Body / Glass: Bumper Guard installation issues

[BruceD]

I recently purchased two NOS bumper guards (right and left) for my 58 Silver Hawk. I gave them a test fit this evening and found that I have some issues with the contour of the bumper matching the contour cut into the bumper guards. I can get them to fit OK on the bottom, but the top of the bumper seems to be angled up too much and I can't get them to fit well on top. The same is true if I get the top to fit fairly close, then I can't get them over the bottom of the bumper. The bumper is at the very least re-chromed, and is most likely a reproduction such as one would get from the Studebaker International catalog. Wondering if anyone else encountered the same problems and if you manipulated the curvature of the bumper slightly at the top? Also wondering if it would be good to put some thin rubber sheet between the bumper and the guards to avoid metal on metal contact?

[gohdes]

had a similar problem on my 60 lark, prettly much exactly as you described. Didn't seem to go together well on dry fit. But I knew they had come off not that long ago and I believed them to be original. I just cranked them down with the bolts, but I kinda wish I hadn't as I am sure they scratched my newly re-chromed bumper or my newly re-chromed guards. OH well, I guess you would only see it if it was removed. Now that they have been on a while, can't see any gaps, etc.

[StudeRich]

Is it possible that you have two Guards for the same side? Only one side is available. Also no reproduction Bumpers have ever been made for any Stude.

[Warren Webb]

Many times when a bumper is rechromed it may stray from the original shape during straightening. This is done by eye mostly without the use of jigs that may be a better guide to the accuracy of the straightening process.

[jimmijim8]

parts is not parts

Maybe you have early Lark bumper guards that are close looking but a different animal than those for a C K. II ain't lion. cheers jimmijim

I recently purchased two NOS bumper guards (right and left) for my 58 Silver Hawk. I gave them a test fit this evening and found that I have some issues with the contour of the bumper matching the contour cut into the bumper guards. I can get them to fit OK on the bottom, but the top of the bumper seems to be angled up too much and I can't get them to fit well on top. The same is true if I get the top to fit fairly close, then I can't get them over the bottom of the bumper. The bumper is at the very least re-chromed, and is most likely a reproduction such as one would get from the Studebaker International catalog. Wondering if anyone else encountered the same problems and if you manipulated the curvature of the bumper slightly at the top? Also wondering if it would be good to put some thin rubber sheet between the bumper and the guards to avoid metal on metal contact?

[E. Davis]

The first time I "dry fitted" mine I didn't think they fit either. After I tightened the mounting bolt they seemed to conform to the bumper much better. The left one is a perfect fit but the right one has a little gap on the outside edge at the top but not noticible unless you really get down and look. I doubt they fit much better from the factory because there is nothing that fits perfectly on an old car. I wouldn't put any rubber between the surfaces....it would look kind of ratty and accentuate any gap that appears.

[rockne10]

Any chance these guards are from a '53-'54 C/K?

[BruceD]

Thanks for your comments. The guards worked out OK. I ended up squeezing the top and bottom of the bumper together with a pair of bar clamps on either side of where I was going to install the bumpar guards on..., and they ended up fitting pretty well. The left one perfect, the right one almost so.