Author Topic: Grille Guard - Installed! (Read 21000 times)

vangremlin · « **on:** September 25, 2011, 07:15:28 PM »

I kind of like the look of the grille guards that have been installed by 83Eagle and others so I've been keeping my eye open for one. There was one that popped up on Craigslist that is made for a Cherokee (I forget what year) but he was selling it cheap and I figured if it wasn't going to work for me I could always resell it. I brought it home, set it on the bumper (with cardboard protection lol) and here is what it looks like. The lower arms actually would hook right up to the facia or whatever its called right under the bumper, which has body type metal and then something a little more substantial underneath. The arms in the middle portion would hook up right under the grille - again there is some metal there, not real substantial but it would probably work. If I'm going to have this mounted for real, I would probably have somebody cut off the lower arms close to the bottom of the bumper and attach it so it goes straight back so it doesn't stick down so much. That is what it looks like 83Eagle had done to make his fit.

The lower tube will rotate so the tabs for the fog lights are horizontal and they will mount correctly.

Here are some photos:

DaemonForce · « **Reply #1 on:** September 25, 2011, 07:41:17 PM »

Great, now you can bolt in a plow and you'd be all set for winter.

eaglefreek · « **Reply #2 on:** September 25, 2011, 09:42:05 PM »

I also like the look of a grill guard, however they may do more damage then good if involved in a front end collision.

vangremlin · « **Reply #3 on:** September 25, 2011, 10:12:39 PM »

Quote from: eaglefreek on September 25, 2011, 09:42:05 PM

I also like the look of a grill guard, however they may do more damage then good if involved in a front end collision.

Yea, I plan to avoid those altogether!

Quote from: DaemonForce on September 25, 2011, 07:41:17 PM

Great, now you can bolt in a plow and you'd be all set for winter.

That would be awesome to have a lifted Eagle plow rig, but it won't be this one lol

Sunny · « **Reply #4 on:** September 25, 2011, 10:49:37 PM »

Looks good!

68AMXGOPAC · « **Reply #5 on:** September 26, 2011, 10:24:14 AM »

I have one very similar to that on the MoneyPittII - SX/4. It is rotated farther forward. The back edge of the guard sits allmost flush with the back edge of the bumper,eliminates those little add on brackets on the bottom of yours, and gives about 6" clearance between the front hood edge and the backside of the guard.There really isn't alot of framework to bolt to unless you do some serious add on brackets, but it looks cool : ).Allthough some days i want to remove it and have a cleaner look. It definetly adds to the "head turning",as it is so obviously a car, and what the heck is a brush guard doing on it.

eagle503 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 29, 2011, 12:41:39 PM »

When I got my Eagle I was told this guard came off a blazer. I removed the plastic parts from the middle recently after taking it apart to paint, I think it looks better without them.

I had a topic on different brush guards that would fit Eagles in the past, maybe it was lost in the site cleanup.

shanebo · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2011, 01:58:47 AM »

That looks sharp!

mick · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2011, 10:55:09 AM »

The finish on that looks to be in great shape, and for cheap? You didn't go wrong.

I like the look of a grill guard, they may not completely protect the front in a car/car collision, but they do help against deer. After Regalwizard left my shop, she hit a deer and her guard saved her car. After that I add headlight protection to mine.

Before it looked like the one on the Black car.

Now it looks like this, and in need of a repaint.

craigp29690 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2011, 11:47:49 AM »

Here's mine. Was from 2000+ model S-10.

Side view:

83Eagle! · « **Reply #10 on:** October 01, 2011, 01:02:01 AM »

Quote from: eaglefreek on September 25, 2011, 09:42:05 PM

I also like the look of a grill guard, however they may do more damage then good if involved in a front end collision.

Should help in a front end collision if mounted correctly. Most of the push bars and grille guards I see around here are not mounted properly. It all depends on what you hit.

I hope the pictures of how I mounted mine are hepful. I am sorry I could not be more help. My welder friend Eddie has years of experience with these and building custom Baja racers, so I trusted his judgement without question.

vangremlin · « **Reply #11 on:** October 09, 2011, 04:41:55 PM »

I went ahead and had the grille guard (or I guess this particular one is more correctly known as a push bar) installed. I went over to the welder's place last weekend and he modified it and fabbed some tabs to mount it. I ended up using the two holes for the fog lamps, and also drilled two new holes in the bottom of the C-channel on the bumper, so if I decide to remove it, there is no visual evidence. Check it out, I think it turned out really nice.

jim · « **Reply #12 on:** October 09, 2011, 04:54:29 PM »

It looks better than just real nice. That is a really fine looking Kammy and the push bar adds to it.

mudkicker715 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 09, 2011, 05:01:41 PM »

68AMXGOPAC · « **Reply #14 on:** October 09, 2011, 07:17:22 PM »

Eggcellent, looks great !! What's with the Gremlin hideing not so nonchalantly in the garage ??

