Front bumper problem

W

wrndln

Well-known member
I have a rechromed front 28/29 bumper. The chrome is nice, however the two bars are bowed inward about an inch (in the middle). There are no sharp bends, just a gentle bow. Has someone figured out a way to straighten bumpers bars. I tried to bend the bars, but they just returned to the shape they were in before trying to straighten. I didn't try to bend them with a lot of force for fear of messing them up. Any suggesting would be appreciated.
Rusty Nelson
 
Major advice.. make sure the bumper brackets at the bumper bolt holes are flush with one another. Any straight bar or better a level placed in front of the bolt holes should tell how true the brackets and/or frame horns are. If the brackets are bent to far the bumper will bow out, to little and the bumper bows in toward the radiator.
 
Problem is it's spring steel, you have to go past center to straighten and that might crack the chrome.
 
A machine shop with a Roller might be able to put the nice arc back into them. Make sure that they put a non scuff material like tape or thin cardboard on the rollers. That should prevent scuffing.
 
Milton is correct. The bumper arms are bent. This can be a problem if both are out of shape. With the bumper bars off, look down at both arms and see if they are the same. From the frame fastenings they should come straight out, not curve right or left. If you have another A, or there is one close by, check it out for comparison. The ends of the arms with the bolt hole are supposed to be curved not flat. I spent hours trying to get mine right. Good luck.
 
I should note that the two bumper bars are not installed on the car yet. Is it possible that the bow will come out once the clamps on the arms are installed and tightened? I guess I thought the chrome bumper bars should be straight before they are installed. Both bumper bars are bowed about the same. Maybe I should install the bumper and see if it is still bowed once everything is tightened up, but it seems like it would still be bowed.
Rusty Nelson
 
I was off roading in my RPU in July (some of u might cringe) but I had a blast and she did damned good. When I was pretty much bounced outa the drivers seat and into the passengers well the outcome was I smacked into a tree and my bumper was too bent in the middle about an inch. I got home and took out the sledge hammer and waked The bumper supports outwards away from the center a bit and it pulled the arch right out of it.
 
I've got an "anomalous bend" in the right front bumper bracket. Mine is bent upward about a inch or rather it makes the right side of the bumper about a inch higher than the left. I tried bending it slightly with the backhoe bucket, but that doesn't work. I hate to put heat on it. How do you bend this steel?
Terry
 
I alway thought the 28-29's were straight between the brackets and cury after toward the ends.?!
I would try mounting them Rusty and see if the bow magically pulls out. My old originals went on and after tightening them they bowed in with about 1/2" on the top and 3/4" on the bottom. For grins and giggles I flipped the bar and the sat even. Just a matter of flipping the end bolts after that. My bars have yet to be chromed/nickeled up, and I am stiill looking for a matched pair of undamaged bumper brackets as my driver's sits is too tight to the tire. If you think re-bending the bumper bars is fun, try bending the brackets? No cheating with heat now.......
Cheers!
 
Farrell, I think you are correct, they should be straight from bumper clamp to bumper clamp. 30/31 front bumpers that I have seen have a slight bow outward, but I have a 28 coupe. I guess I will install the bumper and see if the bow is reduced. If not, I will have to try something to reduce or eliminate the bow.
Rusty
 
Rusty,
You're going to have too bend them pryer to putting them on, I think.
I don't think the brackets are strong enough too keep them straight, and
it's hard on the clamps!
 
I've straightened bumper bars in a vise multiple times. However this has always been BEFORE plating. It takes some serious effort!

'28-29 front bumper bars were manufactured with the front face flat as previously noted. Ford's assembly drawings indicate the front center was to bow forward 1/4" after installation to the brackets. If you study archive photos it is clear they often were not successful in this last detail but they sure look nice when they are as intended!
 
If they were not bent when you sent them and they are now, well you have a problem.

That means they overheated them while sanding or grinding. If this is the case then I would talk to the plater about how they are going to correct the problem they created.
 
I never knew the 28-29 had dead straight bumpers.I always thought they had a slight arc between the brackets.Nothing like the curve of the 30-31's.What I DID miss was the word INWARD. An inch inward laying on the bench is way out of whack.I've straightened a lot of bumpers,I just put them in the press and work the whole bent area,bending little by little until they are right.If you go a little at a time you will figure out how much to overbend them and have them stay when you release the pressure.
 
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