front tube bumper done! oh, almost.....

[2ndGen]

i've always been a fan of tube bumpers, amoung all the designs with in my price range, i liked the one from Big Rocks Off Road, but too bad they folded earlier this year.

so i bought a cheap pre-runner light bar on craig's list, which deisgned to be mounted on top of factory bumper, chopped off the mounts, fab'd up some legs and brackets, made a new crossmember out of 1.5x3" 120 wall tubing, painted with Duplicolor bedliner.

well, 12 hard hours later, here i got these.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/IMG_0400.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/IMG00130.jpg

each side has 5 bolts, 3 on the crossmember, 2 on the side. totally 10 bolts holding the whole bumper, should be a sturdy enough. it took me less than 5 minutes to install the bumper. no mod on the frame, all the bolts were savaged from the factory bumper brackets.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/IMG_0395.jpg

crossmember: cut out from a 1.5" x 3" tubing and 3/16" plates

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/IMG_0398.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/IMG_0397.jpg

skid: bought from Mike at Downey before he was shipped out. 3/16" aluminum

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/IMG_0393.jpg

sidewing support" 1.25" .120 tubing, with turn signal light bracket,

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/IMG_0394.jpg

the light bar i bought, the side wing was too short, i welded 6 inches extra tubing to make it wrap around the corner lights.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/IMG_0396.jpg


total cost: < $150

there are few things i learned,

1.) i'm not 25 any more, my whole body from hair to toe hurt today.
2.) 110v vs. 220v welders. 220v is it, period.
3.) can-gun works, it was so much easier to spray paint with it.
4.) grinding SUCKS!! my instructor once said, the difference between "someone who can weld" and "a welder" is grinding. mig is so easy, everybody can "glue" some metal together, but a good welder left minimal or none need for grinding. guess i'm not one of them, yet.
5.) next time, i'll grab a friend, as a spotter. too much work(tack weld) was involved to get the thing lined up with the body.

[Seanz0rz]

looks great man! remember to cut those plastic splash liners in the wheel wells.

[corax]

I like it, it looks clean - but if I could make a suggestion . . . is the skid the only thing connecting the main horizontal tube to the front (besides the 2 side pieces of course)? you may want to run a tube front the crossmember up each side behind the skid to reinforce it a bit more

[2ndGen]

where do i get those flashing turn signal lights? ones like doing <<<< and >>>>

[BruceTS]

where do i get those flashing turn signal lights? ones like doing <<<< and >>>>


sequential turn signals

eBay or just do a google search....

[2ndGen]

bruce,

sorry missed your phone call this afternoon.

anyhoo, after spending a while searching for the turn signal lights, i found they are kinda expensive, ~$50+sh. but i did find then won a set of these on ebay.....he.he..

http://i1.ebayimg.com/01/i/001/01/5c/10e1_3.JPG

these 240's are gonna be way too big for the hoop. i don't like to put them on the hoop becuase they will block my front view. my question, is there a way to raise the hoop or i have to cut the hoop once for all.

[slosurfer]

these 240's are gonna be way too big for the hoop. i don't like to put them on the hoop becuase they will block my front view. my question, is there a way to raise the hoop or i have to cut the hoop once for all.


Nice! :thumbup: You won't be dissapointed. ARe the yellow and extra clear filters the combo ones like the blue one?

If you really don't want to cut your hoop, send me the 240 reflector and I'll send you my 170 reflectors. I'm sure the 170's will fit in your hoop. :hillbill:

[2ndGen]

yeah, chris, do you need these filters, too?

i do wanna ask you this, do you see a dramatic difference when you converted yours to HID? i obsessed with bright lights since i was little, but there always is this voice in the back of my head (i.e. my dad's) telling me "don't f$#% wiht the good stuff that works!!!!"

[slosurfer]

Yeah, you'll really like those combo filters especially the clear and yellow ones (I've never used the blue ones).


I can tell you that it was a huge difference between the stock 170's and the hid 170's. I'm very happy with my decision, but I totally understand the "don't mess with a good thing". On our last run (was a night run), afterwards I led the group out the 30 minutes of paved country road full of deer and other vermin. I was able to keep the speed well up because I could see so far ahead and so far to the side, the guy behind me said that he didn't even need his lights on because he could see so well.

[slosurfer]

Saw you were looking for locking nuts:

Tony, I have some of these. They won't work on my setup because I can't get a wrench in there. You're more than welcome to have mine.
http://www.rallylights.com/hella/Lamp_Mounting_Kits.asp#nuts

The M10 is the same M10 as the Hella lights, so you could use their locking nuts.
These should work: Looks like the pitch is 1.50
https://www.expeditionexchange.com/barrinut/

[2ndGen]

chris,
i got the lights today, Wow..... this sucker is huge. i think the hoop is gotta go.
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/IMG00148.jpg

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w38/tonniechengca/99%20SR5/IMG00147.jpg

i can't wait till it's dark out side to see what's this bad boy is all about, but i got an engagement party to go first tonight(sucks).

[slosurfer]

:thumbup: :laugh: I didn't realize the hoop was that small! The 170's wouldn't have even fit.

Your nuts are going out first thing in the morning. I went to the post office yesterday after work, but forgot to bring the nuts, doh! :shake: