ARB Bull Bar Install LIVE....NOW....Watch...

[Gilead]

We are going to be installing the ARB BULL BAR today. Watch as we bring you, and us, through the process. Shouls be fun. Feel free to ask questions as we go. Look for pictures and comments. We had the bar flown in last night to Logan airport in Boston MA. Tried for Manchester NH, but United could not get it there...quickly. So here we go.....

 

[Gilead]

Here are the first pictures of how the BB is packed. As usual with most ALL ARB products the packing is GREAT. No damage seen at this point. Most likely none as we go along....

 

[Gilead]

Box with various brackets, etc.

 

[Gilead]

We are also going to be installing these IPF's on the BB. Now one of your questions is...."what about the IPF Fog Light?" Well, I did not order these for this install.... Was not thinking straight at the time of the faxed order to ARB. These Fogs will be installed later. Also, we will NOT be installing a Warn Winch. That too will come later.

 

[Gilead]

I have set up the lap top in the work area to record the install. Coffee in the
FJ ThermoCafe cup and the ARB Hats to be worn.

 

[Gilead]

Here is a picture of the front without the PLASTIC "bumper." Came right off in about 10 minute...1.2 seconds in an accident or on the trail...

 

[Gilead]

The support bracket, with 14mm bolts of which there were 4 per side...a total of 8, has been removed. Easy for this Cruiser...NO rust what so ever. Different from what we are used to seeing...

 

[Gilead]

Okay, here comes the graphic "drilling" part of the install. We are now drilling out the M8 captive nuts on the outboard side of the frame...both sides.

 

[Gilead]

BOLTS. The hardware selection is vast. ARB sends all the right stuff for bolting the BB. The written direction are good too. Many detailed pictures of the correct install process. A quote from the installer a moment ago was "you have to be a magician to get some of the nuts onto the frame!"

 

[Gilead]

Okay, this bracket is being bolted onto the outter front frame ends. It did require that we use an air chisle to remove a "big blob" of weld from the factory on the LH side of the frame. The RH side welding was better...not as big a weld. A grinder could also be used to get rid of the weld....

 

[Gilead]

This odd looking bracket is inserted into the frame. A captured nut at the end of the brecket will have a bolt secured to it through the frame. This will allow for that barcket to extend to the end of the frame and stick out about 1". This brackets holds the nut so that the fianl bolt for the previous pictures backet can be bolted...if that makes sense. That 1" section will be broken off in a minute....

 

[Gilead]

This bigger bracket will be installed onto those M8 studs.

 

[Gilead]

These 4 spaces, 2 per side, will be installed. Nice zinc plated suff. So far the install has been as predicted...smooth.

 

[Gilead]

Okay, this went quick. We just lifted the bar into place. Again, very simple. Now we are bolting the bar to that bracket in the previous picture. 3 bolts are used to bolt the BB to the bracket.

 

[Gilead]

Different looks here...

 

[Gilead]

There are 2 holes that have to be drilled, by you/us, on the inside of the bar, LH/RH sides. These are to align the bar. So this brings the total bolts to 4 per side to bolt the bar to the bracket. Drilling these holes is a bit of a trick...but not too bad.

 

[woody]

love the blow-by-blow install...nicely done!!

 

[Gilead]

Okay, here is the "skip plate" that provide. This leaves a GREAT DEAL to be DESIRED. It is not even close to the original in gage/quality. Now, we would try to re-install the original, but to keep things going, we will install the ARB plate....

 

[Gilead]

Okay, now we move on to the turn/marker lights. The brackets provided will install easy....

 

[Gilead]

However, we have just encountered our first dislike for the BB. They want us/you to cut the end off of the inner splash guard! This seems rather odd. There is not a replacement panel of any sort for this area below the BB. It is meant to be left open to see the mounting brackets and stock body mounts. Yeah, it may be picky, but it seems to be a big hole/gap. We have our fabricator looking at it now. Maybe a quick sheet metal cover is in the future....