| Good day by SDMickey - March 27th 2024 10:55 pm
| | Lew Greger by MufflerMan Mike - March 27th 2024 5:15 pm
| | | Re: Installing custom Bull Bar/ Brackets/ Tow Hooks | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 245 enthusiast | OP enthusiast Joined: May 2010 Posts: 245 | So all the brackets, studs, plates, and pieces are all drilled for all those big 3/4" size bolts. It took a lot of work to drill some of them, 4 different size bits, as I couldnt put the bumper itself on the bench to drill it (hindsight and rushing things...). Last is foglight holes, before powdercoating. and then reinstalling. I dropped off the back bumper today to get it touched up in appearance and chemically stripped, plated, and then off to the powder coater. All the bolts are waiting, and ready to finally go back together. | | | Re: Installing custom Bull Bar/ Brackets/ Tow Hooks | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,866 veteran | veteran Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,866 | That's going to look great.
Shanning P. Alberta, Canada 1991 Dodge Ram 250 Member of Vandits VC. Calgary Stay Weird!
| | | Re: Installing custom Bull Bar/ Brackets/ Tow Hooks | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 245 enthusiast | OP enthusiast Joined: May 2010 Posts: 245 | So final part back for the front end, buddy and I machined the end caps to fit under the crossbolt of the tow D-ring. There is about 2mm between the main bolt and the machined one. So now, it will all fit. | | | Re: Installing custom Bull Bar/ Brackets/ Tow Hooks | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,170 old hand | old hand Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,170 | The two best tools I have purchased, besides a floor jack, were a lathe and mill. You never know how much need there is for them, like this bolt head, until you have them. | | | Re: Installing custom Bull Bar/ Brackets/ Tow Hooks | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 245 enthusiast | OP enthusiast Joined: May 2010 Posts: 245 | I have been taking full advantage of machining friends and taking care of them for their help for that exact reason. Even on this project, some things just have to be made, milled, or turned down, and there is little option to buy things like that bolt off the shelf. Plus its been lots of fun actually making something, you know is unique to your van. | | | Re: Installing custom Bull Bar/ Brackets/ Tow Hooks | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 245 enthusiast | OP enthusiast Joined: May 2010 Posts: 245 | Here is the final bolt insert showing the clearance of the main D ring pin. | | | Re: Installing custom Bull Bar/ Brackets/ Tow Hooks | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 822 Likes: 1 old hand | old hand Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 822 Likes: 1 | Nice project you have going there! I happen to be fan of A- Team vans (done right). The new movie version is pretty sweet. I hope everything turns out like you want. Good luck with it, and hope to see it when it's done.
X-MAN Looking forward to the next Truck-in! | | | Re: Installing custom Bull Bar/ Brackets/ Tow Hooks | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 245 enthusiast | OP enthusiast Joined: May 2010 Posts: 245 | So I just got the winch wired up. Ran 4 gauge wiring all to the interior for a remote battery.
So, I have a heavy duty isolator to separate the starting battery and the remote deep cycle gel cell battery (150 cold cranking amps).
So now I will run the aux wiring from the remote battery to the roof light bar, and the front two pairs of driving/fog lamps.
For the winch, I brought the switch inside the dash up to the left side air vent - and I'll just make a little plate to control from inside for the convenience.
Wiring up remote switch later for keychain use.
Pics soon! | | | Re: Installing custom Bull Bar/ Brackets/ Tow Hooks | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 245 enthusiast | OP enthusiast Joined: May 2010 Posts: 245 | Picked up the bumpers this weekend, had everything all finished up in a gloss powdercoat black. It looks amazing. Just bolted everything back on with new stainless hardware, gave the van a nice sunny wash, and finished bolting all the brackets, hooks, fairlead, hook, and lights on. Im perfectly happy that after all this time (1 year 3 months) it is finally finished. Took a lot of a lot. Time, work, money, everything- but it turned out just how I wanted and the first time I hit the store with her black and sassy, people were asking me about it and complimenting how nice the van looked. Here are some pictures of the finished piece... | | |
0 members (),
13
guests, and
5
robots. | Key: Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod | | Forums68 Topics35,747 Posts537,897 Members12,724 | Most Online177 May 8th, 2013 | | | |