Hello everybody. So I believe that I happen to have two front bumpers for my 53 1/2 ton. The front bumper went on good and looks great. However, now that I'm in the process of installing the rear bumper it seems to be a bit too curved. Upon looking at the parts catalog the front and rear have different part numbers. My question is: Has anybody installed a front bumper on the rear without damaging it? I thought I had once read that the front and rear are interchangeable. Thank you.
Here is how we install bumpers that don't align perfectly (which is most of them). First the bumper is clamped rigidly into the position that it belongs. We use clamps attached to the rear bumper of the old shop truck to hold the new bumper in position. The bumper arms (brackets) are bolted to the frame, heated yellow hot, and quickly bolted to the bumper. Being yellow hot the arms are like cooked spaghetti and will form easily to any direction they are pulled. You may have to reach through the holes in the bumper with a long punch to get the holes in the arms aligned close enough to start a piece of long all thread for drawing them into position. Use washers to protect the chrome and wet towels to protect paint and other chrome. If you try to draw the arms into position with the arms cold or not heated enough it will crack the chrome around the holes every time. After the arms cool the all thread is removed and bumper bolts are installed. Sand and rattle can the arms and you have an exact fit bumper. If you are actually going to USE your bumper (unlikely) then re-temper the arms.
