Bumper swap

Hello, I have a 1997 tacoma, and some dip stick hit me in a parking lot and shattered my blinker light and bent the lower plastic piece of my bumper Into my tire so it now rubs. So my question is, I've found a bumper from an 02 tacoma and will it fit on my 97 or would only a 95.5-97 bumper fit? Thanks in advance!

 

It might. I know there is an issue with additional cutting/fabrication that's needed to fit aftermarket bumpers on the older trucks, that's not needed on the newer ones. It has to do with cutting off the front section of the frame and welding in a mounting plate. That piece is removable on the newer trucks.

You can see it here on my 2004. The piece that's removable on mine I believe is part of the frame on yours. But I don't think that means a newer stock style bumper won't fit on yours.

It's the cross member that holds the front of the skid plate.

On mine this is removable, but the older ones I believe this is what needs to be cut off.

Don't know if this info helps or hinders, though.. lol...