Anybody done this- ARB front bumper on a 73-87 GM fullsize?

[Larry]

It looks like a bargain on the surface, and it maybe for some, but by the time you add all the extras then figure the truck freight across country from Georgia to the Southwest you still have a $1200 to $1500 bumper at the end of the day. If you get an ARB through 4 Wheel Parts many times you don’t pay anything for truck freight depending on what deals they are running at the time and how close you are to a 4WP location to pick up the bumper.

I toured Kennesaw Mountain bumpers years ago when I was in the Atlanta area on business. They were operating out of a little crude looking weld shop next to a towing company at the time but their bumpers did look well built. They are certainly another consideration. It all boils down to which bumper you like best because in real money they are going to cost about the same.

 

[Metcalf]

Cardboard is free.....
Foam core poster board is pretty cheap.....

Build a few mock ups of what you really want. You basically only have to do a pattern for one side since all the parts should be able to be mirrored side to side. Take your time and get very close to what you want. Next, build the same patterns out of foam core poster board. It is much flatter and dimensionally accurate than cardboard.....

For tubing you can have some cheap muffler pipe cut and bent at a local shop for mock-up.

Once you get the mock-up like you want, take it to a LOCAL fab shop and have them replicate your patten in steel. You will probably need to talk it over and see if all the manufacturing will work, but this way you get EXACTLY what you want to fit your truck.

On your truck, with the trimmed/bobbed fenders your going to probably mod just about anything off the shelf. With a custom unit you can work around all those little issues without having to pay extra, ruin a perfectly good powder coating by trimming, etc.

On the older GM trucks like yours you can sink a normal winch under/behind the bottom edge of the grill with very little work. Little things like this will make you 99% happier in the end.

For the $1000-1500 for an off the shelf bumper PLUS having to modify it for the vehicle....you would be money ahead to just go the full custom route.

Heck, for that much money you could buy a small welder and probably have all the parts cut out at a cnc plasma/laser/waterjet. Then you could build the bumper yourself with a welder in your pocket.....

Just a few thoughts, good luck on your project.

 

[dbreid]

www.diy4x.com

Call Kert, and tell him what you want, they can make anything, and pretty much their whole business is that era chevies. I have a bunch of his stuff.

 

[TurboChris]

Kennesaw mountain also developed a pretty BAD reputation for taking a REALLY long time to deliver....google them. diy4x.com however is pretty well regarded as I recall and prices are reasonable.

You really should contact Outdoor logic as well....there in SoCal, but who knows...maybe they have a truck around they could use to get the specs to make one for you...and their price is great. Here's the thread from them working on mine.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58327

 

[bdbecker]

www.diy4x.com

Call Kert, and tell him what you want, they can make anything, and pretty much their whole business is that era chevies. I have a bunch of his stuff.

Those guys are right down the road from me - thanks for sharing that!

 

[Rovertrader]

here is another option. I have a couple TJM alum bumpers for mid 90s F150, brand new. I bought them anticipating modding them to work on a Rover or my 'burb. Now sitting for 6 months, so if you are interested in one, let me know, south of $400...

 

[dbreid]

Here's a picture from Titus Canyon in Death Valley last weekend. This bumper has been in use for a few years now, and I personally love it. Kert made it just the way I wanted (fits a Warn 12k).

You'd have a hard time finding better welding and better service than Kert at diy4x.

 

[chilliwak]

Wow:Wow1: DbReid, that bumper looks real nice!:wings:

 

[roostercruiser]

Here's my front bumper. Its a Warn

 

[87GMCJimmy]

Here's a picture from Titus Canyon in Death Valley last weekend. This bumper has been in use for a few years now, and I personally love it. Kert made it just the way I wanted (fits a Warn 12k).

You'd have a hard time finding better welding and better service than Kert at diy4x.

Great looking rig bro! (any more pics of it on here?) I've been kicking around going to Kert and the more I think about it, that's probably what I am going to do! You are totally right, he does AWESOME work!!! I think I may go with a modified version of his UD1 front bumper. Or, a modified center with wings, we'll see!

Rovertrader- thanks for the offer bro but, I would need to modify the TJM most likely and I am VERY weak at aluminum TIG!!!

Thanks for all the responses everybody! Y'all have given me a lot to think about! Sorry I haven't had the chance to respond until now, I have been really busy with work and school and have only had time to get on and see what has been said but, not enough time to respond!

 

[VANMAN]

Awesome bumper

Can I get full contact info for Kert?

 

[dieselfuel]

Can I get full contact info for Kert?

www.diy4x.com