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My welder is an idiot. If someone gave you very secific pictures of a relatively simple bumper like this:
And told you to send pictures of the progress throughout the build would you take it upon yourself to bring creativity into the design. Sending this picture Friday night:
And this picture Sunday morning:
In what world is that the same. All you had to do is take a 3x3 tube and bend it like four times. This is how you don't get paid. So glad I write contracts for these types of Craigslist transactions.
Rant over.
EDIT: That all seemed really negative and I'm sorry for that - in the end I'm down $200 for him to weld the DYI front bumper, from what I can tell it is well done. So I ended up paying the same as I would have if Dirtbound Offroad had welded it and shipped it direct. And need to find a new welder for the rear that knows how to make what I want.
I have read through your thread and love the direction you have gone with your XJ, I have to say I like the way he was going to build your rear bumper. He obviously was taking the precaution of building it into the frame so that you would have great recovery points with the bumper. I understand he missed the trim look that you were looking for, but it would be very easy to make it what you have asked for by trimming it in half from the wheel well back. and adding a tow hitch in the void in the middle area.
I got lucky when I found a C.L. ad for my rear bumper. but was glad I didn't just through it on, because I found out through some one on this site that the type of bumper I got would just tear off if with the weight of the spare tire and using it for recover.
Thanks for looking through the thread. I had given him very specific requirements for the bumper and the mounts were the one thing he got right. I know what I had issue was just cosmetic but I haven't come this far to end up with something I wasn't 100% in love with.
And I love the flares too, Napier Flat Flares made for the cut and fold rear, yes they do fit the 2 door great.
Unfortunately for me when I bought my XJ it already had the Bushwhackers pocket, I have been considering doing my own flat flares out of metal and tubing like someone that belongs to the same wheeling club. I am glad I got the chance to see his rig in person as he just decided to sell his XJ (he got tired of constantly working on his rig to keep it running) he did the most amazing half doors I have ever seen! If you would like to see a pic. of it I think I can dig it out of my photos and post it here with your permission as I would want to highjack your thread and I can P.M. you the URL of his half-door fab thread so you can see how he built them. If you still have the donor vehicle you would have the doors to build them. Sorry for the long post.
...he did the most amazing half doors I have ever seen!
I'd love to see them, send me a PM!
I got a ton of stuff off of that Jeep.
drivers door
hatch interior panel
interior panels between the seat and door
intake manifold
steering column
hood cowl of the wiper motor
all three wiper arms
the PCM/ECU if anyone wants it
rear window louvers
panel over the licence
third brake light
All that for $50! This lady didn't care at all and said it was going to the salvage yard tomorrow. Score. Best Craigslist find yet. The door wasn't quite in the condition I would have liked but it only had little dings in it so it's better than mine.
P.M. sent.
The first thread I did not take my rig as my daughter borrowed it to go Kayaking. but there are some nice shots of his rig and you can see the flares I would like to build for mine.
Since I have a spare interior door panel I decided to get it in working order and prep it for the eventual interior upgrade I do someday. Does anyone know if they sell the interior door handles? I looked and only saw the kits for the WKs. My spring is broken and one of the rod holes snapped off. I can just grab one from the JY but I'd rather get a new one if possible. I know that are plastic melted into the posts but I figured maybe someone made a kit.
I also took off the faceplate to replace it and the switch box with those of a 4 door's. I want to use one of the rear window buttons for a winch (if I get one someday) and the other to turn the winch button on or off since it won't be covered. Should be a fun little project and keep the Jeep's interior looking stock. I'm also going to upgrade the passenger window button to include the auto down feature.
Started the bumper build today. Found a guy on Craigslist that will let me build as much as I want and charges me per hour he welds. And then a dollar a pound for the bumper steel. He didn't charge me for scraps that cut off or any of the mount versions one and two that didn't work. I'll post more comprehensive pictures when I am Donne but here is one for the time being. 3x3 square tube. Only issue so far is the lack of gap between the hatch and the bumper, need to get some space in there.
Made some progress. Not happy with the caps under the lights at all. But it's a work in progress. Will most likely cut them off and try again. But all in all I like the 3" tubing. Next weekend I'll figure that out and put the hitch and skirt on.
Bumper is coming along, (I see what you are mean) very nice!! are you going to and the tow hitch to it? I have been kicking around the idea of changing the way my tow hitch is on my rear bumper. I am fabricating a trailer for overland trips and I really don't trust that my rear bumper will take the abuse towing a trailer off road will put on it in the long run.
Yes there will be a hitch. Haven't figured out how I will put the pin it quite yet but I'll put the receiver in tomorrow. Liked the progress made today. Hope to finish up tomorrow. Just the wheel well tube ends, hitch receiver, and skirt left.
Also caught myself on fire with the sparks from the grinder. Whoops.
I have the privilege of getting free TIG lessons for the next few months. Very excited. Not much going on with the build but I will be finishing the rear bumper soon and then getting them painted. Saving up for moving the rest of my belongings in May and then getting a house so nothing major for the time being.
01-07-2017, 06:01 PM
