Slick 60's

What kind of rear bumper would have been on a 66 swb 4x4 from the factory? A truck needs to have a solid bumper and the chrome reproduction ones I see don't look that sturdy, even the ones with the step. I'm not sure whether to clean-up and powder coat the one I have or go with an original/reproduction. If I do choose to keep this one, what color should it be (black, white, silver, or...?)

Here is a picture of the one I have. Check out the reciever hitch my dad built back in 1985 to go with it..... Yes, dad was a farmer!




Thanks,
Lee

IMHO that one you have there would be your most cost effective solution redone like you suggested. A new one is going to be lighter probably. I had a homemade farmer style one that was pretty ugly and had to be torched off the truck. It was overkill. The factory "sport" bumpers look ok "what I have now" but are more for looks and wouldn't do much in a collision. I vote to cleanup what you got and keep what your dad made too. Unless your going for super show truck-then all bets are off! I painted my bumpers wimbledon white. Argent gray or silver works well too. Mines a 64.

^^^I agree! I'm not big on all those old home built bumpers, but that one looks real good. Most of these trucks didn't come with rear bumpers, but here is a factory one, one a 4X4 too...

no such thing as a factory rear bumper, they were all optional items ordered separately.

the styleside bumper (i call it the car bumper) was the only one produced by ford.

the wrap around bumpers like the one in your pic were one of the more common type installed;
either the flareside type or the dock bumper







the corners of these are weak, the dock type especially so, and the tin is prone to rusting.

i first used a sliding rear bumper, made for trucks equipped with campers ,beefed up with thicker diamond plate and fixed so it did not slide anymore but recently switched to this homemade job so i could have the receiver hitch





i modified the center section so the license plate is fully visible and it is now a beefy version of the uni styleside rear bumper

Does anyone know what this bumper is from? I haven't seen one like it on these trucks.

Homemade/local shop..

In the 70s, I ran body shop for chevy dealer in middle tn, we got our step bumper for texas the deliverys came about once a month in about 20ft trailer. He had several styles the most popular had dealer name stamped in 3in channel. If we were really low he had some that the name would be sprayed on with stencil.



Johnny

Here's one more choice.
This one is from Torklift Central, judging from the sticker. who knows though, it probably has been modified six times. Look solid as all get out though, if not the prettiest.

Beefcake!

From what I have learned was that the trucks for the most part were shipped with out bumpers unless you ordered the sport bumper for the styleside trucks. Most of the trucks I've seen had the bumper like you have and were either dealer installed or by a local shop. I say keep what you've got and rattle can it so its easy to touch up.

I can get "stock" sport bumpers and the brackets ,worst condition would need rechromed or powder coated..,not cheap to ship and brackets are gettin harder to find in boneyards,let alone a decent un dented bumper...you didn't post where you are...

fabbin the right brackets or usin some off a stepside or uni a fat piece of varnished oak would look great..

Has anyone ever come up with a drawing for these? I would think they would not be that difficult to make given the drive, experience and talent on this board.
I know I would like to try my hand at it, if measured drawings were available.
If not, some day I might be lucky and find a set to duplicate.

****Pete****
when you are up and about again, see if you can find a set for a uni, and shoot me a price.

John

brackets are repopped now and decent quality. i have had my hands on a set and they are heavy like the originals.

Lee,
My , I'd take that heirloom bumper, wirebrush it good, wipe it down with a gas-soaked rag, let dry, BRUSH on a good epoxy primer then brush on two coats of either a silver or white cover paint. Brushing is easy, less hassle, gets a couple of good coatings of paint (more so than spray can). Try to get/keep the bumper temp above 55*F and the brushed paint will lay down just fine. Finally, bolt it on and then Keep on Truckin'....

BarnieTrk

P.S.
While the bumper is still off and unpainted, how about cutting in a nice, bright (LED?), rectangluar-shaped, flush-mounted back up light on each side? Wire it directly to a toggle switch at the dash....

Here is the one I cut off my 63.



I gained .200s on the 1/4mile by just shedding that overbuilt farm bumper.

lynyrd skynyrd rocks !!!

My 66 has the same type bumper as the blue styleside above. It was purchased new in Columbia, SC.

Clark,
NICE '66 ! That bumper does look the same.

(Say, do you have any more pics of your fine '66 - I looked in your profile for some, but found nuttin....)

BarnieTrk