Front Bumper Project

[HectorM52]

I thought I'd post this up over here since some of you guys do some fabrication. Maybe get some good feedback...

I had been thinking that my entire front end just didn't look right. Like it needed some color or some contrast or just something.

So as I was looking at my bumper and the factory valence that is under it I noticed that the big problem was the BUMPER!!

And I had just seen a thread where a guy frenched his bumper and it looked pretty decent. So I decided to copy it.

Here is it BEFORE:

[HectorM52]

So I started by getting some "opinions" on coloring for the front. I THOUGHT I liked a black bumper with black GMC lettering the best so I found a bumper and shot a coat of black on it.

I had to search around but finally found a bumper without the impact strip. AND it had the bolts already shaved so that was just an added bonus!!!!

[HectorM52]

It turns out that I'm not such a huge fan of the black bumper so I solicited some photoshop help. Here's what my buddy came up with...obviously there were a couple "jokes" in there...

[HectorM52]

Well, I think I like the LAST one the best so that's what I'll probably end up going with. That's a body colored bumper with gunmetal accents up in the headlight buckets and on the GMC.

Eventually the grille will be replaced with a billet piece but I've got to get that Christmas bonus first!!!

[HectorM52]

On to the "project" part of this thread...

I started out with an "idea" in mind. This guy was selling this bumper then when I showed interest he decided he didn't want to sell it. Honestly I think he did a pretty good job...because he gave me the idea to try this!!!!

[HectorM52]

I'm not the "best" with the welder so you guys will have to excuse my poor attempts. It's just a 120v MIG without gas so I'm doing the best I can!!!

Started by measuring twice! ;) Then cut about an 1.25" sliver out of the bumper just inside the turn signal area. I left the center section bolted up so I could get a good measurement for how much to cut off the "back" of the bumper - you know - the area that will butt up against the fender.

I then made that cut and came back and tacked on the newly chopped end piece.

[HectorM52]

I ended up having to re-do the passenger's side because I welded the side on kind of crooked. You can tell if you look closely above...

[HectorM52]

Anyway...I then started to focus on the back ears of the bumper - trying to get them to line up with the fender. This took several tries of cutting and bending and cutting and bending. I realized that my first measurement was not nearly enough taken off - but I guess it's better to have cut "not enough" rather than "too much."

[HectorM52]

I think it is starting to come together nicely...

[HectorM52]

So, after several suggestions and comments from my s-series buds I decided to take it one step further and get the top edge to line up better than it is above...

I decided that I would start by "expanding" the corner by cutting slits into it and starting to bend and curve the metal up to the contour of the fender. I think this is going to cut into the grille shell a little more but I also think it is going to make the mod look more seamless once complete!

[HectorM52]

Oh, and of course I decided to shave the bolts off of this one too. It just makes for a nicer looking bumper!!!!

Anyway, I got to welding up the slits and did the other side as well...

[HectorM52]

Oh, one thing I forgot to mention. For those of you wanting to try a similar mod on your car/truck...remember this:

DO NOT WORK FROM 2 of 4 BOLTS ON THE BUMPER!!!

I had been hanging the bumper on the frame using only two of the four bolts - the TOP bolts. So the bumper hadn't been sitting flush against the frame which of course meant that I had to do more work on the seam at the fender. Which was a pain since I had already gotten it where I thought it was looking good one time...

[HectorM52]

So here it is after some grinding. Got a little more to do then do some final fitment checks. And of course a lot of bondo and some hammer/dolly time too.

[HectorM52]

And here it is all primered up...

[HectorM52]

Got another bolt shaved and welded in. I also decided to fill in the center area where the plate would typically bolt on. Hopefully that will turn out nice.

[HectorM52]

And finally got back to work on this thing this week...I'm gonna try my hand at actual bodywork!! How am I doing??

[HectorM52]

Laid down some primer so I could continue to work out the high and low spots...










Looks pretty good on there!

[HectorM52]

And we finally got around to laying down some color and clear!!!

[HectorM52]

Unfortunately what the pictures don't show is the fact that we didn't let it dry out before I wrapped it up and put it in the back of my Civic to bring home. And the clear got all boogered up. What a dummy I am. I KNEW it wasn't dry!!

You can see it on this part of the bumper (please ignore the fender - it needs some work too!)




So we will be yanking it back off to put down some more clear sometime soon. I'll try to get some pictures of it with the grille all finished up and the valence installed too!

[lower90xcab]

looks killer adam..i will be sending my 1st gen bumper to do soon....