The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1951 Chevy 1/2 ton - Rear / Front center bumper bolt?

I have an all original 1951 Chevy 1/2 ton.

I am slowly "preserving" it to its former glory. Still have much to do, but progressing slowly. Here is a curiosity.

My rear front and rear bumpers have 1 1/4 attachment bolts (4). The center bumper bolt (5th)is only 1 inch and does not attach to anything.

Why the size difference? They appear original and have not been removed.

Just wondering.

BW

Bumper guards?
Scott

It was just a hole filler-bolt. That short bolt was supposedly non-threaded and had a spring-nut to hold it onto the bumper. The hole was vestigial - no longer used but formerly placed in the bumpers to attach a strengthening bracket for a hand crank (I have an old bumper with that bracket).

Jim Carter has a tech article about this (47-55, in Misc). Here is a picture of the bolts. I think JC now sells a reproduction center (short) bolt.

Hey - Thanks for the info and picture. Sure clears things up! Regards, BW

In Vintage Truck (the issue with the yellow school bus on the cover) there is an AD truck rear view with a bracket from the centre bolt on the rear bumper to the centre hole that is in the valance. Don't know why or if its original. Maybe something to do with a bumper hitch perhaps.

olblu49,

Was that a restored pickup truck? 47-53? There was no GM rear valance but many vendors sell a 47-53 pickup rear valance that is made by Patrick's and it looks "period correct". Maybe that valance uses the middle bolt?

Tim

It is a 1950 GMC half ton. (Vintage Truck August 2007, page 49) Maybe the word 'valance' was wrong now that you mention it. I know there is a valance on the front. What I am referring to is the vertical sheet metal below the tailgate which might be part of the rear bed sill. I have a hole in the center of mine. The photo in VT shows a rod running between the two holes. Now whether it is original or just something the owner added, I can't say.

OK, now I understand. I think that part is called the rear cross-sill. Thanks.

I'll look in Vintage Truck.

My wifes '50 Chevy 3100 has the same hole located in the center of the rear cross sill, it had the deluxe slide out spare tire carrier, I believe thats where the support bolt went.

heres a link to the pics http://www.cardomain.com/ride/1969206/6

wv_hillbilly has it nailed.

wv_hillbilly,

thanks for sharing the pics, that is pretty neat.

-W

glad I could help someone, now if I can only find a couple pieces of the carrier, I'll have my complete setup.

Hate to shoot down these theories but I have just looked at a 51 Chev and a 52 GMC both with tire carriers and they do not use that center hole. If you look in the Factory Assembly manual (green book) they show the J bolt attaching on the right side. I also do not think that there would be enough strength in that sheet metal piece, even though it is reinforced, to hold up the tire carrier and the weight.
Having said all this I have on my 49 a channel which runs front to rear from the bed cross member which looks like a tire slide would fit in it. And this is different to what is shown in the green book. If that is what it is then it would need a spot for the J hook near the center.
Interesting topic.

Boy, has this thread moved off it's intended course! anyway, the hole in the rear cross sill is indeed for the J hook of the spare tire carrier on some trucks. My '48 3100 uses this hole for that purpose. Other trucks have a different setup and do not use the hole for anything. I'm guessing the cross sill was manufactured with the hole, and they just left it that way when they used a different carrier.

Now, back to the original question. My thought is that the center bumper bolt was just aesthetic. Perhaps GM had an idea in mind for the center hole and the plan never came to fruition.

Tom R is absolutely correct, I will just add that GM changed the spare carrier in 51 I believe, making the hole in the rear cross sill useless, but you notice it is still there! Also correct about the center bumper bolt, it is hard to believe GM went to the expense and bother of making a special bolt to fill a hole, but they did. Maybe the hole is there because the same machine to punch the holes was used on the front bumper, and the front used the center hole. Although we all know the front and rear bumpers on pickups are different shapes, so I might be wrong on that theory.

Maybe they were punched before they were rolled out. The four other holes front/rear line up.