Suggestions for bending rear frame horn

[SilverMiner]

I'm in the process of replacing the dented and damaged rear bumper on my 1980 Suburban. My best guess is that the bumper was beat by an unleashed trailer. Nothing fatal, but it did bend one of the frame horns that the bumper mounts to.

Does anyone have any any tips or hints on how to bend one of these horns back into shape? It is too tight to properly apply a BFH (Big F'n Hammer). I can borrow a slide hammer, but I don't thing that will have enough force. Do I need to put a torch to the metal in order to move it back into the approximate position? I have another factory bumper ready, and it doesn't need to be in perfect position, but it sure would be easier to remount if the holes lined up a little better.

Thanks for your help.

[J Knight]

Any pics of the damaged frame? Where and how much its bent may dictate what techniques need to be used for it to be repaired and/or straightened.

[KQQL IT]

Porta powers can do great things.

[SilverMiner]

Here is what the driver's side frame horn looks like. It's the worst. It isn't a complete basket case, and there is a possibility that I may be able to mount the new bumper as long as I'm willing to use longer bolts that don't match the factory style. Which I may very well do.

[Bad Karma]

Porta Power as mentioned works good. I've also straightened the front frame horns on my Sub with a Hi-Lift jack and some chain. With a little rigging, you can make them push or pull.

[superwade57]

Also try a very large Cresent wrench....close the jaws tight and grunt hard

[willett]

Heat the sucker. Bottle jacks can be your friend too in a pinch

[Oldriginal86]

Those are the bumper brackets. They can be removed and put in a press to straighten.

[1774btcrew]

Originally Posted by Oldriginal86

Those are the bumper brackets. They can be removed and put in a press to straighten.

Agreed! Pull the bracket off, put it in a vise and straighten it! The hardest thing will probably getting the bolts loose if they are rusty

[tucsonjwt]

Bumper brackets can be had at junkyards and on Ebay for not much $$ and you will know that they will line up right (assuming that the bumper they are supporting is lined up right.) Unless these are factory riveted to the frame, then you will have to hacksaw the ends of the frame off at the pick and pull and grind off the rivet heads and punch them out at home.

[Cape Codder]

1st try the cresent wrench with a long piece of pipe, If that doesn't work take it off and beat it on an anvil with a 3 pound hammer.

[SilverMiner]

Only the one on the left is a removeable bracket, and it isn't bent much at all. The piece on the right which is clearly bent inward is the driver's side rear frame horn. It looks nearly identical to the brackets used on later 81-87 rigs, but can not be removed and is 100% part of the frame.

I've tried a big pipe wrench and a small bottle jack without much luck. I looks now like I'll be able to attach the new bumper by using longer and one size smaller diameter bolts. I'll post pictures once I've achieved success.

[Cape Codder]

If you remove the outer bracket and place a pipe or 2x4 from the outside of the bend to a tree next to the truck to prevent movement. Then pull the end with a come along chained to the same tree. Once you have a good strain on it a few light hits with a hammer should move it over. Same way a frame machine works ,you hold the piece in place and pull the damage.

[LynnJr]

Originally Posted by Cape Codder

If you remove the outer bracket and place a pipe or 2x4 from the outside of the bend to a tree next to the truck to prevent movement. Then pull the end with a come along chained to the same tree. Once you have a good strain on it a few light hits with a hammer should move it over. Same way a frame machine works ,you hold the piece in place and pull the damage.

Winner winner chicken dinner.Also if you or a buddy has a torch put a rosebud on it and heat it up first.