Hey Guys,

I'm new around here, might see me poking around here and there, and I have a few question regarding the fixing of my front end. 2 Years ago I hit a deer on a highway going about 50mph in the fog. I didn't see this 6-8 point buck, until he was at my side bumper, impact was at about 40mph I am guessing, and the drivers side bumper took the brunt of the impact. I am surprised that the air bags didn't deploy, as I hit him pretty square on and he got back up that bastard! And the second being the truck did pretty well I think for how big the deer was and the speed I hit him.


I will include pics. Let me know if you think the bumper is still good or do you think the brackets took the force. I think I am going to start with ordering the inner and outer brackets and go from there.

All the faded gray pieces I want to sand them and paint them all black. Getting a used Black Grille from a local guy and changing up the front a bit. And yes the headlights will be fixed to match after the bumper!

Thanks for any input!

Front Shot



Passenger Side


Drivers Side


DS Inner Bracket


PS Inner Bracket


DS


PS

 

You may be able to just loosen up the bolts, and readjust the bumper. Really helps to have a second, or even third... set of hands to help.

 

I don't know. Looks like the truck could be a total loss.

 

Just take off the whole bumper(its really not hard at all) realign the brackets, straighten out the bumper a little (nows the time to paint the plastic, and everything behind the bumper!).

Reinstall in reverse order and your done.

I did this when I first bought my truck (not because of damage) but to update the front end a little.

Ill find some pics to post up

 

Oh hell, the bags aren't going to blow with that kind of impact. Modern Chryslers of that era have an inertia sensor (located in a box in under the dash sitting on the floor marked "SRS") and it takes quite a jolt to blow the bags. Be thankful they didn't go off. It's not a pleasant experience, although they are handy to have when you need them.

 

Heres a stock pic (i already removed the chin spoiler for more ground clearance)


Here is a picture of the bumper off (notice I painted everything)




All the plastic stuff painted black



All the factory hardware lightly sanded and painted black (i like the little details! Lol)




Heres a pic later that day with everything all buttoned up



Really freshened up my front end!

 

Sweet, Good to know! Thanks for the pics, thats what I was thinking it would look like. Plus I am gonna have the Black grille... should be interesting...

Thanks for all your input! Glad I found this site!

Now if I could just get a few more days like today in the NE... we would be actually able to get something accomplished on this truck...

 

Supposed to be pretty nice out next week here.....

Of course, in this case, 'pretty nice' simply means: Above Freezing.......

 

Its not that bad here... lows in the teens here, freezing would just SUCK!

 

So picked up the Black Grille with frame and red dodge emblem but WITHOUT inserts for $40. Not bad, a decent find with the frame even though I wont be using it. Took mine off which was easy, and found that my grille inserts are broken and missing a few pieces, so gotta get a new set.

But I put the grille on without them because my chrome one was only hanging on by a small clip. I think the front end will look better with the chrome billet inserts and then paint everything gloss black on front end plastic to match.

One Piece At A Time! Slowly getting her back to new, well used again!