The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop differences in bumper shapes

I am working on a 1954 and have bought two used bumpers at swap meets.

For the front I bought one and when I got it home it seems to be curved a bit more than it should to fit the arc of the splash pan well.

For the back I want to run a straight one without the license plate recess so I looked for a 47-53 rear. I brought that home and laid it down next to the front one- and surprise- it seems to actually fit the curve of the '54 front gravel pan.

Can someone explain the differences in bumpers for these trucks- all years front and back - so I can tell the difference at swap meets and not rely on the word of the seller?

Praise, there was a thread about the various bumper shapes many months ago, but I can't seem to find it. IIRC, there's a noticable difference between the front and rear p/u bumpers; panel truck bumpers are harder to distinguish.

About your different shaped bumpers: When I had the Juggernaut in pieces, I noticed that the rear bumper for my panel has tighter curves than the front, and is just over 1" shorter. As a result, the rear bumper would not fit the curve of the front splash apron and the tips of the bumper would touch the front fenders. The rear splash apron under the barn doors curves sharply toward the back corners of the body, just like the bumper.

Am I reading the Parts & Accessories Manual (1929-1954) incorrectly? The 1947-1954 front bumper (group 7.831: BAR, Bumper Face) for all models of 1/2 ton Chevrolet trucks is part number 3700438; and, the rear bumper (Bumper Face Bar) for the Panel Truck, Suburban Carryall, and Canopy Express is 3700438 (same part as for the front)?

CHEV'S OF THE 40'S, which lists its parts by original parts numbers, shows 37000438 for front and rear of Panels & Suburbans.

If I am wrong, I will be checking the swap meet for a rear bumper (and, does anyone know the correct part number for the Suburban, Panel Truck, and Canopy Express rear bumper)?

Tim

Jim Carter also says the front and rear bumper on panels, suburbans and canopys are the same. It is the pickups that have rears different from the front. And of course GM made rear bumpers optional in about 1951, so now original rear bumpers are much harder to find.

I'm sure the manual says they're the same. My measuring tape says they're not. I am not going to debate the fact. I was simply relating an odd discovery that may shed light on the anomaly Praise described.

An anomaly which cannot exist, since the manual says otherwise. :rolleyes:

Just to completely confuse the issue, my '54 GMC panel is exactly the opposite of the Hedgehog's. I'm not sure if they'll switch front to back, one of these days I'll pull them off and check.