Nikson's '01 XJ Build

[Nikson]

Front Bumper...

Here we go...

For about $50 you can get a piece of a 3/16th 2x6 steel beam in the width of an XJ. I've ended up buying it in a larger quantity, since we had to build total of 4 bumpers...

Basic ideas was to give a good "pushy" type look to protect yourself in an event of collision with another subject, weather its another car / light pole / rock / tree stump, or a larger size "wildlife".

Hitch receiver was also incorporated in order to be able to use winch front / rear. This has been a proven route, since this isnt the "first" bumper I've build in this exact way.

IDEA OF THE "ANGLE" ON THE SIDES...

"V-CUT" on the back side, to give it a little SHAPE
dont like the look of just flat-straight beam.

ABOUT LIKE THIS?

A LITTLE EXCITED

FRAME BRACKETS (1/4") WELDED along with V-CUT

ENDS WELDED / GRINDED / SHINY

ALMOST FINISHED

 

[Nikson]

Front Bumper... - Receiver & D-Rings

RECEIVER...

Cut out the middle-bottom portion, cut to fit (length) on the receiver square tubing & weld it in place...

ADDED some D-RINGS

 

[baca327]

So its a magnet more so than a filter? Thats kind of interesting. I can see that if you have tiny little microscopic particles of metal how that would keep it from recirculating, but at the same time it seems like one of those gimmicks that is guaranteed to give you 1000mpg or something.

Every time you run your engine you actually do have microscopic pieces of metal going through your oil. Actually to be more precise its bearing wear and those metals release acidic properties into your oil as they wear, thus changing oil every 3,000 miles. Bearing wear is always happening and some oils fight that acid breakdown better than others. So yes in theory it makes alot of mechanical sense by isolating those small particles in this filter instead of them being run through the engine and breaking down as they run through your engine. I have not researched this product and I dont know what it claims but makes sense to me. Every seen those magnets the sell to put on the exterior of your oil filter same concept just much more refined than those older magnets on the oil filter design.

And by the way Nikson sweet bumper keep up the good work..

 

[SWbySWesty]

Definitely a neat bumper build! I wish I had those fab skills!

 

[Nikson]

Every time you run your engine you actually do have microscopic pieces of metal going through your oil. Actually to be more precise its bearing wear and those metals release acidic properties into your oil as they wear, thus changing oil every 3,000 miles. Bearing wear is always happening and some oils fight that acid breakdown better than others. So yes in theory it makes alot of mechanical sense by isolating those small particles in this filter instead of them being run through the engine and breaking down as they run through your engine. I have not researched this product and I dont know what it claims but makes sense to me. Every seen those magnets the sell to put on the exterior of your oil filter same concept just much more refined than those older magnets on the oil filter design.

And by the way Nikson sweet bumper keep up the good work..

Thanks for a lesson in chemistry I guess... I've never thought about it that way, but as you said it... just makes sense...

If I remember correct, most of the transmission pans have a magnet on their bottom to collect "chunks & pieces" from entering transmission again... so here it would be alike process...

Bumpers are on and working perfect... more build pics coming as soon as we get some more time for that...

 

[Nikson]

Definitely a neat bumper build! I wish I had those fab skills!

Well, I figured I want to keep it simple and inexpensive...

In reality, both front/rear bumpers could be modified to be used as air tanks (do plan for that in the future), they are very sturdy & not TOOO heavy.

Building such things isn't difficult at all, just have to figure what you want and just play with the metal... but yes... in order to do that, got to have the right tools, which can get somewhat spendy...

 

[baca327]

I am slowly "gathering" info on how to make my own SNORKEL, since I've already acquired the HEAD unit from Safari Snorkel, need to make the elbow part now...

I cant wait to see this, you have some good fab skills and it seems like you dont like half-a** work on your rig..

 

[Nikson]

I cant wait to see this, you have some good fab skills and it seems like you dont like half-a** work on your rig..

Well, definitely want to stay away from that obvious "HOME BREW" look... (but thats my personal opinion) :ylsmoke:

 

[baca327]

Well, definitely want to stay away from that obvious "HOME BREW" look... (but thats my personal opinion) :ylsmoke:

Agreed.. Some take the form follows function thing to extremes. Are you think a cowl style or out the fender?

