot the holes in the frame or the brackets to get them to work.or can always break out the BFH! hope this helps

 

I don't recall having this issue. I had an OEM bumper with OEM brackets, with aftermarket upper valance, grille and the rear support. Mine fit pretty good. Once I swapped all that out for an aftermarket heavy duty bumper it also fit perfectly, until some bolts loosened up on it. But fitment never seemed to be an issue for me