Louie4's YJ by Louie4

6 minute(s) of a 411 minute read

Few more updates that will be coming soon. Last night I drove from Griffin, across Atlanta in the F'n rain, to Duluth to pickup a brand new never out of the box Smittybilt rear bumper/tire carrier with d-ring mounts. I know they are made in China and definitely not the best out there but the price was right. Thus far I've been toting my 33" spare in the back of the jeep with a ratchet strap. It's getting real old and a nuisance when I pack my tools in for a wheelin' trip. I also have a new winch cable (5/16" x 100') coming in Monday. After that I'll only need a new shear pin for the hook. My other one sheared when I burned my winch up. Now it's back from the dead and ready to be used again.

I'll post pics later this weekend of the new rear bumper/tire carrier and winch cable once it comes in.

11-5-2011

Well time to show my stupidity.

I picked up that Smittybilt rear bumper/tire carrier. I got it for $200 from a large distribution warehouse full of Amazon overstock and eBay stuff too. The box was unopened and everything seemed legitimate and it was. I took the box and went home. It was raining and just an overall crappy night. The place was closing and the guy was really nice and loaded everything up. I guess with the time and weather I didn't bother opening the box. Well the next day I opened up the box after I got off work and only found the tirecarrier part. Everything was there but it was only the tire carrier part. I looked at the box and it was the part number for the tire carrier only. The advertisement was for the whole assembly. Now I'm thinking, "Uh oh, I'm righteously f*****". So I call the guy and told him the situation and what he advertised. I asked him what are we going to do about the situation and I could tell he really didn't want to take the part back. He asked if I could find the bumper part and he'd give me a $100. I looked it up and found the bottom bumper so I called him back and said that I wanted $125 in cash back and we'll call it even. He agreed and so I'm on my way up this morning.

Lesson learned but it could have been more expensive.

I was pretty pissed but I was glad it was resolved, but still pissed. Then I went to put my winch cable on and found that it didn't have the lug pressed on the other end. That's not a big deal because I can get the lug from O'Reilly's and press it on at work.

I'll post pics later.

11-6-2011

I spoke with Warn and a motor repair shop and determined that it wouldn't hurt to just stick the motor back on and run it till it stops. The motor technician said to just keep an eye on it when winching to keep it from over-heating again. I told him what happened and he said if the brushes and armature look good to just clean it up and stick it back on, so I did.

11-8-2011

Got my winch cable on. Now it's complete.



I was going to get my Smittybilt bumper on but found out the tapped holes on the backing plates are for M10 x 1.50. I didn't want to use the crappy bolts they gave with the kit so I went to Lowes to find some metric grade 8's but to no avail. The only place that can get them is Fastenal. Since I have the correct length grade 8 bolts in 7/16-20 I'm going to drill and tap the bumper for that size. Especially since my buddy just bought that drill and tap kit for his D44.

11-15-2011

Well once again I have ran into trouble but you get what pay for and I have no room to complain. I drilled and tapped my bumper to hold a 7/16-14 bolt. I did this because I didn't want to use the cheap metric bolts and I had a lot of 7/16 grade 8's at my disposal. I took the gas tank off and used my 3/8" thick backing plates (didn't use the ones supplied) and finally put the tire carrier on to find out its not lining up. I plan on extending the latch parts on the bumper. If any one else has an idea let me know.

11-19-2011

Well I plan on tackling the bumper Sunday and working on through the week at work where the welder is. I have an idea on how to do the latch it and I've already placed the order.

http://www.amazon.com/STA-CO-341-R-Action-Threaded-U-Bolt/dp/B0006NC6AI/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_cart_1
I also took my Solid cover off the 8.8 because it was leaking after my last rock bashing wheeling trip. So I need to fill it up and take the bumper off Sunday. The gas tank is sitting in the back of the jeep for now. Also my buddy brought me the Daystar extended bumpstops he got me for my birthday a month ago. Good thing too, I pushed on the front driver's side bumpstop and it fell off. Another thing I'm going to do is put the stockpitman arm on because the drag link is still close to the tie rod. I'll take some measurements of the pitman arm/drag link to the tie rod and extended bumpstops to the axle tube.

11-22-2011

Just a little update.

I got the 8.8 filled up, the bumper and tire carrier off, the new Daystar extended bumpstops on and the stock pitman arm back on. Here's a pic of my steering before and after. The angle on the drag link is a little steeper but I believe this will keep my drag link TRE at the pitman arm from acting as a bumpstop on the tie rod when I'm at full stuff on the driver's side.