55.2-59 West Coast mirrors 59 GMC

[dennislbrooks]

Thanks guys

JDarby, it is a 5" GE incandescent.

[dennislbrooks]

Not a Halogen it is a GE 4405 50K candlepower. I could put in a halogen for $15 75K candlepower. I can also change it to a 6-inch head that has a GE 4435 75K candlepower.

Dunno - may try on the 6 inch head and bulb that I have to see what it looks like.

[mr48chev]

There! everything works together as one unified package. Not one thing out of place and nothing looks stuck on as an afterthought. I'd say it needs a correct for the year rear step bumper painted to match the front bumper to complete the "I'm ready to head out for a day's work" look though.

[dennislbrooks]

I am not sure what the correct rear bumper is as I have seen step bumpers that look aftermarket. Anyone know the correct bumpers that might have come from factory on a 1958-59 GMC Fleet option pickup?

OK, There is one within 5 miles of me but the whole Fleet truck is on Facebook.

I think for now I will just paint the rear bumper Argent Silver like the front bumper.

[71'tahoe]

Dennis,You have a cool truck! Love the mirrors and spot light! You're not too far from me. I'm over in the Lynchburg area. Maybe ill get to see your truck in person some time.

[mr48chev]

I didn't even notice the spotlight last night. It blends in with everything else that well. Just like every other part you put on it you chose the correct part for the application and installed it correctly and it blends in and contributes so well it doesn't stand out on it's own and distract.

The only thing that even draws attention at first glance is the fleet grill and headlights and they are supposed to because they tell you that it left the factory as a bare bones fleet truck Every other part contributes to the look for task it either did or is supposed to have done the first years of it's life. Still it is one of the point to trucks no matter what one's build is for the concept that when you build a truck every part you use has to contribute to the look you chose and has to blend in with every other part on the truck and no part should draw attention before the eye takes in the complete truck and then you start checking the details.

[dennislbrooks]

I did repaint the rear bumper to match the front. I am thinking of maybe extending the mounts 3-4 inches then adding diamond plate on the whole top to look more like a fabricated time period bumper. May do.

[leegreen]

I like the bumper you have. It is tempting to make it a bit more beefy appearing to balance the truck out. Can your tailgate hang straight down now, or is the bumper already in the way? I might leave it as is if the gate can hang straight down.

The AI did not quite get what I wanted for color or shape or where the diamond plate was, but it is a visual to think about.

The ends are boxier than your bumper, but adding diamond plate to the shape you have is tricky visually at the ends. Stepside bumpers are not easy visually.

I had the same struggle with my '52. Factory mount point is ugly IMO, too low and sticks out too far. Mine is up and in. It is actually a front bumper, but flattened a bit. I made a Sheetmetal valance similar to the front on an AD that fits inside the curve of the bumper and down about 1/4".
you might do diamond plate in a similar fashion


Adding a couple rubber tractor style reverse lights behind round holes in your bumper might look good? Period correct

[57tailgater]

When I got my '57 it actually had a rear bumper like what you are thinking about. Man it was heavy! Was made from 1/4" plate and deck plate. Cut it off years ago and is long gone as I prefer a stock bumper but it was definitely a stout heavy duty piece.

[dennislbrooks]

Dang, pretty good leegreen. Most of the stock Fleets I have seen probably were ordered with no rear bumper with an aftermarket step bumper -- just an observed guess. The option brochures I have seen do not show the rear of the Fleet and show no choice for different rear bumpers.

I am going to take a look at an overpriced 59 Fleet this weekend that has a heavy-duty bumper shown in a former pic above on this thread. Long-bed half ton, probably factory.

I probably would not put the vertical - cuff - diamond plate but just bring it to the edge completely or to the back edge or just underneath welded using 14 gauge diamond plate. The ends I would have to ponder. I can drop the entire bumper down a quarter of an inch to clear the taillights.

The tailgate now will touch this existing bumper if hanging down completely. I could easily live with what you have created.

Not sure about the reverse lights. Not sure about anything. 8-)

[leegreen]

I agree, the diamond plate on the vertical surface is ugly, that was AI generated and I did not want to wait around for a new version...plus new versions sometimes lose details you liked. But AI is better than the time it would take to photoshop something