XFACTOR
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Vancouver BC
so stuffing the frame with 2"X4" seemed like a great idea on paper but when i cut them open to take a look i ran into a few snags...
first off the drivers side has fuel fill and return lines running through the frame rails.. i was actually only able to get half the total length of the 2x4 in on the drivers side, the other half needed to be notched to clear the lines.. this notch can be seen in the picture of the pieces after i drilled them and before i painted.. the other obstruction on the drivers side is a hole that has been dimpled so that it sticks out on the inside of the frame, i just bent it back out and hammered it back in place after i installed the 2x4.. problem solved!!
the passengers side was relatively unobstructed except for a small tab that's on the bottom of the frame... i hammered away at this tab but the tacks wouldn't give so i drilled them out.. i guess i could have just notched the 2x4 to clear this tab... the same dimpled hole was on the passengers side and was delt with the same way.... bent away then hammered back
the only other thing that needs to be done on both sides is a hole needs to be drilled out for the leaf spring bolt to pass into the 2x4... i used a 5/8" drill bit to do this and it gave the bolt plenty of room...
i used
1/8" - 2"x4" - 21" long x 2 pieces
1/4" - 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" - 18 1/2" long x 2 pieces
1/4" - 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" - 8 1/4" long receiver hitch
1/4" - 1 1/2" x 18" long x 2 pieces "straps"
1/4" - 2 1/2" x 4" long x 4 pieces "tabs"
9/16" drill bit
5/8" drill bit
1/2" drill bit
8 x 9/16" grade 8 bolts, nuts, washers
8 x 10mm grade 8 bolts and washers
measured from the stock bumper mounting holes, the 2x4 sticks out of the frame rail 5 1/4".... i marked a line on both pieces and also marked the location of the forward most mounting hole on the 2x4, this helped me line up the 2x4 on the gas tank skid to mark where the rest of the hole need to be drilled.. now heres the problem.. i wanted to use 9/16" mounting hardware and none of the holes where big enough.. so the frame and skid needed to be drilled out to take 9/16" hardward, i used a 5/8" drill to make the hole slightly larger so mounting would be easier... i also drilled out the 2x4 with 5/8".
i then made two straps 1 1/5" wide 18" long and drill them out using a 9/16" drill bit, screwed in the nuts and bolts., tacked the nuts down and removed the bolts. i then slide the 2x4 into the frame rail, slid the straps in and bolted the rails down.. i then welded on the tabs for the rear mounts, i think i drilled those out with a 1/2 drill bit. i welded these to the 2x4.
i then welded the 2 pieces of 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" to the reiciever and slide the whole thing into the holes that i cut out of the 2x4.. centered and welded welded them together. i did most of the welding with the hitch bolted in tight then removed it to finish a few welds. slide out no problem!!!
the only mod that needs to be done to the bumper besides cutting out the hitch hole was welding the bumper mounting bracket to the bumper and cutting off the inner mounts... the top weld proved to be pointless as it was cut away.. so basically only the outter two bumper mount bolts are used to hold the stock bumper on... i needed to cut the inside mount and a little bumper away for final fitment.
and done!!
fuel lines
weld here!!
first off the drivers side has fuel fill and return lines running through the frame rails.. i was actually only able to get half the total length of the 2x4 in on the drivers side, the other half needed to be notched to clear the lines.. this notch can be seen in the picture of the pieces after i drilled them and before i painted.. the other obstruction on the drivers side is a hole that has been dimpled so that it sticks out on the inside of the frame, i just bent it back out and hammered it back in place after i installed the 2x4.. problem solved!!
the passengers side was relatively unobstructed except for a small tab that's on the bottom of the frame... i hammered away at this tab but the tacks wouldn't give so i drilled them out.. i guess i could have just notched the 2x4 to clear this tab... the same dimpled hole was on the passengers side and was delt with the same way.... bent away then hammered back
the only other thing that needs to be done on both sides is a hole needs to be drilled out for the leaf spring bolt to pass into the 2x4... i used a 5/8" drill bit to do this and it gave the bolt plenty of room...
i used
1/8" - 2"x4" - 21" long x 2 pieces
1/4" - 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" - 18 1/2" long x 2 pieces
1/4" - 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" - 8 1/4" long receiver hitch
1/4" - 1 1/2" x 18" long x 2 pieces "straps"
1/4" - 2 1/2" x 4" long x 4 pieces "tabs"
9/16" drill bit
5/8" drill bit
1/2" drill bit
8 x 9/16" grade 8 bolts, nuts, washers
8 x 10mm grade 8 bolts and washers
measured from the stock bumper mounting holes, the 2x4 sticks out of the frame rail 5 1/4".... i marked a line on both pieces and also marked the location of the forward most mounting hole on the 2x4, this helped me line up the 2x4 on the gas tank skid to mark where the rest of the hole need to be drilled.. now heres the problem.. i wanted to use 9/16" mounting hardware and none of the holes where big enough.. so the frame and skid needed to be drilled out to take 9/16" hardward, i used a 5/8" drill to make the hole slightly larger so mounting would be easier... i also drilled out the 2x4 with 5/8".
i then made two straps 1 1/5" wide 18" long and drill them out using a 9/16" drill bit, screwed in the nuts and bolts., tacked the nuts down and removed the bolts. i then slide the 2x4 into the frame rail, slid the straps in and bolted the rails down.. i then welded on the tabs for the rear mounts, i think i drilled those out with a 1/2 drill bit. i welded these to the 2x4.
i then welded the 2 pieces of 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" to the reiciever and slide the whole thing into the holes that i cut out of the 2x4.. centered and welded welded them together. i did most of the welding with the hitch bolted in tight then removed it to finish a few welds. slide out no problem!!!
the only mod that needs to be done to the bumper besides cutting out the hitch hole was welding the bumper mounting bracket to the bumper and cutting off the inner mounts... the top weld proved to be pointless as it was cut away.. so basically only the outter two bumper mount bolts are used to hold the stock bumper on... i needed to cut the inside mount and a little bumper away for final fitment.
and done!!
fuel lines
weld here!!
Last edited:
