55.2-59 Modify 1960 Chevy front guards for 55-59 bumpers

[daveshilling]

It seems like 1960 guards are cheaper and easier to find than 1959 guards... I don't care about the perfect matching year, I just want cool bumper guards. They look pretty similar... has anyone modified the 1960 bumper guard to fit the 1959 bumper profile?

[_Ogre]

sorry dave, exactly what are bumper guards?

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

sorry dave, exactly what are bumper guards?

Some of that clutter that lowrider guys stick on their trucks.

Extra unneeded fru fru because they saw it in Lowrider magazine.

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Some of that clutter that lowrider guys stick on their trucks.

Extra unneeded fru fru because they saw it in Lowrider magazine.

They offered plenty of fru fru back in 1959. I guess you consider all the chrome on a GMC or a Cameo "clutter"?

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by daveshilling

They offered plenty of fru fru back in 1959. I guess you consider all the chrome on a GMC or a Cameo "clutter"?

A bit busy yes, I was referring to doing the Auto Zone chrome trinket style of adding on and call it customizong.

In the 50's the trucks that got sold new here in the valley didn't have a lot of extras tacked on them as a norm. Good heater, turn signals, a step bumper and work truck mirrors and that was it. I don't remember seeing one with a frost visor on it but you seldom saw those on cars sold new here.

If you saw a truck or car with a lot of added on pieces it had usually been driven into the area from another area. The migrant fruit pickers from the Ozarks tended to have a lot of bolt on stuff on their cars and it seems that guys from that area still like a lot more fru fru than folks from some areas but with the main stream car and truck guys adding a bunch of trinkets didn't start until they saw the bombas in Lowrider Magazine starting in 1976. If you look at old custom truck magazines or rod or custom magazines before 1976 the one thing you see is that there wasn't a bunch of add on chrome pieces on the cars or trucks and most hoods had emblems and hood ornaments removed rather than holes drilled on an put on.

[58CameoAZ]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Some of that clutter that lowrider guys stick on their trucks.

Extra unneeded fru fru because they saw it in Lowrider magazine.

Wow! i cant believe it! I stopped reading this forum for probably a few years
now and will say mostly because of statements like yours Mr48. I pop back on
here today and you still are Spewing Bad things out of your mouth still Today!
I cant believe you are still allowed on here to say the the things you do!

You take the FUN OUT of this Forum! You really do!

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by 58CameoAZ

Wow! i cant believe it! I stopped reading this forum for probably a few years
now and will say mostly because of statements like yours Mr48. I pop back on
here today and you still are Spewing Bad things out of your mouth still Today!
I cant believe you are still allowed on here to say the the things you do!

You take the FUN OUT of this Forum! You really do!

eh, you gotta let the ole grumps be ole grumps. One of the perks of being elderly, you don't have to give a damn anymore!

When he was our age he didn't have a truck, he didnt even have shoes... he wore old brake pads on his feet and he was THANKFUL, not like kids these days. He walked uphill both ways with the straw bales from the feed store on his back... no time for chrome fru fru

[58CameoAZ]

Originally Posted by daveshilling

eh, you gotta let the ole grumps be ole grumps. One of the perks of being elderly, you don't have to give a damn anymore!

When he was our age he didn't have a truck, he didnt even have shoes... he wore old brake pads on his feet and he was THANKFUL, not like kids these days. He walked uphill both ways with the straw bales from the feed store on his back... no time for chrome fru fru

Nope! NO SIR Dave! You are letting him off easy by saying that and he keeps getting away with all the Cheap shots that do spew out of his mouth all the time on this Forum for years!, Its Called Respect Dave! Respect for One another And a Respect that if you don't like it you Keep your Damn Mouth Shut!!! Being Old does not give him the Golden ticket to becoming a total A$$hole! Sorry not buying that! WHY you say? Because i am Old Dave! If you are saying he is OLD He should Know Better and be a better person! and you say Kids these days! Well let me tell you something Dave,
I've raised four kids that are still young and they are WAY Better at giving the Moral and Ethical Respect to others then your so called OLE GRUMP!

