When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I picked up a "contour" style bumper dirt cheap, but I need to see some pics for body fitment. I'll be making custom brackets since originals are almost impossible to find. If you have any pics of brackets I'd like to see those too.
If you email me at shane@sandenwood.com I will send you a pic of mine. Came off a 76 F100 along with the brackets. Seemed to bolt up nice, although I had to enlarge 2 of the mounting holes.
Pics below. I used the brackets and bumper from an 80s Bronco they are more plentiful than dents with a rear contour bumper.
The brackets were a bit too short so sectioning in some 3/16ths plate and re-drilling the holes properly located the bumper about an inch from the rear quarter panel. Btw, Ford switched to metric hardware (18mm) starting in 1980 so keep that in mind if you're on the hunt.
And installed:
The bolt-on 5K hitch came off another Bronco for a measely $23... It was a "Manager's Special Day" and everything was 50% off. Serendipity!
That is the bumper I want only in chrome. No one sells the mounts aftermarket? I am 100% set on getting that bumper in chrome so I want to know any and everything about this.
That is the bumper I want only in chrome. No one sells the mounts aftermarket? I am 100% set on getting that bumper in chrome so I want to know any and everything about this.
Me too I've been looking. I've only found painted bumpers so far like this and they weren't cheap! I don't like my ugly 92-96 F-series rear step bumper, it sticks out too much and doesn't match the front bumper at all. I've gotta find one of these ASAP!
I searched hi and low for 73-79 contour brackets to no avail. It seems most buyers opted for a dock bumper for towing duty since bolt-on hitches weren't readily available back in the day. The 67-72 brackets are available but they're big $$$. I don't know if they even fit.
With that said, the license plate housings and light caps are relatively hard to find due to the same reason above. That is unless you're okay with paying retail. Sometimes you'll find them on dock bumpers. I managed to cobble up a set from four different salvage yards. In fact, I found the light covers in the glove box of two different trucks. Keep your eyes peeled and look everywhere - under the seat, in the ash tray, etc.
I read in here some aftemarket bumper bolts whose square head (under the mushroom) are sometimes too small and allow the bolt to spin.
I know you can get the premium chrome bumper from LMC truck for $230 shipped. I would love to know if the ford van brackets will work and what year? They are ALL OVER the junk yards I visit. There are only 4 dents at my local yard but they are all stripped of everything but fenders, hood, bed, cab, lower dash and seat. Everything I want is gone.
The brackets for the chrome bumper I installed are definatly different than the one's for the steel step bumper I took off. The step bumper had 4 mounting points and the contour bumper only had 2 that bolted straight onto the frame.
Thanks for the pics guys! I got it in chrome from an off-road jeep shop that's getting rid of all their truck stuff. I picked up a grille insert and a chrome diff cover too, all for $140!
I'm checking around for bronco/van brackets to modify, but it seems all the older stuff has been crushed already.
I recently purchased a new premium chrome rear contour bumper from LMC. I was impressed with the quality. For the bolts I bought their bumper bolt kit. I purchased the lense covers from Dennis Carpenter; they look just like OEM ones. Good luck trying to find the license plate light assemblys. I have not seen them for the countour bumper for sale any where. I got lucky and was able to safely remove them from my old bumper abd swap them over.
-Nick