Hacked rear bumper bracket help

[dujobu]

It appears that one of the past owners of my '71 K5 hacked the back 6-12" off the frame rails and installed the '69-'70 rear bumper brackets. The only reason I can figure they may have done this is either because they bent the back end of the frame rails in an accident, or it had something to do with the custom trailer hitch that was welded in place. Anyway…I need to decide what to do about this hack job (it's ugly), and I could use some advice from you all.

What would you do?:

1. Dress up what's there, removing the remains of the angle iron used to attach the hitch receiver.

2. Replace the bumper brackets with new ones. It seems like it might not be very strong if I use this setup without the chunks of angle iron that remain from the hitch receiver.

3. Ditch the '69-'70 bumper brackets and weld in the back end of some other frame rails in order to make the frame as it was originally.

Any advice would be appreciated. Here are the photos of what it looks like currently…

[Rochlow]

I would cut that mess off. Buy some new inner and outer bumper brackets and put a stock rear bumper on there.

The rear of my frame looks the same way. I may be mistaken, but from what I've read the only years that the bumpers mount directly to the frame was 72'. But like I said I might be mistaken

[dujobu]

According to LMC Truck (see http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cb/full.aspx?Page=20), first gen. Blazer and Jimmy rear bumpers mounted directly to frame rails and outer braces. It says no inner braces are used. That's why I'm confused.

[mcmlxix]

According to LMC the Blazer only uses an outter support bracket.. So I would guess that someone cut your frame. My 72 K5 as a longer frame that bends down past the last body mount.

My suggestion would be to remove crap that's welded to the frame and get some pick up bumper brackets from the for sale section on here and make it worth with what you have...

[Burt4x4]

My factory rear 72K5 bumper mounted to the frame and side vertical bar to frame.

I don't have any pics from way back then. I remember the end of the frame was rounded and the bumper's center bolt went into the end of the frame. The outer bolt on the bumper bolted to that crossbar support to frame..

Ya cut all that crap off Once you get the body on fab it on in the right spot ad a good hitch bar for crossmember

[warbucket]

My blazer is the same way, someone installed a step bumper and cut the ends off. I found a set of frame ends in the for sale section.

[rsavage]

The 69-71 Blazers have the short squared off rear frame ends and the 72's only had the longer horns. Consequently, the earlier models used 4 bumper brackets (2 inner 2 outer) and the 72's used only the outers as the inner bumper bolts mounted right to the end of the frame horn. Your frame hasn't been cut off. A PO welded a part of a trailer hitch mount and what your inner mounts to the frame by the looks of it.

[dujobu]

Originally Posted by rsavage

The 69-71 Blazers have the short squared off rear frame ends and the 72's only had the longer horns. Consequently, the earlier models used 4 bumper brackets (2 inner 2 outer) and the 72's used only the outers as the inner bumper bolts mounted right to the end of the frame horn. Your frame hasn't been cut off. A PO welded a part of a trailer hitch mount and what your inner mounts to the frame by the looks of it.

That's what I was thinking, but LMC catalog says otherwise. So maybe they're mistaken? Regardless, mine looks kindof hacked up as you can see in the photos. I'm going to try to clean all the mess up with a grinder and see how it looks underneath.

[Rochlow]

Originally Posted by rsavage

The 69-71 Blazers have the short squared off rear frame ends and the 72's only had the longer horns. Consequently, the earlier models used 4 bumper brackets (2 inner 2 outer) and the 72's used only the outers as the inner bumper bolts mounted right to the end of the frame horn. Your frame hasn't been cut off. A PO welded a part of a trailer hitch mount and what your inner mounts to the frame by the looks of it.

That's what I thought too
Posted via Mobile Device

[cleszkie]

LMC catalogue has been known to miss many odball details like this. Don't trust it without double checking.

[dujobu]

Not that I don't trust you all, but does anyone have a '71 they can post photos of the bumper brackets on here for me to have a look? It's just that I just cut the remaining junk, as well as the bumper supports, off the frame about an hour ago, and it still looks like somebody hacked it up. The cuts in the frame aren't clean. They're a bit jagged and not straight up and down. Doesn't look factory. I just want to be sure.

Photos of your '71 rear frame rails and bumper supports anyone?

[D.PASSMORE]

I had the same inner brackets on a 69 Blazer that I parted years ago.

[wrwelton]

I am rebuilding a 72 chevy 3/4 ton and have same rear brackets. Mine are real rusted and wondered if you are going to use your brackets or want to sell them. Good luck with your project. Walt 617-913-1414

[juicer25]

The previous owner hacked of the back of my frame also. I had to buy some pick up bumper brackets and modify them to work on my blazer. I got them from LMC and they seemed to be ok. I just had to drill extra holes.

[richard2717]

Just saw this post. I will go out now and try to get a few pics of my 71'

[richard2717]

My 71' has two brackets on each side for the crome sport bumper. PO has hack welded a hitch in but frame rails have not been cut.
Richard

[richard2717]

Using your frame picture I measure 2.25" from back of cross brace to back of frame rail. Hope it helps
Richard

[rsavage]

The inner brackets that you have on your frame are correct. Your frame has not been hacked off. You need the two outer brackets that bolt to the most outer bolts on the existing inner brackets. I will try to post some photos showing inner brackets that you have.:

[rsavage]

Dujobu,
Getting back to your original "what should you do" question - I would remove the inner brackets that you have and get all the crap off them. Clean them up and buy the outer brackets and bolt all 4 brackets on. (or buy a good used set of 69-71 Blazer bumper brackets off the site). The LMC catalog is correct for a 72 Blazer which had frame horns that acted as the inner mounts for a sport bumper. It is not correct for the 69-71 Blazers