Introduction / 98 XJ Build
- Thread starter machspeed
- Start date
chpmnsws6
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Springfield IL
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1052303&highlight=frankZ
Its a good one if your considering a winch bumper
Its a good one if your considering a winch bumper
I want to get the new bumper now, but I have been waffling for 3 days now on which bumper to pull the trigger on, so now I think I need a couple votes one way or another to help push me in the right direction.
So here are the current contenders:
JCR Stage 3 with tie in brackets $306 OTD
JCR Prerunner with tie in brackets $324 or $382 with side protection
Rigidco RbG with heavy mount system $440 shipped
Originally I was thinking Rigidco, but JCR is only 1 hour away from my parents house, so I save a bunch buying one of their bumpers because I can go get it. I also thought to buy the JCR prerunner without the side protection and then add it myself. But if I do that, then why don't I just make my own bumper from scratch.
I also finished up the steering/ alignment 100% and actually drove the Jeep for the first time in about a month (in the parking lot...) I removed the bent front bumper and relocated the vacuum ball, so now I really look like VAhasnoWaves Jeep.
So here are the current contenders:
JCR Stage 3 with tie in brackets $306 OTD
JCR Prerunner with tie in brackets $324 or $382 with side protection
Rigidco RbG with heavy mount system $440 shipped
Originally I was thinking Rigidco, but JCR is only 1 hour away from my parents house, so I save a bunch buying one of their bumpers because I can go get it. I also thought to buy the JCR prerunner without the side protection and then add it myself. But if I do that, then why don't I just make my own bumper from scratch.
I also finished up the steering/ alignment 100% and actually drove the Jeep for the first time in about a month (in the parking lot...) I removed the bent front bumper and relocated the vacuum ball, so now I really look like VAhasnoWaves Jeep.
Last edited:
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
i vote stage 3... i still cant decide if i like round tubing for a brush guard on a square bumper even after having one. it needs an extra angle or curve... it wasnt JCR but super similar. just doesnt flow to me. you COULD spend $50 at you local metal shop, have them cut and bend a few pieces of tubing and make your own rediculously big stinger. thats my vote. sorry to be difficult. haha! :viking: but i think the JCR bumper fitment is top knotch compared to the nates4x4 one i had, they look almost OEM without a brush guard.
unplug that canister, pull the hose back up through the engine bay, and it should sit nicely on the fender well behind the over flow resi and next to the AC condensor. the hose should snake around the fuse box there nicely. i even reused the screws, so no ugly zip ties.
(the name is Walt BTW)
did you keep the bumper brackets by chance?
Last edited:
That is exactly where I put the vacuum ball, it fits great back by the AC accumulator (which will probably get deleted with the ac system one day)
I am a lot more comfortable paying $300 for a bumper than I am paying $4-500, so I started to lean towards the stage 3 too. I removed the stock bumper yesterday just to get a better look at everything.
I still have the whole bumper (brackets attached) with one trimmed side cap (crap), you can have it once I get another bumper if you need it. It could probably be bent back by jumping on it a couple time too. I would like to keep it til I replace it incase I catch crap for a Jeep with no fender or bumper from my apt complex or the fuzz, after that I have no use for it.
I am a lot more comfortable paying $300 for a bumper than I am paying $4-500, so I started to lean towards the stage 3 too. I removed the stock bumper yesterday just to get a better look at everything.
I still have the whole bumper (brackets attached) with one trimmed side cap (crap), you can have it once I get another bumper if you need it. It could probably be bent back by jumping on it a couple time too. I would like to keep it til I replace it incase I catch crap for a Jeep with no fender or bumper from my apt complex or the fuzz, after that I have no use for it.
I'll never rub the fender on the left front now....
And I still have one good side, plus the back is OK too.
on the fast track to beat up and ugly. You're gonna fit right in.
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
just let me know if your going to pitch it. ill scoop it. i get a lot of belt squeaks from water splashing up and into the engine bay. the skid on the front helps a LOT from the bottom but doesnt do much for the front.
Ha ha, right. I think I might have one completely good body panel, but I would have to do a nice inspection to find which one. I have dents in all the right places, the pictures just make it look good. I have removed all the rust that was there though, with the exception of the tailgate (lost cause).
And VA, I'll get your number or give you mine sometime, you can have the bumper once I get another, which should be soon. I will probably call and order it tomorrow, I have been too busy the last few days to make the call.
And does anybody know where I can source a front skid plate (OE or equivalent) for a reasonable price?
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
how much you looking to spend on an OE skid? :wave:
only other one ive seen is rustys... or they are built right into the bumper.
only other one ive seen is rustys... or they are built right into the bumper.
I got rid of 60% of the body and still don't have a straight one. how I damaged the hood really baffles me, you'd think I would have seen that one.
Not a whole lot, why, you have one for sale or know someone who does? I honestly do not know the current going rate, so send me a price.
I want a front skid mostly for the mounting real estate it opens up for me, plus it might help keep junk out of my alternator if I leave it in the stock location.
And I do have one of my doors is blemish free I think.....and I don't really wheel, I pretty much just take the road less traveled, and seem to find myself in situations.
