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Late 1960's Tuxedo Park Chrome Bumpers Versus Jeepster Bumpers

Discussion in 'Early Jeep Restoration and Research' started by truckee4x4, Jun 27, 2020.

  1. Jun 27, 2020
    truckee4x4

    truckee4x4 Grant Kaye 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Doing some research to try and come up with a chrome bumper for my 1966 Tuxedo park IV restomod project.

    I came across this thread on the OldWillys Forum: 65 Tuxedo Park CJ5 stock front bumper wanted

    In that thread a suggestion is made that Jeepster Bumpers from 1967 are the same, but not chromed. And that one could locate a Jeepster bumper, weld the holes up, smooth it, chrome it, and drill new holes and transplant. Is this good advice?

    In having a quick look on Ebay I found this item which is pretty inexpensive, but is probably an overseas reproduction. I also found this "original" but it is expensive.

    Having never seen one of the Tux bumpers in person, I'm not sure what the situation is and I hoped someone with more knowledge could advise. On that note - were the Tux bumpers attached to the front crossmember? Or were they in place of the front cross member?
     
  2. Jun 27, 2020
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    No front cross member. The bumper has two holes (one each side) to mount to the front of the frame. The holes are square. There is also one for the front licenses plate bracket.
     
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  3. Jun 27, 2020
    truckee4x4

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    And how about the rear? Same?

    And - how did the Chrome attach? Bolted?

    Came across this, $149:
    eBay
     
  4. Jun 27, 2020
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    The front and rear are the same for the Tux. The square hole is to mount the chrome bumper carriage bolt. Auto parts stores carry chrome bumper bolts. The jeepster bumper does have extra holes not used by Tux. Not sure if they are the same length and curve. Some one will chime in with that info.
     
  5. Jun 27, 2020
    truckee4x4

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    how did the rear chrome bumper deal with the attachment plate to the “V” crossmember at the rear?
    48A48B81-C4BF-4D54-A162-5E33E3C0403A.jpeg
    mine shown here awaiting rivets.
     
  6. Jun 27, 2020
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    It didn't. The bumper was mounted to the cross-member with two "Z" brackets. I made a drawing with dimensions, if I can find it I'll post it here.
     
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  7. Jun 27, 2020
    truckee4x4

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    That would be great! The rear crossmember on my jeep was a Swiss cheese bent destroyed mess, and the V bracket had been cut off with an O/A torch. I was just going to put the frame back together like a non-tux CJ5, because these chrome bumpers are so expensive and nearly impossible to find.
     
  8. Jun 27, 2020
    Walt Couch

    Walt Couch sidehill Cordele, Ga. 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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  9. Jun 28, 2020
    Keys5a

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    As stated previously, the front and rear Tux bumpers are exacly the same part. They are not the same part as the '67-up Jeepster front bumper. The difference is the Tux has a single (square) bolt hole on the front face for each frame rail. The Jeepster front bumper is the same shape and dimension, but has two additional (square) holes, top and bottom, as well as the front face hole, a total of 3, for each frame side.
    The Jeepster rear bumper is the same dimension and shape as the Willys Wagon front bumpers, but is approx. 6"or 7" wider than a Tux bumper, and has 4 (square) face holes for mounting on spring steel supports. The Wagon bumpers have two notches on one edge to accomodate the overrider assembly. The Jeepster bumpers came either painted or chrome.
    I have used a Tux bumper as a pattern to mark and cut down a Jeepster rear bumper, and at a few feet away, can almost pass for the real thing. There are a few extra holes, and I had to drill 2 faces holes to mount it to the frame horns. The chrome Renegade l/ll chrome bumpers may be the same as the Tux, but I have neverseen them up close in person.
    I still have yet to send any Tux bumpers out for rechroming. If you are going to chrome (or re-chrome) anyway, the bumper linked on post#3 could be made to work by narrowing, welding up holes, and drilling a few holes.The shape is close to correct, though I have not layed hand on one of these re-pop bumpers.
    Walt has posted the shape of the rear pair of bumper mounts. The brackets mount onto a pair of the holes (in the cluster of 4 holes) on the rear crossmember.
    That $750 replated "Red's" bumper I think has lost the correct shape, at least from what I can see in the photos. There should be a subtle "peak" in the center, and Red's looks like a consistent bow without the peak. That bumper is a front bumper because of the notches that are visible.
    Does anyone here know of a good chrome plater (at least one you don't need to rob a bank to pay for)? Any more questions?
    -Donny
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2020
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  10. Jun 28, 2020
    Keys5a

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    Roy, I think your Tux bumper has been pushed in slightly, flattening out the center peak.
    -Donny
     
  11. Jun 28, 2020
    truckee4x4

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    Adding to this mystery - was there any sort of a "cross member forward of the "radiator mount"?

    This is a pic of my frame after I blasted it last summer. The front crossmember that you see here is now gone, as is the "thing" behind it that looked to me like it was added for a winch or something at some point.
    20190703_GK_SquawTQ-4.jpg

    If I understand the above info correctly, all that should be forward of where the radiator sits is the chromed bumper, right?

    And also to be clear I'm not going for a museum restoration here, just trying to be as correct as I can and I also happen to think the chrome front bumper is pretty sweet looking.
     

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  12. Jun 28, 2020
    truckee4x4

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    @Beach66Bum what happened to your pics?
     
  13. Jun 28, 2020
    wheelie

    wheelie beeg dummy 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    The radiator mount crossmember is the last one at the front of the frame. The front bumper sort of serves as the very front crossmember, if you will.
     
  14. Jun 28, 2020
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

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    That thing at the front isn't a cross member, it's the bumper. The thing behind it was a mount, either a winch or more likely a snowplow cylinder given the brackets on the bumper.
     
  15. Jul 4, 2020
    Keys5a

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    Does anyone have a "462", Renegade l or ll with the chrome front bumper seen is period adversising? I'm curious if these use a Tux bumper or Jeepster bumper.
    -Donny
     
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  16. Jul 6, 2020
    truckee4x4

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    I'm starting to think this may be my only option. I may head down to J&W in Antelope and dig around and see what they have. If I go this way, do you have a good recollection of How you went about this? There's a member in here somewhere in Reno that has a Tux so I suppose I could connect with him and go make some measurements and start there.
     
  17. Jul 6, 2020
    Keys5a

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    I can get you measurements if thats what you need.
    -Donny
     
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  18. Jul 7, 2020
    truckee4x4

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    I'll reach out of that's the case, I appreciate the offer. Still hopeful I can find a used one somewhere out there.
     
  19. Jul 16, 2020
    truckee4x4

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    @Keys5a I saw this on Ebay this morning - the same seller has a front and rear for sale, but they're in pretty bad shape though for the price. Do you think that he has it mis-listed as a 1958-1960? The bumper (and the other listing for the rear) has "1968" written on it in the photos. Too bad they're so expensive and so beat up.
     
  20. Jul 16, 2020
    ANTHONY DRANE

    ANTHONY DRANE New Member

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    My 67 has chrome bumpers, hinges, and hold downs. I assumed it was a Tux and asked one of the Jeepster gurus if it was rare. He said the tux wasn't an option for a Jeepster. I'm confused. I have noticed that the front and rear bumpers appear to be the same part. Just like everything else, the more you learn the more you have to learn.
     
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