The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1953 Chevrolet 1420 3/4ton bumper question

Bumpers, is there a way to tell the difference between front and rear? and are the brackets the same?
thanks in advance B

No they are not the same the rear one has the mounting holes farther apart because the frame is wider in the back ,If You put the two next to each other You can see the differance .

Pete

Unless you are referring to a 47-55 panel-body bumpers.

Don't have enough info to answer your question. Some years bumpers were the same front and rear. (1939-1946) The brackets were different. Please give us an exact year and make of your truck. We can then give you a better answer.

If you want to know the answer to a question you should say what you are asking about. People shouldn't have to go into your profile to see what you are asking about. This website covers nearly 60 years of trucks. They were not all built the same.

yes, sorry, just got home and noticed that i forgot to put the year in,late night with sick kids... my truck is a 53.

Pickup or panel? 1/2-, 3/4- or 1-ton. Or larger? The differences between models change both what is in front and what might have been in back.

Hy guys, in the line above his name it says 53 Chev 1420 3/4 ton bumper question, did the Canadian model number throw you?

I missed that, Bobb (but I saw the 3/4 ton in the profile). Your Canadian numbers do not throw me (I have a 54 Canadian Chev/GMC Shop Manual). I guess the numbers have something to do with the metric system?

Tim

Yes they do... There is probably some easy way to know what they are, but I haven't spotted it yet.

The original subject line says front?rear?. The model number and rating must be a later edit. Saying its a 3/4-ton does limit it to a cab and chassis or pickup.

yeah it was edited,am i still missing something i dont know about? i'm totally new to the classic truck hobby/lifestyle (Volkswagen enthusiast transplant)so i have a 53 1420 (was told its equivalent to the 3100) 3/4 ton shortbox pickup,with 4 on the floor and radio (which i'm told are rare?)i was originally asking about the bumpers because someone posted they had a set of them for sale here, which i then learned that he has a set of front bumpers, no rear.so my search is back on.
sorry for all the confusion, i'll try and be more clear for next question.

A 3100 is a 1/2-ton, a 3600 is a 3/4-ton.

The shortbox sounds like you have a 1/2-ton, but I thought Bobb recognized your model number as a 3/4-ton. Something in your description doesn't add up yet.

No worries, we'll all here to help you sort it out.

Rear bumpers were not installed at the factory on most US made trucks. I don't know if they were standard on Candadian trucks or not.

What are you looking for in a rear bumper?

I'm glad i found this site and the people on it,I've learned an awful lot already and have alot more questions (just haven't gotten that far in the project as of yet)
Rear bumpers weren't installed at the factory?why was that?i also have no idea if it was the same here.
As far as a rear bumper goes,i guess i'm looking for a basic chrome bumper(and brackets),like it doesn't have to be perfect,as i am planning on getting the truck driving and stopping the way it is for now.

Hy Bubzilla and guys, at the time your truck was new, it came with basic equipment, and it was up to the buyer to equip it with "accessories" the way he or she wanted it. Because there were so many different styles of rear bumper, from utilitarion, to flashy, they weren't included in the basic vehicle, heck you even had to order a heater, or buy one and install it.

Some quick facts on 53 model trucks. Bumpers/chrome bits optional due to Korean war restrictions.

• 216.5 cubic inch engine; low pressure inline-6 engine with 30 psi oil pressure gauge. This is the last year for the 216 cu.in. low-pressure babbit bearing type engine. In 1953. the Powerglide-equipped automobiles used the new, higher-pressure 235 engine (with hyydraulic lifters).
• 235 cubic inch engine is available on larger trucks; this is also a low-pressure inline-6 engine with 30psi oil pressure gauge. (the last year)
• Cloth-braided wiring.
• Shortages during the Korean War are the primary reasons for the eliminating of bright work on the 1952 and 1953 truck.
• Therefore, painted items on these trucks include: hub caps, bumpers, grille, radio speaker horizontal trim, glovebox door, etc.
• Interior window cranks and wiper knobs are maroon plastic.
• The “back splash” on painted grills is light gray to match hub caps and bumpers (Thistle Gray). On chrome grilles, only the outer bar is plated. The "back splash" bar is as the painted grille.
• Major changes in exterior colors.
• Series/model emblem on sides of hood changed (same as 1954) - hood side emblem changed to large 3100, 3600, 3800, etc...only. No CHEVROLET emblem on side.
• Hood front emblem now stainless steel.
• First year for the optional left-side mount (driver's side) spare on Advance-Design pickups.
• An optional rear bumper is again available this year (had been discontinued in 1951)???
• Door post ID plate is now blue & silver. Prior years were black & silver.
• Last year that wood blocks are used under bed.
• Serial #'s, H 1/2 ton, J 3/4 ton, L 1 ton, etc...