Contributor II
Silverado 1500 Front Bumper Ideas
- Thread starter GR8WHTE
- Start date
Member III
How does that compare to what you have now?
I am also looking at something to give me a bit more clearance in the front of my Silverado 2500HD. Thinking of just having my mechanic trim back the air dam; it took a few hits when I was out and about earlier this month.
Contributor II
Right now I have the stock front bumper, I am going to have my buddy fab up the bumper i posted in the first photo and just add a larger skid to it for better protection. I will post photos when it is complete.
Contributor II
The easiest and quickest thing to do is just remove the air dam. On my 1500 Silverado it was held on by two screws and some tabs. Takes about 5 minutes to remove and easily gets you about 4-5" inches of additional clearance.
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Enthusiast I
Boostpowered
Rank VI
Member III
You could do the baja style bumper like the silverado parked next to me at the uor show. Looks like he just cut his bumper and added a light mount and skid
GM used to make a metal shield kit. Saw this in another, unnamed forum...
Part Name: Under Body Shield, For Vehicles with V8 Engines Part #: 23176881 Brand: Chevrole/GMCt OEM Help protect the underside of your Silverado 1500 equipped with a V8 engine from road debris that can harm key mechanical components with this Under Body Shield.
Part Name: Under Body Shield, For Vehicles with V8 Engines Part #: 23176881 Brand: Chevrole/GMCt OEM Help protect the underside of your Silverado 1500 equipped with a V8 engine from road debris that can harm key mechanical components with this Under Body Shield.
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Cant find that on the website now, though.
I hate that stupid chin strap that hangs off the bottom of the newer GM truck front bumpers. So I took mine off and it already improved angle of approach.
I hate that stupid chin strap that hangs off the bottom of the newer GM truck front bumpers. So I took mine off and it already improved angle of approach.
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It may not do much for real ground clearance, but it helps. At least I'm not scraping parking lot curbing, not plowing snow when it's more than 6 inches, and mild off roading on trails wont be a PITA. True, that chin strap saves you roughly a mile per gallon on the highway, but that's because the air is being diverted away from all the suspension components and underside of the engine. Getting a good set of bash/skid plates will likely provide you nearly the same fuel economy as well as protection of those components
Member III
Thank you for answering my unasked question. Was something I would have brought up to my mechanic on the next visit. I am thinking of giving my air dam a trim, about half. The way mine is made it goes on up into the chrome bumper between the recovery hooks so I kind of have to leave some of it intact. Plus I am thinking of eventually adding a front hitch that will come out right about where a front license plate would be (North Carolina doesn't issue front plates).
Happy to help but you are mistaken, sir. The air dam actually does not extend up between the recovery hooks, although from eye height it appears to do so. I assure you it does not.
Get it on a ramp or a 4x4 wood slab, and hop under there with a 10mm ratcheting box end flat wrench.
There are 12 to 14 bolts that need to be removed. These are the ones with the head at the top. There are a few red herrings where the bolt heads are at the bottom, you needn't concern yourself with those. Just the 14 that are all head on top. Remove them and pull the dam straight back towards the back of the truck and hooray!
Take another look at the picture I posted and you will see the numerous bolt holes, the larger tabs/clips near the curved ends, and the many smaller tabs along the center. You will also see that the plastic insert between my tow hooks is intact and still solidly in place.
Member III
I'll have to crawl up under there tomorrow and check that out. That may be the simplest answer to my concerns.... and keep me from using a cutoff wheel on the air dam.
Contributor II
i pulled mine off as well, just looking for a little more clearance! i got all the material for the new bumper i am building, just waiting to start the project, work is a little busy right now!
