4X4 Front Bumper Build

[umbrobryan]

Hello to all, This is my first post in any form since I acquired a 1999 standard cab style side Ranger. I traded a 98 Saturn straight up for this. The reason I got it was was to go wheeling with a co-worker of mine.

My co-worker-Richard-said we should call it the Anger, and it stuck. I believe I have seen someone else on here that has nicknamed theres Anger too. Sorry bout that but I like the name.

When I got the truck It had just got done putting its nose, left front head light thru the right rear taillight of a 2010 Suburban. The only things need to fix it was a header panel, lights, and grill. I decided to go with 2003 parts as I read on here that swap would work. That went pretty smooth but the marker and turn signal sockets are different. They sort of held in there, well enough for me to say good enough for now.

Now onto the bumper,,, Didn't want to spend the money on a factory bumper, so I went to a local metal surplus shop and picked up 2 sections of 2"x5"x65". I started hacking at it when I got home for mock up. I got a lot further than I thought I was. I must have cut the pieces in perfect order b/c I had the exact amount needed. Cost was $27.50. Used a 10 pack of cutting disks.

This has been really easy for the most part. Cutting everything by hand with a 4" cut off wheel sucked but I got it all cut. I want to post some pics but the icon at the bottom says, "You may not post attachments". Gonna search this unless someone tells me how to do it first. TTYL Bryan

 

[umbrobryan]

Some pictures

I posted these on my face book page and selected viewing audience to everyone.

Hope this worked. Happy April fools day to Everyone, Bryan

 

[out cast]

I'd tuck the bottom of that bottom piece in. Angle it in so it looks better.

Lookin good though.

 

[strvger]

looks like an excellent start! i really like the way it wraps all the way around and lines up with the wheel well. great job there!!

 

[96Greenster]

Lookin good man, but something look out of place.. try something different with the bottom piece.. X2 what rokkrawler said, slant it a little...Just my 0.02

 

[umbrobryan]

Panels cut and tacked

Well I got busy with finishing this b/c i'm trying to get the truck ready for the Badlands in Attica, IN. Gotta be ready by the 10th. I'm considering a two inch receiver in the front dead center. Not sure about that yet. Two cents is appreciated but i'm liking the way this is unfolding and i'm gonna keep running with it. I also considered welding the tow hooks to the bottom of the lower rail. It either be the reciever or the tow hooks. More pics for tonight.

Just gotta finalize the welds and grind it smooth and give it a paint job.
Thats about all I for now so Ill see you guys later, Bryan

 

[96Greenster]

Well scratch out the slant!! Yea maybe the tow hooks and the reciever will set it off.. Either way should look badass!

 

[umbrobryan]

Done and Painted. Now come-on and dry faster

Well I finally found the rest of the time today to finish smoothing it and painting it. I also was able to upload the very first picture from when i first got it. Very hard to believe that the truck was totaled. I'm also wandering how i got a clean title with it.

When I had to make a decision on how to paint it I wanted cheap and easy but to also hide a couple minor flaws. I wanted to use POR-15 but nobody had this locally and I needed it yesterday. So I went to Advanced Auto and got 1qt of Hurculiner. I was wandering how the textured finish it leaves would look, but I think it has turned out OK. I will know when its completly dry. I'm also considering rolling a layer along the bottom of the cab and bed that will match the line off the bumper.

On to the pics

Now all I have to do is hang it. Lets make a list of the consumables need to make this happen.

Steel-rectangle from surplus-$27.00
Piece of scrap plate for panel-laying around- probably $10.00 at surplus
Tow hooks, free-reused originals
Metal cut-off wheels and grinder wheels, sanding discs. $30.00 I went thru alot of them
4 New bolts grade 8 nuts and washers $17.00 I shoulda went to TSC. Its per pound there.
Hurculiner-$28.00

Grand total of - $112.00

Time factor
Almost 20 hours of labor and I wasn't fiddle fartin around either. I believe the bumper im gonna make for the rear is gonna go quicker as I have learned some new things.

Tools involved.
4 1/2 craftsman cut-off grinder. My band saw wasn't up to the task.
Welder-Lincoln electric Mig Pak 10-120vac
Body panel Vise Grips
Various stands
Cardboard for mocking panels

Thats about it. Ill see you guys later, Bryan

 

[organic]

looking good man. I used the Hurculiner for the inside of my bed. Definately tough stuff, but I didn't like the brownish color. Went over it with flat black, looks alot better. Get that steel mounted, wanna see how it looks hanging off the front.