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

sorry dave, exactly what are bumper guards?

They were an option for our trucks, seen on the front bumper in the image



I'm surprised you haven't heard of these.

[mr48chev]

Truthfully by the time you buy new ones, modify then and have them replated you will have more in them than if you had just bought the correct ones.

I've got a 50 Chevy car license plate surround thatI want to Put on my 49 Plymouth bumper Similar to this one that is on the back of this truck.

URL=https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/w71/mr48chev/Chopped_AD_truck_Desoto_rear_bumper.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds][/URL]

URL=https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/w71/mr48chev/Chopped_AD_truck_Desoto_front_bumper_Spence_Murrey.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds][/URL]

It did have guards on the front.

They may be 49Plymouth guards. This taken at an event today.


Ever since I took a real interest in cars 65+ years ago customizing meant taking extraneous pieces off not adding them just to be adding them. I have a hard dealing all this adding frufru that I took off and tossed in the dumpster 60 years.

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Ever since I took a real interest in cars 65+ years ago customizing meant taking extraneous pieces off not adding them just to be adding them. I have a hard dealing all this adding frufru that I took off and tossed in the dumpster 60 years.

I wanted a practical truck, I'd buy a Toyota!

Seems to me like you're just not the expert I need for this particular request... don't worry, I'll have something real minimal and necessary for ya soon I'm sure (=

[dsraven]

carfeful there mr48, you'll be hanging fuzzy dice on the rear view soon, haha
I'm keeping the D cups on my 57 GMC bumper, my truck, my frufru.anybody who doesn't like it should look at the truck from a different angle.lol

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by dsraven

carfeful there mr48, you'll be hanging fuzzy dice on the rear view soon, haha
I'm keeping the D cups on my 57 GMC bumper, my truck, my frufru.anybody who doesn't like it should look at the truck from a different angle.lol

I outgrew the fuzzy dice and mirror muffs years ago.

Growing up in the PNW in the 50's and 60's locally sold cars and trucks and the modified ones didn't have a lot of extra stuff hung on them as a norm. Local farmers were pretty frugal in the 50's and didn't order frost shields over the windshields or bumper guards but would spend the money on the heavy duty step bumper. I never saw a factory made grill guard like the smash hits from Perry Bumper until I got married in Texas in 1969 and half the trucks in central Texas had some sort of brush guard on the front. They weren't decoration they were because the farmers and ranchers drove them though the brush out on their property.

I don't fault a guy or gal for wanting bumper overriders today though as they do protect the grill. Adding them on isn't customizing in my book though.

[leegreen]

your just letting your personal tastes shade your own definition of customizing (and maybe trying to fan the flames in this thread??)

there are HAMB threads about old 1950s car parts catalogues where you can find all kinds of bolt and stick on stuff to personalize (customize) your car or truck. I bet a lot of those frugal farmers of which you speak had a well thumbed jcwitney catalogue where they dreamed of some flashy new antenna, headlight trim or decals to dress up their truck. That is why so many 'barn finds' these days have things like hacked up dashes for spotlights, rusty chrome 'west coast' mirrors, holes in the fenders for big ol mud flaps

Would you walk up to a youngster in your 'hood and tell him that painting his grill black and sticking carbon fiber wrap on his mirrors was not 'customizing' his car? I'm guessing if you didn't have anything nice to say you'd say nothing, we all would.

I was looking at bumper guards on an old rover saloon at the pickapart just this weekend considering what they would look like cut (customized) to fit an AD bumper and painted black.
Extensively modified cabs is not the only definition of customized.

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Adding them on isn't customizing in my book though.

Thanks to everyone who posted about modifying bumper guards.

I think there's been enough off-topic comments now, including from myself. If y'all wanna continue debating what "customizing" means and arguing about how much chrome is prudent, perhaps start a thread in the off-topic section and go to town.

