The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun 1948 Chevy 3800 rear bumper and brackets

Hi,

I can’t find rear bumper and brackets for my truck and LMC said the 3600 parts would not work. Why wouldn’t they work? Thanks

If you want 3600 and 3800 compatibility
think they should work
If I remember the details from when I researched this topic
The only difference is the true 1 ton rear bumper bracket is slightly thicker spring steel
So you won’t score 100% on authenticity if I bring my calipers

The half ton brackets are completely different
Frame spacing is wider
-s

In my experience (see pictures below), LMC is right -- 3600 brackets will *not* work on a 3800 truck. Maybe someone with the parts catalog can run the numbers to confirm they're different between the 3100, 3600 and the 3800. But you can plainly see in the pictures that they *are* different. I had to go through several sets of brackets before I found the right ones for the 3800. As I recall, I came up with three unique sets. The 3600 set did not align to the 3800 bumper holes. If you use a 3100 or 3600 bumper, it will align to the matching brackets, but it won't fit to the 3800 frame rails. I finally came up with a set that were obviously 3800 brackets as they aligned nicely with both the frame rails and the correct 3800 rear bumper without the use of prybars.

For this to work properly (fitment, primarily ...) you need BOTH the correct 1-ton bumper AND the 1-ton bracketsMake sure you have the correct bumper for the 1-ton brackets -- the 3800 bumpers are much thicker and heavier than the 3/4 and 1/2-ton bumpers and the holes are spaced differently. If you mismatch bumpers and brackets, you will not get things to fit properly. It may *appear* that you can use the other bumpers and brackets, and they will be close ... but not close enough. They simply do not work. I've tried.

AD 1-ton bumpers are pretty easy to spot in a collection of bumpers -- They appear to be identical to the other ones (until you try to mount one on a halfton) but they are very noticeably thicker. Brackets are a different story as the differences are not readily apparent. I did a fair amount of trial and error before I finally found the correct set.

Here are some pictures that might help.

Bottom line -- To fit a rear bumper to the 3800, you must use the 3800 brackets and bumper. It just won't work otherwise. Don't try to make the smaller truck parts work, thinking that things might have shifted out of alignment after 70 years, thus rationalizing the use of a prybar here or accepting an empty bolt hole there (because it just would not align to anything). If you have the correct bumper and brackets, everything aligns very nicely. If you need to use prybars or comealongs, you do not have the correct parts.

I’ve been searching for the one ton rear bumper parts for years and could never find them
The parts book don’t list rear 1 ton bumpers either
But I suspect they existed
-s

Keep the faith, -s -- they are out there. I had Cosmo's help finding mine and it took going through a few pairs of brackets before I ended up with the correct ones. But I did, eventually.

That's interesting that they aren't listed in the parts book ... I wonder why not? Dealer installed item?

I try to keep my eyes open for them maybe someone on stovebolt could help fine me one too

From what I heard the rear bumper became optional equipment fairly early when it was realized most folks removed the rear bumpers on the big trucks to reach loading docks or install a dumping hoist for the box
About a 50s or later dealer 1 ton would not have come with a rear bumper by default
So that makes them super rare, perhaps the most difficult original part to source on the while vehicle

Even the vehicle dimension drawing omit the bumper
There is literally no documentation that I could find about a rear bumper
So if anyone has any information or actual parts taking good photos square on with dimensions would be very valuable to me and future generations
-s

If you make your own brackets, you can make almost any bumper fit to your liking.

And you thought a 67-72 4.10 rear gear was hard to find...

Yeesh.

I had to make my rear brackets. Not stock and I moved my bumper up and in.

I'm not positive on these, but Bowtie Bits appears to have a rear bumper bracket that is listed for the 3/4 or 1 ton (?). The picture looks a lot like my 1-ton brackets (and John's above). See: https://www.bowtiebits.com/store/st...amp;Category_ID=2&Sub_Category_ID=25 . Hope this is helpful.

They DO look right, Robert! As the editor here, I wonder if they would lend me a set to verify? Or at least one of the guys above could try them who needs a set for their correct 1-ton bumper and if they fit, say so, and if they don't they could return them. ... ?

If I had a bumper I would buy a set for my '50 and give them a try. I need to find an original bumper first but nice to know there may be a decent option for brackets.

John, did you ever contact them and get to verify this? I'd love to know!

Gord and Fran Correct me if I am wrong but those brackets are spring steel made to absorb being hit, pushing the truck,like they used to do,or backing into something I suppose they bent those cold like a leaf spring !

Bumper brackets are definitely made of spring steel. I've done the grinder test on leftovers of my broken brackets and they exhibit sparks like high carbon spring steel.