I have a proper alignment setup for tomorrow, so the Jeep will finally be hitting the streets once more. Then I will try to get estimates for inner fender repair afterward. If that proves to be too much $$, looks like a couple fab companies will get my money instead.
So the alignment is done, Jeep runs and drives straight as an arrow again. Body shop might get to work next week, so I hope to have that done soon now too.
Also ordered the JCR stage 3 bumper, got lucky when they had a blank in stock, and I picked it up the next day. Then I painted it while it was still kind of warm out, and finally installed it today, looks and fit great.
I know some people have had issues with them in the past, but not me. This was my second order with them, and it was even better than the first. I will be buying more parts this summer for sure, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND JCR OFFROAD, they are great.
So now on to the pic, if only I had the bumper before the wreck, I might now have even had this damage. And yes, part of my left front is still missing, but if you ask me, I just made a super awesome cold air intake. I dare anyone else to copy my design :looser:
Also ordered the JCR stage 3 bumper, got lucky when they had a blank in stock, and I picked it up the next day. Then I painted it while it was still kind of warm out, and finally installed it today, looks and fit great.
I know some people have had issues with them in the past, but not me. This was my second order with them, and it was even better than the first. I will be buying more parts this summer for sure, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND JCR OFFROAD, they are great.
So now on to the pic, if only I had the bumper before the wreck, I might now have even had this damage. And yes, part of my left front is still missing, but if you ask me, I just made a super awesome cold air intake. I dare anyone else to copy my design :looser:
Well it will finally be going to the body shop for fender and paint on Monday, so I hope to have it back in a couple weeks.
I am also getting really sick of this snow crap. I had a real dumb moment on my part yesterday. I looked an saw the Jeep was leaning to the drivers side, and I looked all over and could not find out why. I poked around all over the left side, investigated everything.
Then it dawned on me the right side tire is parted on a pile of snow and ice. The No Duh moment for the week awards goes to me.
I also bought and installed a smittybilt gear seat cover for the drivers side. As expected, it is very cool, but I do not possess the patience to make it fit well, so it is pretty much laying on the seat. Now I need to actually do the other REAL parts installs, if only the weather was warmer.
I am also getting really sick of this snow crap. I had a real dumb moment on my part yesterday. I looked an saw the Jeep was leaning to the drivers side, and I looked all over and could not find out why. I poked around all over the left side, investigated everything.
Then it dawned on me the right side tire is parted on a pile of snow and ice. The No Duh moment for the week awards goes to me.
I also bought and installed a smittybilt gear seat cover for the drivers side. As expected, it is very cool, but I do not possess the patience to make it fit well, so it is pretty much laying on the seat. Now I need to actually do the other REAL parts installs, if only the weather was warmer.
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
was looking for your jeep today. entered/exited lot 33 at 945/11 respectively. didnt catch ya there. dude when i left i was surrounded by XJs. the white one with the JCR light bar and the little blue one with lights up top and bent to shit tow hooks were next to me. have you seen these XJs?
And I am lucky, my only class on Thursdays is at 2pm, so I didn't even get up until 11. Only 50 more minutes of school until break time for me. I plan to be in town until Monday, then I need to figure out a plan for the week.
Nearly everyday I see:
Blue stocker with chrome lights
White lifted with JCR bar
Black stocker with ugly push bar/grill guard
And occasionally I see:
Maroon lifted with no flares and black steelies
There is another one or two I have seen in town that I think are students, but I have never seen them in the lots at school.
And hopefully I will be able to rejoin the society of lifted XJs when we return from break.
Nearly everyday I see:
Blue stocker with chrome lights
White lifted with JCR bar
Black stocker with ugly push bar/grill guard
And occasionally I see:
Maroon lifted with no flares and black steelies
There is another one or two I have seen in town that I think are students, but I have never seen them in the lots at school.
And hopefully I will be able to rejoin the society of lifted XJs when we return from break.
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
good deal brotha.
And I am back in business, got the Jeep back from paint and body. I am pretty sure it is faster now too, my wallet is a lot lighter than it was before :banghead:
I also upgraded to a working 99 keyless entry remote system, so hooray for working keyless entry, and an even bigger hooray to the much nicer 99+ remote.
I still need to trim the fender again, get it lined on the bottom, and get the hood fixed up again....maybe hood pins and cowl induction...??? Also need need new emblems and logo, maybe time for something custom, though I kinda dig the naked look. And you can kind of see the ZJ steering peeking out from underneath, a nice upgrade. Plus the grille is now a painted version, and not flat black like before too.
I also upgraded to a working 99 keyless entry remote system, so hooray for working keyless entry, and an even bigger hooray to the much nicer 99+ remote.
I still need to trim the fender again, get it lined on the bottom, and get the hood fixed up again....maybe hood pins and cowl induction...??? Also need need new emblems and logo, maybe time for something custom, though I kinda dig the naked look. And you can kind of see the ZJ steering peeking out from underneath, a nice upgrade. Plus the grille is now a painted version, and not flat black like before too.
VAhasnoWAVES
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake City, Mi
go naked.... eraser wheel the emblems off of the other side! should have painted the grill to match! would have look awesome i think. but still looks good. and i vote hood pins too.
XJosh95
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Green Bay, WI
I'm diggin it!
