I have a problem that I hope the forum can help with. My 83 came with a homemade winch bumper that I have since removed. I've been trying to find a replacement stock front bumper but it's been harder than I thought it would be. I purchased one a while back that was supposedly for a first gen 4x4 but the stock brackets that came with the truck don't quite line up with the holes in the new bumper. My question is, do the 79-81 models differ slightly from the 82 & 83? When looking for new bumpers and brackets online I can find an 82-83 bumper, but brackets only for 79-81. If any one can shed some light on this, or if you have a first gen bumper assembly, let me know. Thanks.

 

You can bolt 1979-1981 bumber brackets onto your 1983 frame then use a 1979-1981 bumber but the 1982-1983 bumbers will not bolt up to the 1979-1981 bumber brackets. Both 1979-1981 bumbers and 1982-1983 bumbers are available. Check this WEB site and Ebay.

 

Thanks for the reply. That reinforces what I figured. My problem now is that I have an 82-83 bumper but kind find 82-83 4x4 brackets. Ebay and other online part sources that i've found sell 79-81 4x4 brackets or 82-83 2wd brackets.