Build Unicorns are real... My dream car FJ73 build

[2fpower]

Did you already pick up ARB's? We can definitely match up the ones you need. If the limited slip is the factory Toyota unit, non-issue, the ARB will fully replace that carrier in the 3rd member.

Thanks for the post. I have tabled the lockers for now, actually, I have on my list to call you guys to get the lift figured out. In the initial discussions last year, I was asked to get weights on old engine and new.... I have had no luck in finding a weight on the old 2.5 motor, so my plan was to weigh it when removed then call you to start building the plan on the springs.

 

[2fpower]

motor mounts ordered... ruffstuff

reference

97 LX gets a v8 and more!

Gutting the LX..... For the goodies! :) Cheers

forum.ih8mud.com

see #73 post.

 

[SNLC]

motor mounts ordered... ruffstuff

reference

97 LX gets a v8 and more!

Gutting the LX..... For the goodies! :) Cheers

forum.ih8mud.com

see #73 post.

Cheers

 

[2fpower]

Pulled off the front bumper and started fabricating one....

 

[2fpower]

Fabricated the tow point and got the wings added. Now to figure out what to do about the winch and where to put the round lights on the side

 

[robmobile73]

Great looking work, especially all the smooth cuts. You might consider one thing If you are designing as you go. If you get stuck in the mud and can't find anything to winch too so you have to put a high lift jack under the bumper to jack up and put material under the tires to get out... Can you put a jack under the bumper and jack the vehicle up? There are many ways to accomplish this, but if you don't have a flat surface under the bumper you have to get creative.

 

[2fpower]

Good point. I will have sliders on this, so I typically use those to lift, and then the tow points would be good lift points with a sling.

Next up on the design is see how low I can mount the winch behind the bumper, I like the designs where the middle section drops down some and have a bar also, somewhat like this one.

 

[2fpower]

Current thought of lower holes.

Trying to decide if I like the two round lights or the LED bar option, or both

 

[Gun Runner 5]

I found that by mounting the lights in the outer wings, some of the light was directed towards the side of the road. My goal here was to see Bambi at a distance before I saw him up close and personal.

 

[2fpower]

Thought

 

[Zjohnsonua]

That revision looks sharp.

 

[Honger]

Man, what a cool bumper... loving where you are taking this.

 

[Loober]

@2fpower I built the one with the light bar in the middle. I deliberated long and hard on how to make it winch compatible without having it stick out a foot, and also placing lights such that it did not impede air flow. It had an ARB bumper previously, working on the engine from the front was very hard and awkward due to how far it stick out, as we all know, that is non an infrequent event with these vehicles. The cooling surface is already limited, so I was also adverse to make that any less. So i settled on that, with the biggest compromise of eliminating the winch.

Not having a winch is not ideal, I banked that my intended use of the truck would not put me in situations where I needed a winch. To this day I have yet to be in that situation, but I do wish it had one for piece of mind. I am contemplating about modifying the bumper, including cutting into the stock cross tube to allow the winch to be set back into the frame., and retain the sleek profile, we'll see.

I like where yours is going too, interested to see how it turns out.

 

[2fpower]

@2fpower I built the one with the light bar in the middle. I deliberated long and hard on how to make it winch compatible without having it stick out a foot, and also placing lights such that it did not impede air flow. It had an ARB bumper previously, working on the engine from the front was very hard and awkward due to how far it stick out, as we all know, that is non an infrequent event with these vehicles. The cooling surface is already limited, so I was also adverse to make that any less. So i settled on that, with the biggest compromise of eliminating the winch.

Not having a winch is not ideal, I banked that my intended use of the truck would not put me in situations where I needed a winch. To this day I have yet to be in that situation, but I do wish it had one for piece of mind. I am contemplating about modifying the bumper, including cutting into the stock cross tube to allow the winch to be set back into the frame., and retain the sleek profile, we'll see.

I like where yours is going too, interested to see how it turns out.

You built a great looking bumper there. The LED bar has been difficult to design for, especially with that area dedicated to the winch. I think I am back to scrapping the bar and using the round lights. Really looks more appropriate to the vehicle.

I bought a HF 12k winch, that I will drop in tonight to see how low it would fit. I might go back and get a 9k winch to see how much lower/tighter it can go.

 

[Loober]

Is that truck 12v? if so there are a lot of options for small compact winches in 12v that will tuck in well, mine is 24v so really the only option is the Comeup, which is bulky.

 

[robmobile73]

One of the coolest things about doing it yourself is you can take styling cues from others, but do your own thing and have something truly unique and probably stronger than what you buy.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

I can't imagine you would need a 12k pull winch. Agree with the notion to go with a 9k...or even just a Warn M8000. They are fairly compact.

 

[robmobile73]

Is that truck 12v? if so there are a lot of options for small compact winches in 12v that will tuck in well, mine is 24v so really the only option is the Comeup, which is bulky.

My BJ73 is 24V. After alot of searching and research I found quite a few people running 12V winches on 24V with no issue provided they didn't run them continuously for long hard pulls.( a little at a time). I didn't hear of anyone having a 12V winch burn up on 24. 24V options are less numerous. I got a Ramsey 13000 on amazon as it was less than $40 more than a 9K. I've had a few simple uses with no issue. It has wireless bluetooth remotes as well as a hardwire trigger remote. 24V did not burn up the wireless control module.

 

[2fpower]

Is that truck 12v? if so there are a lot of options for small compact winches in 12v that will tuck in well, mine is 24v so really the only option is the Comeup, which is bulky.

Yes, 12V; however, I measured 9v and 12V and the main case were identical, which is the width of the unit. There may be smaller ones out there, but I will design it with a 12k winch.

I can't imagine you would need a 12k pull winch. Agree with the notion to go with a 9k...or even just a Warn M8000. They are fairly compact.

Yes, likely only need 9k to pull this out of trouble; however, I like to overkill things.

@cjmoon came by last night to help with the design, and it looks like the winch can go down about an inch lower than I planned, so that will lower the fairlead and allow me to drop the front edge more.

@cjmoon fabricates parts for 80 series and 100 series, so he took deminsions of this to consider producing.

 

[2fpower]

Had some time in the shop last night. I was able to drop the winch 1" lower and thus lower the fairlead as well. I really like the drop of the center section. It is the same angle degree as the other angles on the bumper, so really fits well in the design. I need to cut out the light holes on the side and add some holes for mounting lights, and then ready to weld up.