Curious about 1970 Blazer rear bumper brackets

[bigdon-70blazer]

Here is the story. I disassembled my blazer and got to the rear middle bumper brackets and noticed that they had a strip of metal welded to them. I thought at that time that it was because the po had some type of issue with them and he had done the welding because it does not look like a factory job. See pics. So I started looking for replacements for these which has been no walk in the park. So I figure check out GMC Paul and see what he has, supporter of the web site and all. When I look at what he has, I am curious to see that his new reproduction middle rear bumper brackets come with what was termed as "the extra metal reinforcement" on them and it looks surprisingly like the old brackets I removed. Could the factory have actually done the welded reinforcement to my set of brackets? If so I will just blast and paint and use them as I am trying to keep it as original as possible. Has anyone ever seen this done to their own early blazers?

[bigdon-70blazer]

And does anyone know why they were done that way if they were done at the factory?

[lks dcvn]

I can check mine when I get home and see if they look the same - I am at work today -

[bigdon-70blazer]

Thanks a lot! I was going to replace mine but may keep them if they were done that way at the factory. The po put on a huge reciever hitch setup that attatched at 4 points to the frame clearing everything. It was a really good setup and heavy! My blazer had the gas tank skid plate also. Anyway, when I saw my brackets on disassembly, I thought that maybe he, the po had modified them because of the hitch system. Then I saw GMC Paul's e-catalog add...

[Big J]

I have a set on mine but they don't have that plate. I can't see it as being a bad thing though. I may make some up to put on it. Here are a couple pics, you have to look close though, lol.

[meathead95]

i always thought the bumper bolted directly to the frame in the 2 middle holes, or is that just on 2wd blazers?

[AJs72K5]

Originally Posted by meathead95

i always thought the bumper bolted directly to the frame in the 2 middle holes, or is that just on 2wd blazers?

The two inner bumper bolts connect directly to the frame on my 72 4wd. I ordered the rear bumper kit from YearOne, which contains the 4 brackets that Big J has on his. Only the two outer brackets were needed...the LMC catalog has a footnote that basically says the inner brackets are only used on pickups. So...they're now on a shelf in my garage collecting dust If I had to guess, Big J's previous owner cut the end of his frame for the hitch.

[bigdon-70blazer]

Originally Posted by AJs72K5

The two inner bumper bolts connect directly to the frame on my 72 4wd. I ordered the rear bumper kit from YearOne, which contains the 4 brackets that Big J has on his. Only the two outer brackets were needed...the LMC catalog has a footnote that basically says the inner brackets are only used on pickups. So...they're now on a shelf in my garage collecting dust If I had to guess, Big J's previous owner cut the end of his frame for the hitch.

Want to get rid of your left over brackets?

[Big J]

[QUOTE=AJs72K5;2461462]If I had to guess, Big J's previous owner cut the end of his frame for the hitch.[/QUOTE

Someone had cut it to put on a step bumper. I took these brackets off the 70 K5 that I got.

[arcticspade]

Originally Posted by AJs72K5

The two inner bumper bolts connect directly to the frame on my 72 4wd. I ordered the rear bumper kit from YearOne, which contains the 4 brackets that Big J has on his. Only the two outer brackets were needed...the LMC catalog has a footnote that basically says the inner brackets are only used on pickups. So...they're now on a shelf in my garage collecting dust If I had to guess, Big J's previous owner cut the end of his frame for the hitch.

Similar experience for me as well, except the po had made some weird custom center brackets.

[AJs72K5]

I dusted mine off Here's what they look like. No "reinforcement" strip of metal. The folds down the sides extend almost to the end for more strength.