Coastal Offroad Front Bumper Build (1 Viewer)

[Broski]

The drier can be moved up to where they were on the 91-92s I,m working on mine now

relocating AC dryer with factory stuff .... Eddited content and instructions

First, this is how I relocate the AC dryer and I'll admit it's more expensive then bending the original dryer out of the way. You can't just plug in the R12 lines as they have different size ends on them. You use those lines but have to splice them in to the original lines. Parts needed whether...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[gnx7]

How many hours do you feel this takes to weld/grind before you paint/coat it? I'm looking at front bumpers also for my LX450

 

[WCBlueSky]

How many hours do you feel this takes to weld/grind before you paint/coat it?

I finally got mine finished, just waiting for the paint to harden. I don't have a tally of all the hours I spent but it is a lot of work, especially if you want to grind down smooth all the welds on the front.

 

[crx7]

Built the same bumper not too long ago. I bought the bull bars, but I'm not liking the angry eyes. I might raise the center bar so that the eyes aren't angry.

I notched a hole for the evap cannister and plan to make a guard around it. Some day I'll move it.

 

[WCBlueSky]

Final product, I like it:

I like that it doesn't stick out very far but can still fit a winch:

 

[WCBlueSky]

For the multiple feet of weld bead I had to grind off, these are expensive but so worth it. Thanks to @Pin_Head for the tip: 4.5 inch grinding wheels - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/4-5-inch-grinding-wheels.1220567/

They have sharp triangular-shaped grains that remove material faster. I'm never going back to a regular grinding disk. I used these then cleaned up with a 80 grit flap disk. Worked great.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

For anyone who want's to tackle this, a couple points as I just finished:

- Not a fan of those cubitron disks, I tried them out based on the above req... I still prefer Type 29 flap discs...i used 40 grit then another pass with 80 grit flap disc. If I had finer I probably would have hit it. Those cubitrons are too aggressive more me and are very unforgiving.
- I cut out a notch for the AC dryer. If it ever get's smashed I'll relocate it.
- I didn't angle the wings down much at all, just chucked the wing top plate up in the vice and did some grinding with the flap discs to up up the curve enough to clear the fender mounting tab. It was a slight enough down angle that I didn't need to grind any other plates to fit.
- I needed to open up the slotted holes on the winch plate about 1/16" on each side to get it to bolt to the frame
- Bevel the mating edges of the shallow mounting plates more than half way through the thickness and in more places than the instructions suggest

Dog approved:

AC Dryer Notch:

Wing grinding, note the mark that roughly traced the fender tab. Both wings are clamped together here:

I gave it more clearance than this picture shows, but you get the idea:

 

[WCBlueSky]

Not a fan of those cubitron disks, I tried them out based on the above req

I used Cubitron for knocking down several feet of weld beads (left a little of the weld bead sticking up), then an 80 grit flap disk for the final work. Worked great for me Obviously you can't use Cubitron for finish work.

 

[Somebodyelse5]

I used Cubitron for knocking down several feet of weld beads (left a little of the weld bead sticking up), then an 80 grit flap disk for the final work. Worked great for me Obviously you can't use Cubitron for finish work.

Maybe i’m just a flap disk guy…. Or i’m used to the conical disc… but to each their own. No wrong way if it works

 

[WCBlueSky]

Took the rig to Moab, did Golden Spike and scraped the front bumper on rocks It did well, my only complaint is I wish the front was a little more beveled here:

 

[corporatecruzr]

What winch did you guys go with to fit with this bumper?