Front bumper question

Ok. I’m in no rush so I’ll definitely prep prime paint everything I can.

 

Dumb question # (I’ve lost track):
In drilling through the mounting bracket up through the frame (using the M10 guide holes) I noticed that on the driver side, the hole is going to end up super close to the edge of the frame. In fact, I’m worried the spacer won’t fit there.
Here’s passenger side:


And here’s driver side (not drilled through):


Does that look ok?

 

So I sort of finished the bumper install today. There are three M10 bolts on each side that attach the bumper to the frame extensions using caged nuts. I got all three bolts attached on driver side, but on passenger side, I could only get the top one. The other two just don’t line up. It seems like the driver side needs to move 1/4 in to the rear to line up, but it won’t budge. You would think that if one lined up they all would I definitely did something wrong because I feel like the gap between the bumper and the body work is too large, esp. on passenger side. I’ll post some pictures tomorrow. I’m at a loss.

 

Huh?

Aside from fighting the cage nuts to sit in place as you thread things in, the job is quick and easy.

Only thing that took me a bit was realizing later the size or pitch of the capture nuts; there are two different sets and it wasn't until I couldn't get a bolt to thread on that I realized that.

 

I have the right cage nuts. I checked because they do give you a bunch of M8 cage nuts for the winch install and thought did I put the small ones in there, but they are all the M10 size. The passenger side is super tight. I was wondering if I should loosen all the frame brackets bolts, put the bumper on and then torque them.

 

I'd try that first.

 

Here are some photos to show the bad gaps and mis aligned bolt holes

 

Ok. It’s not perfect but much better. I used a hydraulic cart to help push it up to align it better. And I got all 6 of the M10 bolts to attached to the cage nuts. The right side gap is still a little bigger than the left.

 

Much better. I could live with that. It's not ever going to be super perfect unless it's a show car.

 

Thanks! I’m happy with it. I still need to add the splash pan and factory skid plate. I don’t have a winch yet, but I'm assuming the bumper will have to be removed to install that, correct?

 

Sorry for always late to the party. I need to replace the rusted portion of my stock 03 Taco prerunner bumper and just want to make sure of one thing before purchasing the Amazon chrome bumper.
Is that the piece that always rusts on the inside????