88 front bumper on my 73?

[73Cheyenne4x4]

My truck was involved in a wreck and the front end was totaled out, is it possible to put a later model front bumper on it? The only one for sale right now is an 88 with a push bar and brush guards and I’d like to know if it would work. Has anyone done this type of thing before? I can’t seem to find any examples online

 

[bucket]

An '88 what? There were squarebodies in '88 as well as the new style trucks. The new style is nowhere close to matching.

 

[Charlie]

 

[Preston]

Welcome from Virginia

 

[Shorty81]

The frame horns changed with the 81. You need a 73 through 80 front bumper.

 

[Shorty81]

Oh, and welcome from the Buckeye State.

 

[73Cheyenne4x4]

Ok thank you, Is there anyway to make it work and be ok is would I be better off waiting for the correct one? I know that the 80s are considered squarebodies but the change in bumper style was what I was referring to

 

[HotRodPC]

I too would prefer to find a 73-80 model bumper if you're wanting a bolt on no modifications fit.

 

[bucket]

They fit the frame horns, but the bumper needs shimmed to get the angle right, or slot the hole in the top bracket. The bumper end support brackets are also very different between the two bumpers.

IMHO, I'd also just get the right bumper.

 

[Craig 85]

81-87 bumpers will bolt on 73-80 trucks, but the top rear corners of the bumper will dig into the front fenders near the lower body line. The 81-87 fenders have more of a taper.

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[bucket]

^^^Yeah, and there's that issue too. Even if it doesn't happen to hit your specific fenders (all trucks are slightly different) it will still look a little odd from the front due to the bumper being a little narrow.

 

[Shorty81]

This is a 79 bumper on a 86. My frame is a 79 with 86 cab and bed.

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