 

[umbrobryan]

All Done - Excluding future mods.

Well I got home from work and found the bumper to be dry enough to hang on the truck and snap some pictures. Here are the final pics.

Other than some minor things this bumper has made me real happy. I just have to put it to a test and make sure it will hold up. Not really to concerned about that either. I built a rear scoop snow plow this winter and beat the crap out of it, and I used the same principles on it as I did this project.

Future mods that may link to it. I like the idea of a 2 inch receiver but I also want a winch. I do believe I could mount the winch on the back of the front bumper, with a fair-lead on the front. Think I can get both of them on it???

Possibly tie the front bumper to an exoskeleton. I'm gonna try and paint-shop one on and see how I like it.

Thats about it for now, TTYL, Bryan

 

[nate09]

if you want both, put in the receiver and a winch mount of the receiver. best of both worlds, and you could use the winch in the rear if you needed to. bumper looks good though, i like how it follows the grill.

 

[strvger]

looks extreme duty!! i like it !!!

 

[umbrobryan]

Pretty Good Test. Badlands

I got to test the front bumper pretty good weekend in Attica, IN. The first time was the scariest. Its always scary the first time.

What happened was the en-gager gear the engages the RF hub Broke free of the tack welds I put on it. I thought I just needed a little something, something to keep the gear falling out. I mean it worked on the other side, but it was also rusted together.

I got lucky with my break down b/c I was climbing a hill that was right across from the campground when it let go. I could make it up the hill about 2/3 with just the rear axle. So I stopped as high as I could and Richie winched me up the rest of the way.

I got to tug a 94 Grand Cherokee out of a huge mud pit. The guy has a "Hilljack Cadillac" sticker across the front wind shield. Hes just letting everyone know who he is. He ended up loosing both bumpers, smashing the rocker panels in, Whacked a couple doors, and ripped a mirror off. It was a good day for the hilljack.

Tell you what. The ranger in stock form did alot more stuff than I thought it could do. All I did was swap tires with a touch bigger but more aggressive and cranked the torsion bars. When I get the video from a friend ill post it but she has me climbing a wall I thought Id have to get drug up.

Initally my plan was to get the dana 44 and ford 9 inch I have Installed, however I say for the moment body protection is a touch more important than getting full size axles under it. I might end up getting the material tommorow since I had some left over cash from the trip...HMMM rear bumper. I think i have a good one in mind. Ill try and stay on to of getting pictures posted of the neater things I do.

This is Richard stuck not very long into the first day.

This is the Grand I was talking about in the before state.

This is Lance making it up the stone hill

9am the second morning.

The Lower creek.

Richie after the mudd puddle and the mudd puddle

Following the guys home who introduced me a whole new high.

Life great right now.

Until later, Bryan

 

[94Rangeron37s]

saw you there but didnt place the rig untill just now. we were over on the south end of the camp ground with 4 cherokees a ranger truggy a s10 truggy a s10 blazer and a white yj. wanted to say the truck looks good .

 

[umbrobryan]

More Badlands pictures

Finally got my friends to post up there Facebook pics and wanted to post them here.

94Rangeron37s. I never thought to find out how the property was setting. Just had "Lets go play" on the mind. Then I broke 2 hours into saturday and didnt get going again till 10:30 on sunday. But sunday was fun. Im looking for some pictures of your rig to see if it rings a bell.

Just realized Ive been PMing you about the tires. To funny. I was fixated on Bray D's truck all weekend. I love what he's done with it. Pretty clean truck.

For the pics

I need to work on this, 1 tire in the air thing

I was impressed as to what the little truck could do

This was when I was watching the 94 ZJ Doing something else stupid.

This was a wall in the Quarry they talked me into trying and I did it.

Im waiting on some video for the climb. Richie said he was gonna try and load it tonight. We will see.

I think I have made a decesion to try the TREC race next month. Im looking for a 4x4 in some sort. Kinda considering a 98 AWD Astro van. The boss might possible give it to me if I cant find something by the next race. That would be so funny. Im also scouring craigslist to find something else a little more worthy. Considered beefing up a 2wd toyota I have and do it prerunner style, but it would have to be exhibition so no prize winnings We will carry on and find something cause I wanna do it.

Until later, Bryan