Gen 1 subframe lift, moving front bumper up ideas

[tinworm]

Ive got an 89 astro with a 3.5 inch subframe lift to fit a non stock motor.

For a while ive been driving around with the bumper just bolted to the subframe with that big gap, but im getting really tired of how that looks. Looks like a mouth, the van is really silly looking (especially since I had it painted before, and the gap is a different paint color)

Anyone have any pics of what they've done to move the bumper back up to stock position after a subframe lift on a gen1 astro/safari?

[doyoulikeithere]

I just took some flat bar.
Cut a couple of pieces (4) about 6 inches long or so.
I welded them to the original bracket.
I redrilled the holes where I wanted them, can be done before or after weld.
2 inches lower, in my case.
Easy-peasy.

[tinworm]

hmm, I might have put this in the wrong forum, maybe it should be in the lifted forum?

I just took some flat bar.
Cut a couple of pieces (4) about 6 inches long or so.
I welded them to the original bracket.
I redrilled the holes where I wanted them, can be done before or after weld.
2 inches lower, in my case.
Easy-peasy.

I was thinking along the same lines, did you move the corner braces as well? What did you do to cover the subframe that was exposed after? was it covered by the bumper still?

[doyoulikeithere]

I didnt bother re-using the corner brackets at all. Not as strong, I know, but I never bump it cuz I'm a very experienced forklift driver.
My Bumper (gen1) has a small plastic trim below the bumper that I re-installed and it covered up the SF fairly well.
That same trim piece on my GT (and LT) is quite a bit deeper (hangs lower) and has fog lights in it. That style would cover it even more.
Good Luck.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Here is how we did Lockdoc's 93 4x4 with a 4.25" welded subframe lift. Got some 1" or 1.25" angle…



Mounted to stock location…



Welded supports across the top and bottom…



Then bolted up the stock bumper mounts after paint…



Then finished off the exposed ends of the subframe as well as cross member…



That was a fun weekend…Astrozam and son Quinn, Lockdoc and Me and my son Ben…

Ben in front, Quinn in back and Lockdoc's back to us…



Lockdoc cooking up dinner..



Astrozam drilling the brackets…

[astrozam]

LOL...Yes sir, good times with good people.... Thanks for throwing those pics up Dean

[tinworm]

awesome pics! thanks for posting these!

I went to exactly copy this, and got lazy instead. I instead moved the mount up one bolt hole without making anything, and it looks better than it did. I think down the line Ill do a full on bracket like shown above, but for now should be ok.

here is how mine looked without the bumper-



and I did square pipe instead of round-




Moved it up one-



outside looks better-



previous-



2 of the 3 brace bolt holes even line up, if you settle for twisting the brace slightly-