SquareD Part 6 Bumpers, Winches, wiring, lights, assembly

[Flyin6]

Then the seat was bolted back in

[Flyin6]

The transfer case shifter was bolted back in , then I cut out the old factory boot and glued in a new leather one. I'll let this all set up tonight then screw it in tomorrow

[Flyin6]

And that boyz and girlies got me to a bit past 2000 and ended build day #250

[JR]

Another good day.

Those are some pretty bad pictures, I just use my phone. Maybe red dog had it.

Must be a reflection but the hood looks OD here.

[Flyin6]

Another good day.

Those are some pretty bad pictures, I just use my phone. Maybe red dog had it.

Must be a reflection but the hood looks OD here.

I sprayed some break-free on that cable (And the camera lens without knowing). Then you know when you get the flow of the day moving...Well that happened and as I pushed to get it done by COB, I never checked the camera...won't happen again.

[Nate]

so the end result was m2/d3?

[moto123]

I am confused by the return of the bench seat.  I thought that was planned to be installed in the bed facing rearward?  Did you really hate the "racing" style seats that much?

[Flyin6]

I am confused by the return of the bench seat.  I thought that was planned to be installed in the bed facing rearward?  Did you really hate the "racing" style seats that much?

Yes, I did not like the racing seats. I couldn't get in the truck because of the leg bolsters and steering wheel interference. Next the rib bolsters are small, for some girly Honda driving man, not a full sized creatine enhanced guy like me. Then the angles were all goofy.

I'll retask them somewhere. And this project evolves...After I put the bench in the bed, I then decided, derrrr!, I need space for extra fuel!

Anyway, I'm happy now, the truck seems to like the arrangement as well!

[Flyin6]

so the end result was m2/d3?

Yup

[BobbyB]

I'll retask them somewhere.

Acquire the XJ you saw, remove all interior, make it quiet, reinstall and you could place the racing seats in the rear instead of the bench.

[EL TATE]

I am confused by the return of the bench seat.  I thought that was planned to be installed in the bed facing rearward?  Did you really hate the "racing" style seats that much?

Yes, I did not like the racing seats. I couldn't get in the truck because of the leg bolsters and steering wheel interference. Next the rib bolsters are small, for some girly Honda driving man, not a full sized creatine enhanced guy like me. Then the angles were all goofy.

I'll retask them somewhere. And this project evolves...After I put the bench in the bed, I then decided, derrrr!, I need space for extra fuel!

Anyway, I'm happy now, the truck seems to like the arrangement as well!

Put Recaro seats out of a VW GTI in the wagoneer and hated them every day after. Good call on retaining the bench.

[OldKooT]

A little known fact about Dodge pickups. The LE series seats are firmer than standard pickup seats. The Ramcharger buckets fit nicely in a pickup, the Ramcharger and the vans of similar vintage use the same seats. I always prefer the LE pickup seats personally... So thumbs up on the sat choice LoL

[Flyin6]

Positive comments on the seats...and I was talking to the truck today, in private, mind you, and it liked the switch back to old school as well!

So today, I would have moved to start the engine, but I am waiting on that TV cable, need to rework something weird something with the gas pedal, get the linkage bushings and some brakes werkin'

With all that, I said to heck with it, I want to do something fun!

So I did

Before we get into all that business, here's that neato leather transfer case boot I glued up

[Flyin6]

Looks like the last pic, but this time, it's dry

Moving on, we are going to get some more stuff off the floor and properly stored on the truck somewhere. Since I tripped over the 12K winch chasing after the ranger dog, that has to move

I plan to set the new bumper mount as deep into the frame pocket as I can

[Flyin6]

And build it so it protrudes about as far as the one on my D-Max truck does

[Flyin6]

It is a nice tucked in arrangement and not the fat lip look everyone likes so much (not me).

So starting with 1/4" wall X 4" angle, I started to cut

[Flyin6]

Now don't get all crazy on me..."Don, it's too weak...I'm scared!"  Don't be a Hawk pilot, be a man and wait to see what happens next. It will get plenty strong, heck it already is, so settle down and take a chill pill!

This first fitment shows approximately how the thing will fit, but needs to be cut in more at this point

[Flyin6]

These 2.5" sections were removed

[Flyin6]

So that it could fit like this:

[Flyin6]

In that rear corner I will be able to drill through Jims forward spring mount, the frame and the bumper mount. That will make it titanic (OOPS) strong!

I drilled the holes to match up with existing frame holes

[Flyin6]

These are 7/16" grade 8 frame bolts. They will secure the contraption to the other contraption

[Flyin6]

And yes, I welded the nuts to the new bumper arms

[Flyin6]

Next up, I mocked up the winch on a piece of .250 plate steel

[Flyin6]

And started to cut with the plasma light saber!

[Flyin6]

Then I ended up with this:

[Flyin6]

Then the winch mounting holes went in. It is a standard 10" X 4"

[Flyin6]

Mocked up on the bumper mounts:

[Flyin6]

Then it got skip-welded to the mounts

[Flyin6]

And here is the winch mocked up for some more panel creatin' and fittin'

[Flyin6]

That's all she wrote but aien't no fat lady singin' so the show is not over...just an intermission.

Had to make time for a dad/son project. We built a picnic table for the farm and plan to take it down there in the morrow to improve out fighting position there as well.

So ended build day 251...

