Bumper alignment 1972 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

brown7373 · 04-03-2018, 11:59 AM

My front bumper is crooked...lower on the right side. I see no where in the Service Manual or the Assembly Manual covering adjustment. Short of loosening all the nuts and bolts, are there particular nuts and bolts to loosen so I can raise the right side about a 1/2 inch or so?

notsolo · 04-03-2018, 12:05 PM

I'm guessing the body is sitting level? I used large flat washers between frame horns and bumper to get bumper aligned with the body.

NC_John · 04-03-2018, 12:13 PM

I have to do the same thing on mine. Had to do it the last time I had it apart and have to do it again this time. I used large washers between the bumper and the bumper bolts IIRC. Wish I paid more attention when I took it apart last year....

My frame is straight... body is straight, new mounts... Bumper crooked as hell!

I've been putting it off since its aggravating as heck to mess with.

**HO455** · 04-03-2018, 12:28 PM

After close to fifty years chances are something's tweaked. Our bumpers were not that stout from the get go. You just have to dive under and take a look at where the bolts sit in the slots to see if you are already out of adjustment in the direction you want to move. If you are out of slot in the direction you want to go, then the other end has to move to get things to back to level. I ended up loosening all the bolts on mine and tapping it in to position with a dead blow hammer and a piece of 2x4. When I was done I got it fairly level and most of the tweak out, but it had to sit a bit lower than I wanted it. The two center bolts are a pain to get at especially if some has changed the bolts out to longer ones. I had to lengthen the slot on one of the end brackets. It's easier with a helper to push and pry while you tighten the bolts down. A tape measure can help but sometimes it is best to step back and look from a distance if things are not very straight. A bad core support mount can cause the front clip to sit crooked making the bumper look wrong. So a quick check of those is in order before starting.
Good luck!

brown7373 · 04-03-2018, 01:39 PM

I didn't see any slots, but maybe they will appear as I loosen some of the bolts.

04-03-2018, 11:59 AM	#1
brown7373 Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Fort Pierce, FL Posts: 430	Bumper alignment 1972 My front bumper is crooked...lower on the right side. I see no where in the Service Manual or the Assembly Manual covering adjustment. Short of loosening all the nuts and bolts, are there particular nuts and bolts to loosen so I can raise the right side about a 1/2 inch or so?

04-03-2018, 12:05 PM	#2
notsolo Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Md Posts: 2,482	Re: Bumper alignment 1972 I'm guessing the body is sitting level? I used large flat washers between frame horns and bumper to get bumper aligned with the body. __________________ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=635605

04-03-2018, 12:13 PM	#3
NC_John Registered User Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Rockwell, NC Posts: 1,639	Re: Bumper alignment 1972 I have to do the same thing on mine. Had to do it the last time I had it apart and have to do it again this time. I used large washers between the bumper and the bumper bolts IIRC. Wish I paid more attention when I took it apart last year.... My frame is straight... body is straight, new mounts... Bumper crooked as hell! I've been putting it off since its aggravating as heck to mess with. __________________ 1970 C-10 LWB "Blu" Instagram (current build pictures) 70_nc_c10

04-03-2018, 12:28 PM	#4
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 11,350	Re: Bumper alignment 1972 After close to fifty years chances are something's tweaked. Our bumpers were not that stout from the get go. You just have to dive under and take a look at where the bolts sit in the slots to see if you are already out of adjustment in the direction you want to move. If you are out of slot in the direction you want to go, then the other end has to move to get things to back to level. I ended up loosening all the bolts on mine and tapping it in to position with a dead blow hammer and a piece of 2x4. When I was done I got it fairly level and most of the tweak out, but it had to sit a bit lower than I wanted it. The two center bolts are a pain to get at especially if some has changed the bolts out to longer ones. I had to lengthen the slot on one of the end brackets. It's easier with a helper to push and pry while you tighten the bolts down. A tape measure can help but sometimes it is best to step back and look from a distance if things are not very straight. A bad core support mount can cause the front clip to sit crooked making the bumper look wrong. So a quick check of those is in order before starting. Good luck! __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

04-03-2018, 01:39 PM	#5
brown7373 Registered User Join Date: May 2011 Location: Fort Pierce, FL Posts: 430	Re: Bumper alignment 1972 I didn't see any slots, but maybe they will appear as I loosen some of the bolts.

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