(11/24-26/00): Worked on the Rear Double Tube Baja Bumper... Its finally ready to go to the powdercoating shop... This was one of the only parts I DIDN'T buy from www.aircooled.net, and would you believe that it was the only messed up part I got? The reason why it was messed up, is because the two upper mounts were *supposed* to be upper shock tower mounts. They looked more like firewall mounts when I got it. That was kind of o.k. though, because I liked the look of the firewall mount better anyway; BUT, the tubes weren't high enough to clear the fanshroud. Heck ya' I cut it and bent new upper tubes, and re-welded it! :-)
Here it is, once it was done (well, minus the paint...) I fabricated ALL the mounts because the ones that come in the kit are WIMPY. The lower tubes mount to the hefty bolt just outside of the tranny bolts (YES, I designed it that way). And the upper tubes mount to the firewall (using reinforced metal plates for strength). Its a pretty sturdy unit. To top it off, I welded some mounts for four (4) extra tail lights (which will act as marker/brake lights only)- - Just for 'looks' :-) Makes it look really beefy!
Just another shot of the same thing (see the small drip of oil on the ground?? That's my annoying oil pump leak that I need to fix in the next few days...) Oh, I forgot to mention, I had to buy scrap tubing the same thickness as the rest of the bumper (see the piece laying under the car), to make the upper tubes... I have my own pipe bender (big 12 ton unit), but I didn't have the right setup for it, so it would kinda smash the tubing when I tried to bend it.... Since I needed it done quick, I took it to a muffler shop, and for like $5 they bent several for me :-)
And yet another perspective. VROOOM!
All that's left to do on the bumper, is to take it to a local place and have it sandblasted and powdercoated gloss black! (I would blast it, but my blasting cabinet isn't big enough, and I would powdercoat it too, but I don't have that equipment... YET!)
Stay tuned for part 31!!!
