econoline bumper on a 68?

[ceedledee]

I was at my local Pick and Pull the other day and noticed some really nice looking rear bumpers on a few of the later model Econoline vans. I believe they were 80's and early 90's vans. Has anybody tried using these and if so were they bolt-ons or was there much fab work involved? Thanks guys. Awesome forum by the way. Glad I stumbled on to it. Tons of good info.

[chad67]

I have personally never seen it done, so here's how it works... If nobody here has seen it done, and you decide to give it a try, post up your findings.

[ceedledee]

Think I'll mosey on back over there and do a little measuring

[HIO Silver]

I've looked into this before and the Econoline's rear frame width is wider.

Start fabbing to adapt!

[ceedledee]

Thanks HIO Silver. I sort of expected that. I still might try it tho. I like the clean look and I don't need a hitch or a step. As long as it's the right width. I wouldn't want it sticking out past the bed sides with a big ol gap at each end.

[HIO Silver]

Thanks HIO Silver. I sort of expected that. I still might try it tho. I like the clean look and I don't need a hitch or a step. As long as it's the right width. I wouldn't want it sticking out past the bed sides with a big ol gap at each end.

10-4. ... but a hitch is sometimes nice to have. I'm not for one on the bumper so after an 18-month mental note, a bump finally showed up in the JY with a bolt-on, frame-mounted hitch like more modern trucks. $26 later it came home with me... plus a Pertronix module for $5.

[BrockGrimes]

Check the bottom in the spec list for bumper mods:
http://www.classictrucks.com/features/1 ... ord_f_100/

See this one:
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =2&t=56050

[Zorm]

ceedledee I have been thinking about that for years now. Make brackets because of the newer frame width but also maybe end up notching the van bumper to tuck up coser to the rear. Would be nice to find something for the front without that license plate area

[ceedledee]

Yeah, I did some more measuring and it looks like mounts would have to be fabbed up for sure but easily doable. I think it would look really good. The thing I'm wondering about now is where to put the license plate. The vans had em in the door. I don't want to put it in the tailgate like the mini truck crowd seems to always do. (all tilted sideways...yuck) I'd like a nice clean look.

[HIO Silver]

Some hot rodders mount the rear license plate with an electric motor that swings the plate down to be visible whenever the ignition is on. Turn off the ignition and the plate flips up to be unseen. Trick, but expensive.

Yea, there are license plate boxes that can be sectioned into the tailgate. Visit Yogi's or Speedway Motors.

http://www.yogisinc.com/
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/?CID=1386 ... fgodM1YAFQ

[BrockGrimes]

You can tab mount it in the rear window.
Check laws first.

[48prerunner]

So do you think it will tuck it in too close to the sides. truck bumper is 79.88" wide van is 76.9 will be really close right now about 1 1/2" space on each side

[red_67f100]

I haven't tried an econoline bumper but you can weld on any bumper to your brackets just as long as it isn't going to tow anything.