Recent content by Skegger

I don't want to pitch the 3FE. (Yes it's a slow bear, but its an as yet unstoppable slow bear...) I want a manual to give me more control off the line than the old (220K) A440 is giving me now. I've seen all sorts of swaps on Mud, and most appear to work out pretty damned well, but what trans...

I'm in PDX too, and I built the 4X4 Labs bumper with a buddy I race Soapbox with. Sean's bumper is quality... and pretty straight forward. https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/install-for-4x4-labs-diy-rear-bumper.811561/ Consider where you wanna put your spare though...

What fresh hell is this?

Totally true! Awesome to see it on the rig, but it took a little head scratching and a lot of my buddy's workshop toys and metal fab know-how to make it happen. Doesn't suck that he knows some good powder coaters either.

Depends on shipping, I live in the People's Republic of Portland, so it was like $599. I didn't get all the bell and whistles though.

So we got to it... And eventually this is what we ended up with... Here it is with Mt Hood in the back ground... And here it is when it's all cleaned up... I skipped a batch of stuff, so if you have questions just ask. -El Pollo - although I dig that swing-outs are a possibility, I haven't...

I should note that if we had simply cut the frame rail up and down, that fat bastard would be a complete PIA to line up and measure. Don't cut more frame off than you have to. (Of course I can say that because we had access to a plasma torch which made cutting easy!) We tacked it in place...

We put the rear quarter wings on temporarily and figure out our cut lines... figured out how it looked like it would fit well... started welding the kit together... and without too much ado were able to build something pretty good looking. (Luke put this adult snap-tite thing together nicely!)

Anyway, we cut the frame just a bit, and at an angle so the bumper would fit, and then we started cutting the cross members off with a torch. (Much easier than that handheld bandsaw) A good tool for the job... but inferior to this... which helped this... become this... One thing not...

The Feds helped me out with a kind refund, so I looked on IH8Mud and tried to get a rundown on what to buy for my new rear bumper. Long story short, Luke at 4X4 Labs won my business for his design. Nice stout design, high clearance, and adaptable. So we talked, and I sent him some money, and he...

Your's looks like a well kitted rig! Hope to grab some rock rails once I get the 4X4 Labs rear bumper fabbed up. Cheers!

Thanks for all your input. Still wrapping my newb head around this project.

Good looking rig! Really like the wings concept.

I have a '92 FJ80 and the factory hitch is too low and just doesn't look right, but I like that the spare hides away between the frame without me needing to put it in the cabin. (Not planning any move to much larger tires beyond the 17 inch rims I have) Does anybody make a rear bumper that looks...

For the record, before you put your 80 out to pasture, and climb into a rolling silver box of purgatory, I hope there is some good input on this thread as well. It's not that my old trans is shot, I would just like to get back to the feel of driving as opposed to letting the slushbox do the job...