 

[Black Dog]

Well, definitely want to stay away from that obvious "HOME BREW" look... (but thats my personal opinion) :ylsmoke:

Agreed.. Some take the form follows function thing to extremes. Are you think a cowl style or out the fender?

That does bring a warm sense of satisfaction when someone looks at something you made and asks where they can buy one and you get to tell them its a one off custom found nowhere else.

 

[Nikson]

That does bring a warm sense of satisfaction when someone looks at something you made and asks where they can buy one and you get to tell them its a one off custom found nowhere else.

i guess that the whole idea behind this build... :wings::ylsmoke:

 

[Nikson]

Agreed.. Some take the form follows function thing to extremes. Are you think a cowl style or out the fender?

Havent decided on that yet...

For me one thing is important... Cant have things sticking out (as in my opinion Safari one does)... would rip off too easy while going to some brush on abandoned roads, etc.

Considering to do something out the passenger side upper area of the heater opening...

 

[Nikson]

Winch setup

shall we continue???

Decision.

I believe this is one of the bigger deals during the setup of any off-road vehicle. How to mount it, how it will be used, and what it will be used for. For my personal situation it was a simple " I NEED WINCH " ... Didnt really like the idea of being stuck somewhere in the middle of the woods either in the snow or else, and not have any means of getting myself out, other then a Hi-Jack & a shovel.

Once that was out of the way, i've decided that winch needed to be reasonably priced as well as not an "overkill" in LB. rating. XJ loaded with some of the gear, averages about 4500lbs, thus a 6000 lbs winch would really probably be enough for the occasional "yank" here and there, in hard times a SNATCH BLOCK can be used to ease the process...

With that said, prices differences between a 6000 & 8000 lbs winch isnt that great, so my choice was made on a WARN M8000, which still was in that perfect LB rating considering weight of the XJ, since I had expected that my winch would get used more then "average" one.
(for the record, in less then a year on my XJ, i've used it close to 100 times)

Location.

Winch is usually mounted on the front bumper and is used to winch a truck forward direction, or used to pull another vehicle out of a ditch or similar. In my case, I didnt have too many plans to pull others, since where I go, usually I am the only one there, so had to plan ahead.

Stationary front mount didnt seems to be too promising for me, so decision was made to make it mount on a receiver plate, so it can be used both front/rear as needed. To this day I am happy with that decision, being that I've winched myself out from the rear probably more then from the front...
----------------------------
Now that you know the story and understand whats going on... come pictures of what/how it was done.

NEW OUT OF THE BOX

CONTROL BOX MOUNT

SWITCH/ELECTRICAL FOR REAR BATTERY & QUICK DISCO

SETUP

Took a regular winch plate, cut it in length, bracketed the handles and here is the result. Ran wires from the REDTOP to the front (grill removed) and setup quick disconnect plugs (very easy plug-ins)

FINISHED CLEAN LOOK

JOB WELL DONE w/minor left overs...

 

[StumpXJ]

LOL... that reminds me of when I put on my lift. I did the front sectio first, and sent the manufacturer an email as a joke. I told them I was very unhappy (I let em have it...) with their product, because after installation my Jeep had a severe 'lean' to the rear, and that it was no longer sitting level like I expected it to. They got a good laugh out of it.

These are the pics I sent them.

Nice looking rig for sure, and a heck of a score. I picked mine up at auction as well, but it is a '96 and had 130,000 on it. Got it for $1200.00

 

[Nikson]

LOL... that reminds me of when I put on my lift. I did the front sectio first, and sent the manufacturer an email as a joke. I told them I was very unhappy (I let em have it...) with their product, because after installation my Jeep had a severe 'lean' to the rear, and that it was no longer sitting level like I expected it to. They got a good laugh out of it.

These are the pics I sent them.

Nice looking rig for sure, and a heck of a score. I picked mine up at auction as well, but it is a '96 and had 130,000 on it. Got it for $1200.00

These are true "KODAC" moments (taken with Panasonic)

Yeah, did give it a bit of a "wrong" feeling when you drive it, dont it?

FYI, I've had a picture of your rig on my office wall for some time now,,, got to have someone to look up too... and set your goals high(-er)