Which way to swing, The Spare tire!

[The Claw]

Had bumper installed yesterday by Master Luke at 4X4 Labs. Upon arrival he was busy working on some old, short green thing with 5 cylinders that sounded and smelled real sweet when it started up for the very first time (I love the smell of diesel fumes in the afternoon).

Removal of old parts went smoothly. Installation went smoothly until Luke and my son lifted bumper for placement on rig (late in the day and all hired help gone home). Frame width just an RCH to narrow. Bumper back to floor. Used portable hydrolic frame spreader. Bumper up off floor and slid in nice and neat. Complemented Mr. T just a second to soon, one of the nuts in frame for 17mm vertical bolts missing. No problem, weld several inches of flat stock to nut. Weld flat stock with nut in correct location in frame. Bumper off floor slide into place. 2 holes on one frame rail just a little off because of frame spreader. No problem, grind a little on hole sizes. Install all bolts and last 17 MM on ground holes breaks nut loose inside frame on other side. Unbolt, Bumper to floor. No problem, weld several inches of flat stock to second nut. Weld flat stock with nut in correct location in frame. Bumper off floor slide into place. All bolts in place, tighted and torqued to Luke's spec.job. If you have welder, plasma cutter, sawsall and Luke install it. see pic

Finish paper work, sees invoice without add ons to swing outs. Dog house, but hey my rear isfinally covered and looks even better.

After install said our goodbuys and headed up HW20 out of Nevada City to Cisco on HW 80 and watched over 40 fire trucks and hand crews heading West, did I mention it was smokey. Dinner with Brother inlaw at cabin near Cisco near Fordyce, but thats another story.

The Claw