28 front bumper question?

[crock]

Is the front bumper on a 28 model A suppose to be flat across the front? Mine is in about 3/4" in the middle. If flat, how would you straighten it? (put it on backwards & run into a tree) Or should I just live with the bend!

 

[RHD]

Don't damage the tree.

 

[glenn in camino]

Clamp down the ends and use a hydraulic jack. Use your imagination.

 

[wrndln]

I have the same concern. mine is bent in slightly less than your, but noticeable. I was thinking of removing the bumper and jacking up my modern truck and putting the bumper on blocks and letting the tire down on the bumper gently and see if it straightens any. With a hydraulic jack, I think I can control the amount of lift and down pressure. It may not work, but worth a try. The bumper is made of spring steel, so it retains its shape unless a lot of pressure it placed on it.
Rusty Nelson

 

[Marco Tahtaras]

If I recall correctly the bars were straight across the center when off the car. However, they WERE specified to bow forward 1/4" when installed. In reality this varied somewhat when the cars were new as can be seen clearly in archive photographs. When they do have that 1/4" bow they look great and actually APPEAR straight unless studied carefully.

The problem with '28-29 front bumpers is that the bumper arms and clamps attach in the curved area of the bumper bars. If the ends of the arms are even slightly off angle it will pull or bow the bars one direction (or the other) when the clamps are tightened. There will be similar results if the bumper arms are spread differently (closer or farther) as that places the attaching ends at a different place in the bumper bar curve and thus a different angle.

The bottom line is you generally need to work on both the bars and the arms so when assembled they aren't fighting each other unless it's to your benefit. Trial and error is the only way you'll know.

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

I liked the tree idea! Chief would probably say, "Well, whippersnapper, a tree probably caused it, and a tree can UN-CAUSE it"!! He was a very practical man & KRAZY like a FOX!! Bill W.

 

[pooch]

I used a small 6 ton press.

Tweaked both the bars and the arms.

Came out great...1/4 inch bow out.

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

I removed the 2 end bolts so I could work on the bars one at a time. I placed a 6 x 6 under each bar end, then jumped on each bar. It took several jumps, but I got them back straight.

 

[crock]

Thanks for everone's help. I used two 8x8 wood blocks. jacked up p/u truck, placed bumper (one piece at a time) under front wheel. after 4 try's got it perfect. Had to use my Toyota truck (ain't that auwfull)