I was lucky enough to find a set of desoto bumpers front and rear, i'd like to take some of the curve out of the rear. Anyone have experience with this? (running through a wheel, hydraulic press, ect) Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks Kevin
Check out farmer12's build thread,post #3053 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=463453&highlight=blacksmith&page=153 He took his '41 Plymouths bumper to blacksmith for reshaping.Thats one way to do it..
Hi Kevin. Since the Desoto rear bumper has a peak in the center and not an even radius I think an hydrualic press is the way to go.But don´t you think it will be to wide if you flattend it out. I have the same bumpers for mine and I´m planning to cut out the peak in the center and in that way narrow the bumper before chrome. Regards...Kenneth.
I was thinking it might be a little wide after as well, so I was thinking maybe dont go quite as flat as the front or maybe trim it a bit. But then again look at cars like John Joyo's and Vern Simmon's 36s, that is a full length front on the rears... Thanks for the tip on the press Kenneth
What kind of DeSoto bumper? If it's like the one off my 51 good luck. A section of guard rail off the hiway would bend easier, and weigh less. Briz can make 37 DeSoto style bumpers any length and contour you want. http://www.brizbumpers.com/#!
I think they are Spring Steel.......But with heat and a Press you should be able to flatten it. I know it's hard a heck to drill a hole in one. Good Luck Smoke
I cut end down and flattened the rear using a press, cut and welded the front. These are stainless steel Plymouth bumpers.
I was going to go to a chrome shop that still straightens steel bumpers and see if they could straighten them. If not then make a buck to keep the radius even and use my press. Then if they are to long then section them in the middle. Good luck and hope they work out for you.
If you want to pull the ends in closer to the fenders while still retaining the stock bumper ends, take a section out of the center. If you aren't concerned with keeping all the curve on the ends of the bumpers, trim them to desired length and reshape the ends.
A friend of mine cut out the center from the rear bumper and sectioned it and then installed it as a front bumper instead.The front bumper then ended up as the rear bumper.The curve of the rear bumper really fits the form of the 36 front when it´s sectioned out like this.Think it was sectioned slightly more than 4inches.No dearching needed.
For now I just said screw it and made some brackets. It looks real good from behind. There's a space, but it's more flowy than the flat tail pan and sticks out less than the stock bumper. It will have a pretty even space with the front since then grill sticks out so much further than the fenders too. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I did exactly what you're asking. I had a true pair of Desoto bumpers but realised what I really needed was two fronts. I thought I'd be clever and have the curved rear flattened to match the front and then shorten the bumper on the ends to match the width of the front. The metal guy who did it for me said it was one of the worst jobs he'd ever done and had the damaged shoulder to prove it! He also said he'd never encountered steel as hard as what these bumpers had been made from! So now I've got a flattened rear but I've hit a hiccup in that if I want to shorten it I'll end up with the outer bumper holes on the very edge of the bumper as their spaced further out than the front.
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