YELLAHEEP
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Littleton, Colorado
It was time. The old Pierce 10,000 lb tow truck winch needed to go. I found a good deal on a Warn HS9500i to take it's place, but couldn't afford a new bumper to go with it..... so DJ (91 Jeep Project) came over at the last minute and we tore into it.
Off with the old: I figure the old set up weighed around 200+ lbs. The bumper and the winch cradle is made from 1/4" with some 1/2" bracing around the mounting locations. The winch itself I figure weighs 90+ lbs (more with steel cable, but it has synthetic.) Would you beleve that entire monstrosity was being held on with 7/16" bolts thru the FACTORY bumper mounting holes!
I did a thorough check after removing it for cracks or tears.... not a one to be found. Amazing considering the past few nasty nose-up hard winch pulls it's seen.
The first major cut: Torching off the top half of the cradle with all the steel. The front was literally 3/4" thick! (The bars were used to mount my hi-lift across the front.)
Here's the start of the re-birth: I'll be welding in a traditional winch mounting plate in the old opening with some bracing and losing the diamond plate top panels.
Here's two afternoon's worth of work: This is with the winch plate welded in, angled panels on the ends, and the diamond plate removed.
The back: DJ had the idea to make some additional mounts that will attach the bumper to the front cross member below the radiator.
The side:
And here it is mounted to check for clearances: Gonna need to dimple the side of the new angled piece to allow the winch motor to sit in without touching on the left.
Profile: Kinda blurry, but I moved the entire bumper back about 5" with much improved approach angle.
Awful lot of work there. All that's left is to finish grind/sand the exterior visible welds, then get some flat steel panels to replace the diamond plate ones. Eventually, I'll angle up the sides and make corners to go under the front fender corners like this:
Many thanks to DJ for helping out the past two afternoons! He's a wizard with the angle grinder/cutting wheel! :thumbup:
The front of the Heep lifted a little over 1 1/2" with the bumper removed. I suppose I shaved 80+ lbs off the old set up. It'll be interesting to see how much of the 1 1/2" goes when I bolt up the new setup.
Off with the old: I figure the old set up weighed around 200+ lbs. The bumper and the winch cradle is made from 1/4" with some 1/2" bracing around the mounting locations. The winch itself I figure weighs 90+ lbs (more with steel cable, but it has synthetic.) Would you beleve that entire monstrosity was being held on with 7/16" bolts thru the FACTORY bumper mounting holes!
I did a thorough check after removing it for cracks or tears.... not a one to be found. Amazing considering the past few nasty nose-up hard winch pulls it's seen.
The first major cut: Torching off the top half of the cradle with all the steel. The front was literally 3/4" thick! (The bars were used to mount my hi-lift across the front.)
Here's the start of the re-birth: I'll be welding in a traditional winch mounting plate in the old opening with some bracing and losing the diamond plate top panels.
Here's two afternoon's worth of work: This is with the winch plate welded in, angled panels on the ends, and the diamond plate removed.
The back: DJ had the idea to make some additional mounts that will attach the bumper to the front cross member below the radiator.
The side:
And here it is mounted to check for clearances: Gonna need to dimple the side of the new angled piece to allow the winch motor to sit in without touching on the left.
Profile: Kinda blurry, but I moved the entire bumper back about 5" with much improved approach angle.
Awful lot of work there. All that's left is to finish grind/sand the exterior visible welds, then get some flat steel panels to replace the diamond plate ones. Eventually, I'll angle up the sides and make corners to go under the front fender corners like this:
Many thanks to DJ for helping out the past two afternoons! He's a wizard with the angle grinder/cutting wheel! :thumbup:
The front of the Heep lifted a little over 1 1/2" with the bumper removed. I suppose I shaved 80+ lbs off the old set up. It'll be interesting to see how much of the 1 1/2" goes when I bolt up the new setup.
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