[Pulley]

I was always told when cutting angle you should have the corner pointing up so your blade is cutting the least amount of material possible. Just some food for thought. Very curious how the bumper will come out. :)

[Flyin6]

I was always told when cutting angle you should have the corner pointing up so your blade is cutting the least amount of material possible. Just some food for thought. Very curious how the bumper will come out. :)

Ah heck...got that wrong as well!

I'm just figuring this out as I go

[cudakidd53]

Looking good Don- gotta ask, WHAT is a TV cable ?  At first I thought you were putting in a monitor system with HBO as an option; then I was thinking Transmission Variation and I'm still "scratching" my knoggin'  :P

[Flyin6]

Looking good Don- gotta ask, WHAT is a TV cable ?  At first I thought you were putting in a monitor system with HBO as an option; then I was thinking Transmission Variation and I'm still "scratching" my knoggin'  :P

Throttle valve
Old school transmixers detect throttle pressure through mechanical means, that being a cable that told the transmission more or less, how much pedal was being applied. It is the thing that caused the trans to downshift into passing gear amongst other things.

[cudakidd53]

Duhhh, know I remember.......damn electronic pedals remove that "feel" when that was about to happen in my old school memory bank.

[JR]

Nice start the Don. Can't wait to see the final shape.

[cudakidd53]

That's all she wrote but aien't no fat lady singin' so the show is not over...just an intermission.

Had to make time for a dad/son project. We built a picnic table for the farm and plan to take it down there in the morrow to improve out fighting position there as well.

So ended build day 251...

Heavenly Father, please bless Don and his sons with a beautiful day together sharing in your creation as they travel to and from and while working on the farm.

Amen

(Someone might offer up a prayer to protect the tools from the brush hog)  ;)

[TexasRedNeck]

We built a picnic table for the farm and plan to take it down there in the morrow to improve out fighting position there as well.

I'd sure like to know how a picnic table improves your fighting position. 

It must be one helluva table to provide cover and not just concealment..

[KensAuto]

It might be made from 1/2" plate with 3 sides for cover. He didn't say anything about using wood!

[Flyin6]

That's all she wrote but aien't no fat lady singin' so the show is not over...just an intermission.

Had to make time for a dad/son project. We built a picnic table for the farm and plan to take it down there in the morrow to improve out fighting position there as well.

So ended build day 251...

Heavenly Father, please bless Don and his sons with a beautiful day together sharing in your creation as they travel to and from and while working on the farm.

Amen

(Someone might offer up a prayer to protect the tools from the brush hog)  ;)

Thanks my friend

We were protected and the tools are all accounted for. But like always the farm claimed it's fair share. Check out this chunk out of the Toyo that the farm "Road" took from me:

[Flyin6]

We built a picnic table for the farm and plan to take it down there in the morrow to improve out fighting position there as well.

I'd sure like to know how a picnic table improves your fighting position. 

It must be one helluva table to provide cover and not just concealment..

Don't know if it does, but it is a psychological victory to push back at the wild and start to establish a bit of you in the midst of all that

[Flyin6]

Nice start the Don. Can't wait to see the final shape.

Something like this:

I like wood. You can grow replacement bumper parts, or use it for emergency heat!

[TexasRedNeck]

Here's what you need Don.  Buddy of mine bought these for his Unimog.

43inch tires on 20 inch wheels directly off an MRAP

[JR]

Nice start the Don. Can't wait to see the final shape.

Something like this:

I like wood. You can grow replacement bumper parts, or use it for emergency heat!

Thats perfect Don, looks just like the WarWagon hense materials.

That is just a flesh wound on those tires.

[Flyin6]

Here's what you need Don.  Buddy of mine bought these for his Unimog.

43inch tires on 20 inch wheels directly off an MRAP

Charles, that there is a whole lot of tire

Remember I am looking at a LMTV myself...if it weren't for fixin' up farms, I'd be driving it down there

[TexasRedNeck]

I see an online auction for LMTVs starting @4750  what do you think they sell for?

[Flyin6]

I see an online auction for LMTVs starting @4750  what do you think they sell for?

My best guess places their prices between 8K-15K with a few less and one or two more.
Most folks want to sell theirs for 25K-$29,995, and I think they want 10K profit and expect to be talked down 5K ish...

I have an opportunity on one at 15K at the moment. If it were not for the farm, I'd own it.

[TexasRedNeck]

check out IronPlanet, they have about 35 up for auction right now.  Some at Ft Knox and some at Bragg.  I think your estimate is spot on.

I don't know much about parts availability since Stewart and Stevenson in Sealy lost the contract to the WI company whos name escapes me.  Power train seems pretty straightforward.

Are parts readily available?

[Flyin6]

check out IronPlanet, they have about 35 up for auction right now.  Some at Ft Knox and some at Bragg.  I think your estimate is spot on.

I don't know much about parts availability since Stewart and Stevenson in Sealy lost the contract to the WI company whos name escapes me.  Power train seems pretty straightforward.

Are parts readily available?

Parts are more or less universal except for the unique mil stuff. Automotively, though stuff is out there

Oskosh builds them now me thinks

Powertrain is common except for axles. That's somewhat unique. No one uses big 2:1 portal axles anywhere except for the boyz in green

You can get the engine serviced or even turned up at your friendly cat dealer

[duramaxdarren]

don. trying to catch up with everyone and everyone. been soooo busy with the girls and work. just bought our first house in a great neighborhood for the girls. safe for playin the street and our cars and whatnot. lotta projects around the house to do and makin the barbie jeep a true survival machine for allie is on my short list. just wired the house with full internet access and surviellance cameras. anyway i dont want derail the thread anymore but thought id just say hi and square d is looking macho grande!