Rear Bumper Refinishing

[BiggDogg]

Anybody have a bumper like this? Its straight, but it has a few scratches/rust spots here and there. A friend of mine suggested having it sandblasted to give it a polished look. Just curious if anyone knows if sandblasting this bumper would really improve it, or if I should just find a replacement rear bumper. Thanks.

[69bumptruck]

I think it depends on how you're going to use it. It is a nice heavy duty bumper that would serve it's purpose. I have one that looks alot like yours. I plan on having mine sandblasted and painted.

[FORDification]

Sandblasting it is definitely going to clean it up, by removing the multiple layers of paint, but it's definitely NOT going to be a polished look...it's going to be very dull, and will be prone to rapid rusting if you don't immediately protect it with paint, powdercoat, chrome or galvanizing.

[layedout72]

i have one similar...it may be stock though...not real sure. its not as deep as that, more shallow and taller.

[BiggDogg]

Yeah I was kinda thinking along the same lines as Keith in terms of the outcome. Does anyone know what newer model Ford rear bumpers might fit? LMC has some nice Chrome ones, but I'd like to save the $$ for other stuff on the truck if possible. I'm not entirely opposed to painting, I just thought it would look funny to have a chrome bumper in the front and a painted one in the rear. Thanks

[CA180]

i would just rattle can it. Trying to restore that bumper would cost more than its worth. Chroming is expensive, and that wont polish. Just spray that one, and have an extra nice chrome one for later. Thats just my opinion

[layedout72]

I presonally, with the style of the bumper in mind, would rhino line it once stripped. Or just rough it up and do it, whichever way the manufacturer of the liner says.

[BiggDogg]

Thanks for the Rhino tip... I was gonna have the bed done anyway, so might as well have em do the bumper too.

[Galaxie64]

You have to have paint to stick that bedliner stuff to, the only places I ever had my herculiner peel was where there was little to no paint to begin with. I did my grille guard and step bars on my '97 and it looks really good if you go that route.

[fordman]

you can make any bumper fit with the correct home made bracketry. but for no fuss you have to stay from 67-72 on the rear bumpers.

[Supermike]

I have pretty much that same bumper, and I'm thinking of sanding/scrubbing mine down by hand and using Rustbullet on it. It is like por-15, but it leaves a semi-gloss metallic gray look that's supposed to be pretty much indestructible. You can get a quart of it for $37, which is supposed to cover 50 sq. ft. with a two coat application

My other thought was to eventually have it chrome power-coated at some point. I was going to go the aforementioned replacement route, but have decided this heavy steel step-up bumper is really part of the overall character of my Camper Special. It just wouldn't be the same with a sport bumper, and I might offend it.

[BiggDogg]

It just wouldn't be the same with a sport bumper, and I might offend it. Laughing

totally agree with you. Sport bumpers, in my opinion wouldn't look quite right on the Camper Specials.

I like the old step bumper, but it just looks so ugly the way it is. If you were gonna paint a bumper like this, what color would look good? Would you paint it the same color as the truck, or maybe a black?

[Leadfoot]

its a bumper just use a wire wheel & some cold galvanized paint.
or some poor mans chrome(aluminized/chrome paint) works good but fades in 6 mo.

[capeclassics]

I always wondered where Santa spent the off-season...............

[jzjames]

its a bumper just use a wire wheel & some cold galvanized paint.

These step bumpers is one of the best things about these trucks. People dont even think about tapping them in tight parking situations. Get it refinished and level it off with the mounting bolts.