Overgrown Bumper Syndrome? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TugOwar · 12-14-2004, 11:35 PM

When I found my 68 GMC sitting in a field and went to look at it, one of the first things I noticed was the rear bumper (pic #1). The way it extended along the bottom edge of the rear quarter all the way to the wheel opening on both sides and then bolted THROUGH the quarter panel. "That looks horrible", I thought. The weld between this extension and where a normal bumper ends was obvious, this had to be some sort of after market mod.

"Why this extension?". I wondered to myself. Perhaps the previous owner had a problem jack knifing trailers into the side of the bed. Not impossible when backing a short trailer. Oh well, it was also one of the first things I tackled when I got it home. A blue wrench and side grinder later at it has a normal step bumper again.

THEN, I see this pic (pic #2) posted by TXFirefighter. His truck he traded to someone else. And I noticed a very simular extension on that rear bumper.

Now whats up with this? Two owners in seperate parts of the country had the same idea? Yeah, possible I suppose. Maybe this some sort of factory option?

Any ideas?

mblackburnjr · 12-15-2004, 12:47 AM

The guy where i get my parts from has a 68 gmc with the very same bumper. I just figured it was an aftermarket add-on. Its in southern ohio...and its been here a long time!lol

Longhorn Man · 12-15-2004, 12:52 AM

yep, I looked at a 68 50th annv last year..same bumper.

TugOwar · 12-15-2004, 12:59 AM

Hmm, thanks for the replies guys.

I still think it looks like crap that way, but are you telling me I hacked up kinda rare factory option? LMFAO I have to laugh to keep from crying.

chickenwing · 12-15-2004, 01:03 AM

Thought those were.... Barden? bumpers. Thought was aftermarket. I have one on my 72 lwb fleetside. My buddy that was an old school body man INSISTED I cut off the ends. Said if I got hit anywhere on the bumper it would destruct a bedside. Can't ask him anymore questions about it. The poor guy is dead.

TugOwar · 12-15-2004, 01:15 AM

Sorry about your friend CW.

Factory or not, rare or not, mine looks so much better since I hacked off those ends.

*FormerMember* · 12-15-2004, 01:21 AM

I have a 51 Chevy and a 55 Willy's with that style bumper on it...

687980chevy · 12-15-2004, 02:18 AM

My 68 has that bumper,(Minn.trk) It was modified with a liquid wrench before I got it,but the holes are still in the bedside!

**special-K** · 12-15-2004, 07:32 AM

Yeah,what Chickenwing said.It`s a Barton bumper.These go back to when trucks were trucks.They`re a throw-back to the pre-fleetside era.Completes the tailend on a Stepside,giving a step to the rear 1/4.Also,often braces could be mounted for tail-end on notoriously flimsy Stepside.On the Fleetside,I guess it`s kind of a carry-over.I guess they were considered extra protection,like a grille guard.Defininately a western thing.

**Stocker** · 12-15-2004, 09:46 AM

My '72 Fleetside had one of those when I bought it in '77, and it's still there. It may have been a factory option, or possibly a dealer add-on. At any rate, it's not to everyone's taste, but I'm used to it and I appreciate that not every truck out there has one.

Years ago I was rear-ended by a small car, which was heavily damaged. Pleased to say truck and bumper were barely affected. I'll be keeping both!

67ChevyRedneck · 12-15-2004, 10:12 AM

My 67 stepside had it on it when I bought it, truck was from Brownsfield, Tx. It didn't bolt through the fenders though....maybe they just did that on fleetsides??? The owner had also welded a hitch onto it. Anyway, I TRASHED it the FIRST DAY I had it home. UGLY!!!

Hook'em · 12-15-2004, 10:58 AM

I had a friend in high school with a '66 Fleetside with a similar bumper. I thought it was a stupid idea. A little bump to the backend and you bend up the quarter panel.

Blue Beard · 12-15-2004, 11:07 AM

Alot of jobs when trucks were built used that area for stepping to help load

krazy_texan · 12-15-2004, 12:28 PM

actually i think those are fairly common on stepsides, more especially longbeds.

chevybill · 12-15-2004, 01:21 PM

My dad had a 66 lwb step gmc that had that bumper on it. He cut the truck in half and made a trailer out of the bed.

He also had a 65 short bed fleet gmc that I wanted to restore later on (this was in 86) but he sold it to a junkyard.

