Installing a rear Aluminess bumper

[djm68]

Hello,

Curious how many of you have tried to install an rear Aluminess bumper yourselves? I've read their install guide and it sounds simple enough, but I figure their might be some hidden difficulties. I am reasonably mechanical and do quite a bit of my own car servicing, so it seems a bolt on item like a bumper should be within most shade tree capabilities.

Thanks,
DJM

[Ford_6L_E350]

Van rear bumpers are pretty straightforward to install.

Mike

[Tapatio]

Easy but you'll want 1-2 extra people to help you line it up while you put the bolts in.

[Zeta]

The hardest part is removing the upper door hinge pins.

Z

[skinny]

I just installed mine by myself. I used a couple pieces of Gorilla tape to hold 2 of the bolts in place while I set it in place and started the nuts. I agree with Zeta on the hinge pins. It's kind of an awkward place to have to drill and then beat them with a hammer and punch.

[Ford_6L_E350]

Originally Posted by Zeta

The hardest part is removing the upper door hinge pins.

Z

Well, he only asked about the bumper. Clearly the spare mount is more involved.

Just a bumper I would do alone, by hand. Bumper w/spare mount I would use a floor jack or another set of hands to keep from scraping some paint off the body or door.

Mike

[djm68]

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

Well, he only asked about the bumper. Clearly the spare mount is more involved.

Just a bumper I would do alone, by hand. Bumper w/spare mount I would use a floor jack or another set of hands to keep from scraping some paint off the body or door.

Mike

Mike,

I'd be ordering with the spare mount as well. Is the spare mount especially difficult to mount?

Thanks,
DJM

[Ford_6L_E350]

As Zeta said.

The hinge pin is pressed in and the end is rolled over. Needs to be drilled and driven out. Not really difficult for most, mechanically challenged should have a handy friend or pay someone to do it.

Mike

[djm68]

Originally Posted by Ford_6L_E350

As Zeta said.

The hinge pin is pressed in and the end is rolled over. Needs to be drilled and driven out. Not really difficult for most, mechanically challenged should have a handy friend or pay someone to do it.

Mike

If that is the hard part, then no problem at all. I've done quite a bit of older car 'resto-moding', which including all sorts of one-off light fab work.

Thanks for the info.

Cheers,
DJM

[ANZAC]

I needed an air chisel/punch to drift my hinge pin out... would not come out with PBBlaster/hammer/punch.

Also, my van is an EB and they'd supplied shorter hinge straps at the top (they said were for an RB). Anyway, they sent the longer straps and that solved that problem. Just keep an eye out for that, the strap holes should line up easily.