Pics of '81- bumper with '73-'80 front clip?

[K30_dump]

Hello all,

Using an '84 frame for my K30 dump project and have a quick question. I plan to run a '73-'80 front clip, but like the look of the '81- bumpers a bit better (not only that, but I'm not 100% positive that the older bumper will work with the '81- frame extension brackets )...

Will the newer bumper fit (and look) okay with the older fenders and core support? I have read some post saying it will rub, some say it fits fine but looks bad. Anyone have pics of such a combo?

Thanks,

Joe

[Doug_J]

Umm if your using the 84 frame and wanna use the 81 up bumper I dont see the problem inless im missing somthing? But as for the front clip it should work fine I dont remeber the truck I had having any rubbing issues.

[78cheyenne292]

i have a newer bumper on my 78 (not sure what year its from) and it does rub on the top were it wraps around it just hits the fender a bit.. bolt holes basically lined up though.. i havnt had the time to actually do it yet but im planning to just make little metal shims to give it some spacing and make it sit properly doesnt seem like it would be a hard thing to do at all you would just have to line the bumper up and see what kind of spacers you would need to make.. i say go for it and if your not happy with the way it sits you shouldnt easily be able to make it work

[78cheyenne292]

wait nevermind i didnt even think about the fact that its an 84 frame.. you should be good to go.. as for the newer bumper with the older front clip i really like the look of it.

[K30_dump]

Originally Posted by Doug_J

Umm if your using the 84 frame and wanna use the 81 up bumper I dont see the problem inless im missing somthing? But as for the front clip it should work fine I dont remeber the truck I had having any rubbing issues.

Mostly was curious as to whether it rubbed the fenders and whether or not it "fit" with the look of the round lamps and older fenders. I know it'll physically bolt up fine .

78cheyenne - Pic looks great, thanks. I'm thinkin I'll try to find a clean '81- chrome bumper with impact bars. Think it'll look good on my K30. Shame is, I scrapped the original bumper that was with the frame. Good chrome too, but didn't think at the time that it would look right. You know how it is when you're on a cleaning spree...

Thanks guys,

Joe
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[78cheyenne292]

yeah im still looking for one with the bumper spikes.. im dying to see how it would look.. iv always loved those bumpers

[D13]

My 77 has an 87 bumper on it, it fits but looks wrong, gaps to the lower panel and non-parallel gap at the fenders.

[K30_dump]

Originally Posted by D13

My 77 has an 87 bumper on it, it fits but looks wrong, gaps to the lower panel and non-parallel gap at the fenders.

Any pics of where it looks bad?

I guess my other question was, if I do decide to use the proper matching bumper for the '73-'80 clip, how do I mount that to the angled frame horns? Seems the newer bumper is angled downward to match the frame extension brackets. Wouldn't the older bumper be angled downward if mounted to the '84 frame?

Thanks guys,

Joe
Posted via Mobile Device

[bmchevy1979]

you could use the upper middle brackets and outside brackets off of the older bumper and then fab up some little bracket for the bottom you might have to drill the hole for the upper brackets but you can go off the frame for the bottom

[1LowToy]

I was going to to that change to my 80 but I found that the 81 and newer bumper is not as wide and would likely need to be trimmed on each side to clear the wider fenders on the 73-80 models. Glad I gave up before I cut my front frame horns.

[BigRed76]

Here is a 73/74 front clip with the 83-87 bumper. I like the look but only on the 73/74's.

[D13]

If you look at that picture you can see the gap of filler panel to bumper in the corner, and the tight condition of the tip of the bumper to the fenders. The newer bumpers have more square corners which creates the non-paralleism to the filler. Mine looks worse than that because it's mounted a litte further forward (bought it that way).