Those model gmcs had a great guage setup, black face with white numbers and lettering- very sharp looking for factory.

Sorry, a little off subject.

**Palf70Step** · 12-15-2004, 01:54 PM

Mine has one similar that was a dealer installed item on my stepside. Yes it appears someone took a can opener to the fender to mount the side bolt.

Fred T · 12-15-2004, 02:03 PM

My 52 has a similar bumper, but the corners are square & welded instead of curved. Also the joint to the fender is riveted, not bolted. I agree, back when trucks were trucks.

**too much stuff** · 12-16-2004, 12:21 AM

Have seen that style of bumper more than once in northern MN. Not pretty, but strong i'm sure...

12-15-2004, 01:03 AM	#5
chickenwing Lovin' Life in Miss.! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Puckett, Mississippi Posts: 1,937	Thought those were.... Barden? bumpers. Thought was aftermarket. I have one on my 72 lwb fleetside. My buddy that was an old school body man INSISTED I cut off the ends. Said if I got hit anywhere on the bumper it would destruct a bedside. Can't ask him anymore questions about it. The poor guy is dead. __________________ The truck... you hear that? No really, you did hear that?!!!

12-15-2004, 02:18 AM	#8
687980chevy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hilly Southern Indiana! Posts: 201	My 68 has that bumper,(Minn.trk) It was modified with a liquid wrench before I got it,but the holes are still in the bedside! __________________ 68 K-10,79 K-10,80 C-30 57 chevy convertible 79 Z28

12-15-2004, 07:32 AM	#9
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Yeah,what Chickenwing said.It`s a Barton bumper.These go back to when trucks were trucks.They`re a throw-back to the pre-fleetside era.Completes the tailend on a Stepside,giving a step to the rear 1/4.Also,often braces could be mounted for tail-end on notoriously flimsy Stepside.On the Fleetside,I guess it`s kind of a carry-over.I guess they were considered extra protection,like a grille guard.Defininately a western thing. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

12-15-2004, 09:46 AM	#10
Stocker 20' Daredevil (Ret) Join Date: May 2003 Location: Jefferson State Posts: 13,749	My '72 Fleetside had one of those when I bought it in '77, and it's still there. It may have been a factory option, or possibly a dealer add-on. At any rate, it's not to everyone's taste, but I'm used to it and I appreciate that not every truck out there has one. Years ago I was rear-ended by a small car, which was heavily damaged. Pleased to say truck and bumper were barely affected. I'll be keeping both! __________________ - Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay

12-15-2004, 10:12 AM	#11
67ChevyRedneck Hittin E-Z Street on Mud Tires Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 23,090	My 67 stepside had it on it when I bought it, truck was from Brownsfield, Tx. It didn't bolt through the fenders though....maybe they just did that on fleetsides??? The owner had also welded a hitch onto it. Anyway, I TRASHED it the FIRST DAY I had it home. UGLY!!! __________________ Jesse James 1967 C10 SWB Stepside: 350/700R4/3.73 1965 Ford Mustang: 289/T5-5spd/3.25 Trac-Loc 1968 Pontiac Firebird: Project Fire Chicken! 2015 Silverado Double Cab 5.3L Z71 2001 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L 5spd 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premium 2.0L Turbo 2011 Mustang V6 ~ Wife's ride American Born, Country by the Grace of God 1967 CST Shop Truck Rebuild! My 1967 C-10 Build Thread My Vintage Air A/C Install Project "On a Dime" Trying my hand at Home Renovation! 1965 Mustang Modifications!

12-14-2004, 11:35 PM	#1
TugOwar Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Pleasanton, TX Posts: 1,723	Overgrown Bumper Syndrome? When I found my 68 GMC sitting in a field and went to look at it, one of the first things I noticed was the rear bumper (pic #1). The way it extended along the bottom edge of the rear quarter all the way to the wheel opening on both sides and then bolted THROUGH the quarter panel. "That looks horrible", I thought. The weld between this extension and where a normal bumper ends was obvious, this had to be some sort of after market mod. "Why this extension?". I wondered to myself. Perhaps the previous owner had a problem jack knifing trailers into the side of the bed. Not impossible when backing a short trailer. Oh well, it was also one of the first things I tackled when I got it home. A blue wrench and side grinder later at it has a normal step bumper again. THEN, I see this pic (pic #2) posted by TXFirefighter. His truck he traded to someone else. And I noticed a very simular extension on that rear bumper. Now whats up with this? Two owners in seperate parts of the country had the same idea? Yeah, possible I suppose. Maybe this some sort of factory option? Any ideas?

