Well shoot, guess who's back

[DutchVDub]

Mostly done now. I still need to adjust the toe and center the steering wheel. Then check the transmission fluid level once it's warmed up. Other that I can start trimming out the front fenders and fabricating the front bumper.

It's sitting 23.25" under the rocker just behind the front fender flare and 23.5" right in front of the rear fender flare. I'm sure it'll settle out a little once it's driven a bit.

 

[DutchVDub]

Plasma cutter with stock flares as a guide is still my preferred method for trimming the front fenders.

You just have to be quick by the washer reservoir, don't want to melt it. LOL

 

[DutchVDub]

Working on the bumper. Once I get a winch the front cross member will have to be removed.

 

[DutchVDub]

More progress on the bumper

 

[DutchVDub]

Work continues

 

[DutchVDub]

Last bit for the night. Time for bed.

 

[smokeyyank]

Digging that bumper! Nice work man. I want to do something similar when I get to that point

 

[time2getdirty]

Whys it stuck out so far?

 

[DutchVDub]

To protect the fiberglass header panel, duh.

 

[trippled]

How much does that hang down over the factory Cross member? Hard to tell in the pic.

 

[DutchVDub]

Like maybe an inch or two, I'll have to measure when I get home. I just know its going to be tight back there once I add a winch.

The big thing for me is keeping from having a big bumper sticking out. Once I go to 37's and push the front axle forward a little bit I should have a really good approach angle. Right now I'm on rather worn down 33's.

 

[DutchVDub]

How much does that hang down over the factory Cross member? Hard to tell in the pic.

2" exactly at the back edge.

 

[DutchVDub]

Added the little hoop and welded it up.

 

[DutchVDub]

Bumper welded and painted

 

[smokeyyank]

Nice! That is clean

 

[DutchVDub]

Thank you. Luckily that rattle can bed liner covers up a lot.

 

[DutchVDub]

All cleaned up after Chinaman's. Jeep did really well and it was a fun weekend. I need to reclock my passenger rear shock mount as that shock has almost an inch less exposed shock due to the axle pointing up higher. Other than that and my Trac-bar coming loose the jeep had no issues. I'm pretty happy with Rusty's suspension. The front shocks are a bit stiff but that seems to balance it out with the leaf springs out back. Ride quality was better than I expected. Not as smooth as the JK was on Poly progressive springs and 5150's, but really good for a dumb XJ.

I finally got the garage cleaned up again too. Time to knock out some axles and then bring the 87 in to prep it for sale.

Pics from the trip. There aren't a lot because I'm not much of a picture taker.

Loaded up and ready

Really icy and cruddy going over 285. I had to put the truck in 4wd at times because it was slick pulling some of those hills.

Camp

Beautiful morning view

Poser flex shot

 

[DutchVDub]

Finally got around to installing the edge trim on the front fenders.

 

[trippled]

I used that last time I cut my fenders. It looks really nice but made my fenders rust out (that's why there's none on it). Did you do anything to seal up the cut edge? Wonder if you have any tricks...

 

[DutchVDub]

Paint and the thinnest trim I could get, barely fits.