The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk What is this called?

Ok, I have a 3800 and the bumper is welded on. There is a piece that is welded from corner to corner that runs under neath the tailgate. Appx 4" wide. Now, I dont know if all the trucks have them. Or if mine has it for the bumper to be welded to. What is that piece called, do I need it (want to toss the old bumper, UGLY) and do all trucks have this? Or just this one?

you got a pix

doesnt sound familiar to me...probably just on your truck

i think it might be somebody's homemade splash apron/ step bumper

You can see an exploded view on Mar-K's website. I'm not saying this is stock, just "available." Click on the rear pan and see if that isn't it. I think you can buy one from Mar-K if you have an interest in something more stylish than what you have.

Bill

You're talking about the part that goes across the rear of the bed and attaches to both bedsides, correct? If so, that is the rear cross sill. All of these old trucks have them , even the non-'Bolt ones. Sounds like someone made a home made bumper and just mounted it to the rear of the bed than making brackets to mount it correctly. The part is available new, and you do need one as it hold the rear of the bed together and it's where the wood bolts down to at the back of the bed. Welding in the new one isn't 100% necessary as it is bolted as well.

no, it isnt anything to do with the bed. It is right underneath the bottom of the tailgate, and the bumper is welded to it.... I will go get pics..hang on!

There is no "attachment" to the bed, only the stakes. TxLaTx sent me a link that shows the "part" kind of...but it looks more like a "I Beam" in the diagrahm. On my truck, it is flat... I just dont know what it is called, and if it is something I need to have replaced, or not! EEEK!
here are the links
http://groups.msn.com/acmountainviewranch/thingsphotoalbum.msnw?Page=1
this shows one pic of the driver side, click "page 2" and the other 2 pics are on the next page...good luck!!!! hahhaha

Looking at the pic, I believe that the way that bumper is made it's actually covering the cross sill. The one that goes across the rear is flat, not an I-beam, as it also is the rear of the bed floor. When I said that it attached to the bedsides, I meant that it attached at the stakes. I apologize for not being more clear with my descripton. Looks like you may need new stake pockets too. Check with Mar-K. They can set you up with the needed sheetmetal.
Oh, and the round thing on the side? I think it's a holder of a fire extinguisher. I've seen small fire rigs and service vehicles with the same bumper and with the same ring on them.

I have the pockets comming in this week. Thats when I discovered the rotten bumper when I was making sure the pockets would be correct. And yes, that piece IS flat!
I got the pockets from Classicparts.com, along with a tailgate/chrome hinges/chains and chain covers. DO NOT want to scratch up my rust!
Upon further investigation. It has been determined it is a (pardon my spelling) sedaline (spell it right?) tank holder as I have holes in the driver side of the bed where the hoses came threw. I tried a "era" fire extinguisher and the bed rail is to low to allow the extinguisher in/out.
I DO need a piece of sheet metal to repair the bedside. Mar-K have that? I know classicparts does, but they are to darned expensive!
The 3 other 3800's I have seen have all had this bumper. I dunno if they joined a 'bumper gang' or what. Maybe GM did it? It is not a "homemade jobber" either. I personally hate it. I bet that thing weighs 200# alone. It is SOLID.
So, question remains...I need it? IF so, where do I find it? (what is IT called) hahahha
Ya know, I died all the blonde streaks out of my hair to look "smarter" I think I need to put them back in...LOL, so I have a excuse at least!

while it may not be "homemade" it's aftermarket for sure, and it's definitly not a GM bumper - the correct bumper [prolly rare originally as they were optional] would be mounted via brackets [ like this ] that bolt to the frame channels

The correct bumper is very rare on 1 tons. I've only ever seen one 1 ton truck that had a factory bumper on it.
I didn't notice the holes, you're probably right about it being for an acetaline tank.
If you can't find tha part (I'm certain Mar-K has it), one could be fabbed up.