How about if you don't have anything relevant or helpful to say about modifying bumper guards, just don't comment...I might even agree with you, but keep to yourself cause I'm hoping its a new comment about bumper guards and then its not.

Thanks.

[1project2many]

daveshilling, I think bumper guards would look great on that truck. Are reproductions for the correct year not an option?

https://www.premierstreetrod.com/det...ds_Chrome.html

[my56chevytruck]

add it or remove it, it's your damned ride so do what you want to. I left the bumper off of mine and "customized" the front end and someone had a smart comment to make to me. oh well, can't make everyone happy I say. Do your own thing

[57tailgater]

This looks like a pretty good price to me for a new set - and chrome to boot: https://www.classicparts.com/1955-59...ctinfo/65-212/
Unless you're wanting a used pair.

[daveshilling]

Originally Posted by 1project2many

daveshilling, I think bumper guards would look great on that truck. Are reproductions for the correct year not an option?

Originally Posted by 57tailgater

This looks like a pretty good price to me for a new set - and chrome to boot:
Unless you're wanting a used pair.

Yeah My white AND chrome bumper options are used and worn, so a used OEM set in either color would be ideal to complete the "its always been there" look. I also just try to buy used American before I buy new Overseas when I can help it. Buying used is a small effort but it all adds up.

I'm almost to the point that the color of the guards I find some day will decide whether the front end is Chrome or white lol...since I have chrome wheels with whitewall tires, I really cant lose.

[Tempest67]

I know mine is an AD truck, but I used a grinder to make these Swap Meet bumperettes fit. (I think the guy said they were from a 40's Buick??)

[57tailgater]

Originally Posted by daveshilling

Yeah My white AND chrome bumper options are used and worn, so a used OEM set in either color would be ideal to complete the "its always been there" look. I also just try to buy used American before I buy new Overseas when I can help it. Buying used is a small effort but it all adds up.

I'm almost to the point that the color of the guards I find some day will decide whether the front end is Chrome or white lol...since I have chrome wheels with whitewall tires, I really cant lose.

I understand. Funny on the link I posted they say those won't fit an original bumper without modification but fits an aftermarket one - ha. I am sure if you keep an eye out you'll find a pair as I see them show up every once in a while for sale.

[Divine 59]

Daveshilling- I like the useless factory stuff too. If you have a factory bumper you will need to find the factory part for it to fit right. I was told by a vendor that the repop bumper guards do not fit the factory bumper, they only fit a repop bumper.

I purchased a nice set of factory painted bumper guards for my truck and they fit on my factory painted bumper perfectly.

If you buy a set and they don't fit right make a pattern of the bumper guard and trim the pattern to fit the bumper profile. That may be the best way to grind to fit as others said.

Good Luck in your search.

[_Ogre]

speaking of chrome....
i was in awe when i went to a weekly cruise-in at an independent auto parts store last night. a guy drove in with a 1958 buick special, it had more chrome on the front, than all the other cars combined, then again on the tail end. i didn't get a pic but will if he shows up again. totally stock except he put power brakes on it.





1973 Kaw 900 also showed up. fastest production street bike at the time. first of the super bikes.

[1project2many]

I have seen the gentleman in question go way, way out his way on here to lookup answers and give good advice to people. And he has been doing it here and on other forums for years.

Agreed. I work with someone who can be the same way. Despite comments that are frustrating, the person I work with is of far better character than many of the "nice" people I meet in life. There's just no filter when it comes to this person speaking an opinion.

speaking of chrome....
i was in awe when i went to a weekly cruise-in at an independent auto parts store last night. a guy drove in with a 1958 buick special, it had more chrome on the front, than all the other cars combined, then again on the tail end.

That's pretty cool, Ogre. There was so much metal in those old cars and it's hard to imagine anything being built like that today.

I once had to work on a 64 Pontiac Star Chief... the dang car was longer than my long bed truck!

I just spent an hour searching random locations on Marketplace but no OEM bumper guards appeared.

[57tailgater]

I ran across these on another forum. Might work? https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...uards.1303192/