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For those looking to upgrade to Autopal headlights, please double check to make sure you are getting "E-code" housings. A couple years ago I ordered some Autopal housings from Ebay and didn't bother to check what I had received.
As you can tell, it is marked DOT on the bottom and has the 3 nipples for the headlight adjuster thing that some inspection stations use.
I only drove it for about a year and had to use my headlights during that time. They sucked. I swapped bulb after bulb and even adjusted as per Daniel Stern lighting. Still with no luck on getting a good beam spread.
Then last week I had to drive through the Virgin River Gorge at night. Even my daughter told me to turn my headlights on... they were on! So I turned on my front LED light bar and navigated the windy road with ease. Friday I checked my headlight aim again and noticed the DOT marking. Why did I not see this before? Obviously I wasn't paying attention 2 years ago. As pissed as I was, I decided to order the actual E-code headlights.
Found some Hella E-code housings with bulbs, even though I now have a million spares. I installed these earlier but I have not yet had a chance to test them out. In the garage, the beam is noticeably better. You can actually see the cutoff lines. Hopefully I will be able to aim and test them out tomorrow night on the back country roads.
I gotta ask cause Im curious.......hows the "homebrew" paint holding up after all this time? Still happy with it? Anything you would have done differently?
I gotta ask cause Im curious.......hows the "homebrew" paint holding up after all this time? Still happy with it? Anything you would have done differently?
Keep up the good work!
Thanks! The paint is holding up pretty good for a rattle can job. Overall I am happy with it. I haven't had to touch up anything yet, even though I should due to some parts being scratched.
I did redo my headlight bezels and grille. I sprayed them with Duplicolor bed liner to prevent the bug guts from eating away at the paint (which they did over time).
The only thing I would do differently is not use Purple Power degreaser to wash it after a few times 2 years ago the paint is faded, but it's hard to tell unless you really look at it. Plus its a little difficult to get grease hand prints off the paint if you let it sit.
The good thing is, when it rains the paint dries really fast.
Overall, it has served its purpose and was super cheap. I may repaint it with Monstaliner when the time comes.
Mounted the Hi-Lift jack on the passenger side of the tire carrier. I still need to relocate the license plate and flip the jack around. Also mounted a gerry can holder on the driver side using the tank mount from Rock Hard 4x4. It fits perfectly on the tire carrier. Even comes with an antenna mount, which is being used as a flag mount for the trails.
Flipped the Hi-Lift around so the base is at the bottom. I think it fits better now. Just need to relocate my license plate so I'm street legal again.
Broke my CB antenna on a trail run over the weekend. At least I have 3 others that I have collected over the years. Found a pinched antenna wire too, so now I have a reason to redo the current setup.
Looks like the Grand Canyon trip is postponed until I can get this thing fixed...
Nate's 4x4 rear bumper w/ tire carrier. Mounts to factory 8 locations plus a frame tie in with 6 bolts. I managed to rip the 4 upper mounts today. Luckily the frame tie in kept it somewhat supported on my way home. Looks like I will be modifying the bumper and sticking inside the frame.
Really thin stuff. I advise anyone who has a rear bumper/tire carrier to inspect their mounts ASAP.
Welded the cracks, reinforced with 1/8" plate and welded angle iron to the frame tie in for inner frame and under frame attachments. I didn't take any pictures of the bumper but there are other threads out there that have done similar with either 2x4, 2x3 or angle iron.
01-05-2015, 10:47 PM
after a few times 2 years ago the paint is faded, but it's hard to tell unless you really look at it. Plus its a little difficult to get grease hand prints off the paint if you let it sit. 
