78 Cherokee Bumpers on 79 Cherokee

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DC78FSJ
Posts: 77
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2012 6:54 pm
Location: Washington Crossing, Pa

78 Cherokee Bumpers on 79 Cherokee

Post by DC78FSJ »

I just picked up a 79 Cherokee for a steal and was wondering what it takes to swap a set of 78 3 piece bumpers on to it. I have the bumpers just wondering how big of a project it is. Thanks for the insite...
1982 CJ-8 Scrambler
2013 JK unlimited

Previous Jeeps:
50 CJ-3a, 52 CJ-3a, 76 CJ-5, 79 CJ-7, 87 YJ Laredo,90 Xj 2 Door, 93 Xj 2 Door, 02 WJ Limited, 03 WJ Limited, 03 TJ X,
04 Wj Laredo, 05 TJ Sport, 05 KJ Limited, 15 Grand Limited,
17 Hemi Trailhawk
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HOOT
Posts: 719
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 10:44 pm
Location: Taylor Mill, KY

Re: 78 Cherokee Bumpers on 79 Cherokee

Post by HOOT »

I've not done this swap but I just pulled the bumper of my 77 J10 for a guy who is putting it on his 79 J10. You'll find the holes for the older bumper mounts are still on the 79 frame. I'm not sure of the bolt holes on the end of the frame horns as I didn't pull my one piece bumper off mine. The old holes should still be there, if not it shouldn't be much to add.

You may have to grind off the extension on the 79's frame horns but other than that I believe it should be a straight forward somewhat easy mod.
91Blaze over on the Motherboard is the one that got my 3 piece bumper last weekend so you may want to check over there to see if he has attempted to mount it yet.
1980 and 81 J20 melding into a 1980 Utility bed J20. Project cancelled and for sale, found a factory truck.
1980 J20 Utility truck. Replaced above project.
1977 Honcho getting turned into a 1977 J20 Gladoncho.
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Road Trip
Posts: 313
Joined: Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:46 am
Location: Bryan, Texas

Re: 78 Cherokee Bumpers on 79 Cherokee

Post by Road Trip »

I pulled out my 3 piece bumpers that I was going to put on my 79 frame. Up front the frame "horns" stick outpast where the bumper bracket is supposed to mount to the frame cross member. So you will have to cut off some of the frame horn on each side. The two nuts on the sides where the bumper bracket are on the side of the frame were there and that bracket bolted right up. However, the single nut on the frame cross member was not there, so you will have to fabricate that.

On the rear, you will have to drill holes on the frame cross member to mount the bumper brackets. It would help to have an older frame to look at and measure the bolt holes.

Just my experience from the weekend. Good luck.
Robert
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