Rear Bumper Query

[Pearls cafe]

I'm having problems fitting the rear bumper to my 71 westy. Didn't come with bumper fitted but the guy I bought it from said he'd get one for me. Fitted the brackets supplied but belly pans will not line up and when I offer the bumper up to the bus the brackets are too wide apart to fit to the chassis.

Not sure whether the bumper or brackets are incorrect.

I suspect having looked at loads of photos of pre 71 buses and crossovers that I may have been sent a crossover bumper.

I have just measured the distance between the inner mounting bolts as 97.5cm approx and the outer bolts as 119cm.

Could someone out there measure theirs for me please? Or confirm whether the brackets I have are correct? Or just offer some helpful advice please?

There are a couple of photos below (and yes I know the yellow perspex number plates look crap but only got the bus registered on Thursday and couldn't wait for the period ones to be made up - will get some, I promise!)

 

[Cali_bay]

Hi,

Your brackets look right, but you have a crossover bumper. The holes were wider apart as the chassis rails on the crossover are further apart to allow the Type 4 engine to be fitted, it also has the 4 holes in the bottom edge for the gravel guard (where the steel clips are).

The easiest way to correct is to re-drill the holes and weld up the old ones. If your drill the holes smaller than they need to be use a square file to make the holes square for the coach bolts to lock into place.

I assume when you say 'pans', you are talking about the curved sheet metal bits that go around the rear quarters. These to are different on the crossover bumper and would need to be modded to fit. I had the same problem with my bumper when I got mine.

 

[junkyard_dog]

... thats as we thought then x-over blade. I think just about every part for the x-over seems to be problamatic (yes I own X-over) or unavailable new/an arm and a leg.

 

[Pearls cafe]

Thanks Cali_bay, looks like I'm going to have to get the drill out!