The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 66 Rear Bumper Issue

My truck used to have this ugly white bumper, so we just replaced it with a new repro. Now there is this HUGE gap between the tailgate and the bumper itself. Anyone ever fab up a panel to fill the gap? Surious to see what that would look like. (Match painted to the truck of course).

Thanks guys.

The vedors sell a pair of filler panels for about $40. One 64-66 owner at a show had a nice aluminum panel he had fabbed up.

Sweet. Thanks for the quick response 64!

The factory rock guards look cool and they are painted the body color. They are rolled up on both sides about a 1/4" and have slotted holes in them in two place to allow correct alignment over the rear bumper brace holes. They are a direct bolt-on. I used 1/4" stainless steel carriage bolts, nuts and washers. When installed, they help keep rocks from kicking up between the gap at the bumper and rear cross sill. They are pretty effective and a bit more pleasant than the unsightly looks of the big gap, if they are not there.

Tony

Is this what you are talking about? Mar-K offers them smooth, with a cutout for the license plate, and with a variety of louvers.

Bill

TxLaTx thats a roll pan, i think they are talking more about a spash apron of some sort, i may be wrong. i'm not really sure either.

Not a roll pan or a splash apron. The part is called a rock guard and they were available from the factory. They lay on top of the bumper brackets of the factory bumper that looks like this:

Chrome Rear Bumper With Rock Guards

They are similar on the stepside bed, but they are tapered a little from left to right.

If you look real close at the photo, you can see them on either side near each end of the bumper on top of the bumper brackets.

Tony

I am going to go outside and take a pic of the gap I am talking about. Jeff was thinking he would just fab up a curved panel for it. I think that rock guard is close though.

Ok here are the pics

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2730297130100692845JdywwD?vhost=rides

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2742291550100692845ZIpjxs?vhost=rides

Lori the gap you took picture of is where factory licnese plate bracket and licnese light assembly is located, it bolts to the two holes you see in the bumper.
jim

Lori:

With the factory rock guards and the factory license plate bracket, there is still some space where you can see through to the ground, but not nearly as much as you have now.

The factory license plate bracket is available from several of the aftermarket truck suppliers, like:

www.lmctruck.com
www.brotherstrucks.com
www.classicparts.com
www.bowtiebits.com
www.oldchevytrucks.com

I have also seen them new on eBay by Boese Engineering. They make a nice place to mount your plate and the bracket comes with a license plate lamp and wiring harness that plugs into your rear tail lamp harness. They run around $35.00.

I hope this helps and good luck with your project.

Tony

I'm going to put a rolled pan on my 63 and cut the slots for the bumper brackets to go through. It will claen up the rear of the bed and give a better looking place to mount the license plate. I'm even going to install license plate lights in it,
Scott

Lori66

click on 'links' up at the very top, and then click on 'parts'.

-W

Thanks for the help guys. Soon as I can clear up some more cash I think it will be one of the first things. Ahh the list is neverending.