60-66 Stepside rear step bumper modification

[TJ's Chevy]

Really nice work! Giving me ideas for when I possibly do mine!

[WhippinSaw]

Had some problems keeping my gap by the bumper tip where it meets the fender. Every time I would apply heat to the channel the gap would change no matter how I clamped it down. I decided to just "cold tack it" until I have the diamond plate welded in to keep the angle and then go back and put some heat on the frame. After some time off to get a new plan I blasted and primed the frame and had some diamond plate bent. When I cut the plate to size, do I leave a gap for the weld, or leave it flush with the edge of the bumper channel?
Thanks murphy98

[WhippinSaw]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Nice work...looking good. Love the trim rings that you added to the rims also...looks great.

Thanks 1963c-10, and thank you for the beauty ring suggestion, I really like them.

Originally Posted by T.J. MCCAULEY

Really nice work! Giving me ideas for when I possibly do mine!

Thanks TJ, Been snooping around in the projects and builds to get ideas,

[murphy98]

Originally Posted by WhippinSaw

Had some problems keeping my gap by the bumper tip where it meets the fender. Every time I would apply heat to the channel the gap would change no matter how I clamped it down. I decided to just "cold tack it" until I have the diamond plate welded in to keep the angle and then go back and put some heat on the frame. After some time off to get a new plan I blasted and primed the frame and had some diamond plate bent. When I cut the plate to size, do I leave a gap for the weld, or leave it flush with the edge of the bumper channel?
Thanks murphy98

Looking really good WhippinSaw! I can understand the trouble getting the gap right at the fender, hard to do a compound curve at the tip on thick material like that. I wonder if the original tips were done on some kind of stamping machine for consistency? I did leave the diamond plate set back from the edge of the bumper about 1/16" to allow room for the weld bead. Then I used a grinder to round over the edge & smooth out the welds to match the original continuous weld bead on the rest of the bumper.
You're doing a fantastic job, keep up the great work it will pay off when you're all done and ready for paint.
Murph