12-15-2004, 12:47 AM	#2
mblackburnjr collector of vintage rust Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: southern ohio Posts: 421	The guy where i get my parts from has a 68 gmc with the very same bumper. I just figured it was an aftermarket add-on. Its in southern ohio...and its been here a long time!lol

12-15-2004, 12:52 AM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	yep, I looked at a 68 50th annv last year..same bumper.

12-15-2004, 12:59 AM	#4
TugOwar Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Pleasanton, TX Posts: 1,723	Hmm, thanks for the replies guys. I still think it looks like crap that way, but are you telling me I hacked up kinda rare factory option? LMFAO I have to laugh to keep from crying.

12-15-2004, 01:15 AM	#6
TugOwar Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Pleasanton, TX Posts: 1,723	Sorry about your friend CW. Factory or not, rare or not, mine looks so much better since I hacked off those ends.

12-15-2004, 01:21 AM	#7
FormerMember Account Suspended Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,051	I have a 51 Chevy and a 55 Willy's with that style bumper on it...

12-15-2004, 10:58 AM	#12
Hook'em Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 858	I had a friend in high school with a '66 Fleetside with a similar bumper. I thought it was a stupid idea. A little bump to the backend and you bend up the quarter panel. __________________ Hook'em

12-15-2004, 11:07 AM	#13
Blue Beard Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Washington State Posts: 8,831	Alot of jobs when trucks were built used that area for stepping to help load __________________ 1970 Chev CST 2003 Harley Fatboy 1975 Chevrolet Step Van 1956 Chev Bel Air 1977 Blazer 2WD For Sale $3000.00 1978 Blazer 2WD For Sale $7000.00 1978 Silverado 2005 Monte Carlo

12-15-2004, 12:28 PM	#14
krazy_texan Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: West Des Moines, Ia Posts: 3,233	actually i think those are fairly common on stepsides, more especially longbeds. __________________ Krazy Texan My Trucks are made with Wrenches not Chop Sticks 1967 GMC 3/4 ton "Johnny Cash" 1990 v1500 suburban 1967 Ford f100 Swb 4x4 "green bean" GOD BLESS JESUS, JOHN WAYNE, AND THE ALAMO

12-15-2004, 01:21 PM	#15
chevybill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: calhoun city ms Posts: 940	they are called wrap around bumpers in MS My dad had a 66 lwb step gmc that had that bumper on it. He cut the truck in half and made a trailer out of the bed. He also had a 65 short bed fleet gmc that I wanted to restore later on (this was in 86) but he sold it to a junkyard. Those model gmcs had a great guage setup, black face with white numbers and lettering- very sharp looking for factory. Sorry, a little off subject. __________________ ongoing 1970 c 10 lwb 1994 z-28 few mods.-owned since new 1978 vette silver/grey 25th anniv. paint



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

12-15-2004, 01:54 PM	#16
Palf70Step State of Confusion! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Gulfport, MS USA Posts: 47,322	Mine has one similar that was a dealer installed item on my stepside. Yes it appears someone took a can opener to the fender to mount the side bolt. Attached Images __________________ Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God!

12-15-2004, 02:03 PM	#17
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	My 52 has a similar bumper, but the corners are square & welded instead of curved. Also the joint to the fender is riveted, not bolted. I agree, back when trucks were trucks. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

12-16-2004, 12:21 AM	#18
too much stuff Roadtrip! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Grand Rapids MN Posts: 13,815	Have seen that style of bumper more than once in northern MN. Not pretty, but strong i'm sure... __________________ 67 gmc custom lwb dakota truck. Sold...And bought back 69 swb 4x4 project (in progress) 70 c-10 lwb texas truck 70 4x4/BB/bkts/posi/tach(retired) 70 swb (wifes) 70 jimmy camper 71 K-5 factory 2wd 71 cheyenne 4x4/tach/posi/ plow rig 71 Cheyenne20 BB, buckets, tach, tilt, 4 speed 72 jimmy CST wyoming rig 72 jimmy Colorado rig 72 lifted texas 4x4 3/4 ton burb 65 fury conv. 383/auto 65 chrysler 300 "L" 413 auto

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.