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View Full Version : Me New bumper support / Radiator X-member (Dail -up be ware)



Kraqa
11-19-2004, 02:24 AM
well i built my bumper a year or so ago and never built a backing plate for the mountign system to sandwich the frame rails. so i decided to do it do it today and while i was at it i made a new "high clearance" x-member.

Formed 1/4" plate with 1x2x.125 wall hss for the cross section.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Kraqa/Rad%20x-mem/100_0966.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Kraqa/Rad%20x-mem/100_0967.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Kraqa/Rad%20x-mem/100_0968.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Kraqa/Rad%20x-mem/100_0969.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Kraqa/Rad%20x-mem/100_0970.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Kraqa/Rad%20x-mem/100_0971.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Kraqa/Rad%20x-mem/100_0972.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Kraqa/Rad%20x-mem/100_0973.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Kraqa/Rad%20x-mem/100_0974.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v280/Kraqa/Rad%20x-mem/100_0975.jpg


let me know what you think. i gained 3/4" of clearance. not really a high clearance x-member but it is alot stonger then the stock one and it does provide a nice sandwich plate for the bumer mounts. plus it ties the bumper in to the side and bottom of the frame rail. and when it come time for the cage it will make for a nice moutning part once i convert this bumper....chalupa style.

OverkillZJ
11-19-2004, 04:07 AM
Looks good, but broadband = death too!

Might be easier for peeps to read if you shrank the pics a little; as is even I (runnong 19" LCD at 1280x1024) have to scroll back and forth to see the whole pic :)

Kraqa
11-19-2004, 12:08 PM
ya well. hmmmm i really don't feel like shrinking it right now. i'm at work maybe on my lunch break. i don't think this will be a very popular thread, so it wont be around a while but i'l try to shrink em in a bit.

JeepinHank
11-19-2004, 12:38 PM
I think it looks really good.

Any plans for shackle / clevis mounts, or is that taken care of on the bumper?

msvance
11-19-2004, 12:43 PM
how does the bumper mount? I just finished my x-member and am finishing up my bumper. I used tube that slides in to the "frame rails" ~6" that I intended on running bolts all the way through to the other side. wasn't sure if I should plate the outer part like you did as well..

Cue-Ball
11-19-2004, 01:22 PM
As usuall Kraqa excellent job.

JeepinHank
11-19-2004, 01:32 PM
how does the bumper mount? I just finished my x-member and am finishing up my bumper. I used tube that slides in to the "frame rails" ~6" that I intended on running bolts all the way through to the other side. wasn't sure if I should plate the outer part like you did as well..

If I'm not mistaken, Kraqa's bumper mounts the same way mine does. The four bolts that run through each side secure the bumper as well.

Definitely plate the outer part. If not, you'll run the risk of the holes elongating during a heavy pull. Just a small square of steel would do it. I wouldn't even think it had to be 1/4", 1/8" would probably be adequate. You're not really trying to beef the frame rail, you're just adding additional clamping force, which will help keep everything tight and in place.

bigrubbers4x4
11-19-2004, 02:07 PM
man does that look good, i guess i will have to build one now. how about some dimensions on that thing.

one question though, are you going to protect that part of your radiator that is sticking out there with something, like some steel screen from your bumper to the crossmember, or something just for protection? so no chance of anything getting in there. you probaly wheel out there in the desert conditions where nothing would get in there. here in Pa we have to look out for open spots like that or we will end up with a puntured radiator, lots of trees and sticks out on the trails.

Kraqa
11-19-2004, 03:08 PM
jeepin hank hit the nail on the head with that one.

and big rubbers,

well there is zero desert up here its a;ll stumps and logs and yes i will be attatching somthing for protection.

msvance
11-22-2004, 11:23 AM
kraqa/JH - do your bolts run all the way through the "frame" or just through the outside part? If not, why not run them all the way through? Also, any harm having the bolt "free" inside the frame i.e. not running a piece of tube inside there to "sleeve" the bolt??? thanks.

MaineZJ
11-22-2004, 11:37 AM
http://cc.vtc.edu/~mgauley/start/

There you can see the diamond plate I use to protect my radiator. I have not seen any changes in cooling since I added it.

JeepinHank
11-22-2004, 03:15 PM
kraqa/JH - do your bolts run all the way through the "frame" or just through the outside part? If not, why not run them all the way through? Also, any harm having the bolt "free" inside the frame i.e. not running a piece of tube inside there to "sleeve" the bolt??? thanks.

Mine is through the outside only. The reason I didn't make mine pass all the way through is, as you said - You would need to sleeve the frame rail with a piece of tubing so you don't crush it when tightening. Getting a piece of tubing to fit in there with the bumper mount would be kinda tricky IMO. Also, I was a little worried about clearance issues. It may or may not have been a problem, but I didn't feel like taking a chance. For my mounts, I used 2x4x.25 box tubing cut diagonally to make two pieces of 2x4 angle. I ended up using three of the 4 bolts on each side (it was a little too short for the fourth, top most bolt) and then two from the bottom of the frame rail up. Welding a nut to the bumper mount seemed to be the easiest solution at the time.

HTH

Hank

msvance
11-22-2004, 04:57 PM
I actually used 2x4 1/4" tube that I just cut the "bottom" off to clearance the nuts that are inside of the "frame rail" on the bottom. I was thinking the tube should prevent "crushing the frame" like you mention, however, that was my plan before I had to cut the bottom of the tube off, which defiitely lost some of its rigidity. Welding a nut on to the plate will probably be the easiest....

Kraqa
11-23-2004, 01:19 AM
sorry abotu the delay. i used 1/2" flat bar and welded nuts onto the back side then the flat bar go's inside the frame rails. no need for it to go althe way through tthe frame, that would only be extra work.