83Eagle! · « **Reply #15 on:** October 10, 2011, 12:45:31 AM »

Nice work. Looks great.

shanebo · « **Reply #16 on:** October 10, 2011, 01:41:08 AM »

Wow!! that looks awesome dave! Thats some clean work there!!...By the way, love the Gremlin!

rollguy · « **Reply #17 on:** October 10, 2011, 10:58:21 AM »

Quote from: jim on October 09, 2011, 04:54:29 PM

It looks better than just real nice. That is a really fine looking Kammy and the push bar adds to it.

X2 eggs to you!

Mavericke · « **Reply #18 on:** October 10, 2011, 11:55:06 AM »

Very cool Van! I love your fabbing work!

rohnk · « **Reply #19 on:** October 10, 2011, 12:58:45 PM »

Can we get a couple of pics of the underside where you fabbed the mounts? I'd love to get something like this made someday.

vangremlin · « **Reply #20 on:** October 12, 2011, 12:32:18 AM »

Quote from: 68AMXGOPAC on October 09, 2011, 07:17:22 PM

Eggcellent, looks great !! What's with the Gremlin hideing not so nonchalantly in the garage ??

I made sure I included this picture so that the Gremlin could show off!

shanebo · « **Reply #21 on:** October 12, 2011, 12:36:59 AM »

Do you drive the Gremlin much Dave?

vangremlin · « **Reply #22 on:** October 12, 2011, 12:46:41 AM »

Quote from: Mavericke on October 10, 2011, 11:55:06 AM

Very cool Van! I love your fabbing work!

Lol all the credit goes to my welder!

Quote from: rohnk on October 10, 2011, 12:58:45 PM

Can we get a couple of pics of the underside where you fabbed the mounts? I'd love to get something like this made someday.

If you'll look at the second picture in the original post, you'll see that there are two arms bolted onto the main unit at the bottom, with a tab at the upper end. Basically the welder took those arms and welded it to the main unit, it a location so the tabs could be bolted to the C-channel of the bumper. He then cut off the the extra parts of the arms and the main unit so it was clean. I will take pictures but its a pretty straight forward solution. I think the main thing is to find a unit that fits well. I believe this was designed to fit a Grand Cherokee. Probably the most important thing is the width - this one is perfect for the width of the grille.

vangremlin · « **Reply #23 on:** October 12, 2011, 12:48:32 AM »

Quote from: shanebo on October 12, 2011, 12:36:59 AM

Do you drive the Gremlin much Dave?

Not as much as I'd like to! It runs fine, as long as the battery isn't worn down so it will start. I really need to get some new leaf springs for it though, they are more than flat. It gets even more comments than the Kammback.

shanebo · « **Reply #24 on:** October 12, 2011, 01:47:05 AM »

Both cars certainly cammand attention! One would be hard pressed to find a nicer example of either car.

Zoro · « **Reply #25 on:** October 13, 2011, 05:30:21 PM »

Quote from: craigp29690 on September 30, 2011, 11:47:49 AM

Here's mine. Was from 2000+ model S-10.

Side view:

I'm in love!

GRONK · « **Reply #26 on:** January 11, 2012, 12:18:22 PM »

1st round of my grill guard came back today.

Follows the lines real well:

Allowed me to keep the factory lights in the same place:

I'll send it through the blast cabinet and paint it this weekend. This one is fr Tootie (son's Eagle) I'm going for more of a "stinger" look on Bucket, and I'll be adding a winch so mine will have to be frame mounted. I'm happy with this one. It will help protect the grill and will allow me to add a cover for when it's really cold out to shield the radiator. Looks cool too.....

vangremlin · « **Reply #27 on:** January 11, 2012, 09:00:20 PM »

Looks good Gronk! It really fits well.

eaglefreek · « **Reply #28 on:** January 11, 2012, 09:33:33 PM »

Quote from: GRONK on January 11, 2012, 12:18:22 PM

and will allow me to add a cover for when it's really cold out to shield the radiator.

If the Eagles cooling and heating systems are in good working order, that won't be necessary. They will BBQ your feet if your not careful.

shanebo · « **Reply #29 on:** January 11, 2012, 10:57:51 PM »

That looks real good Gronk! Odie could use a lesson in heating up too I drove it the other day and the heat got luke warm at best...I thought I was going to have to use the cigarette lighter to help defrost the window

83Eagle! · « **Reply #30 on:** January 11, 2012, 11:02:44 PM »

Shane & GRONK if I still have it I'lll send you a repair Jurjen pointed out that fixed the heat issue my eagle had

GRONK · « **Reply #31 on:** January 12, 2012, 07:11:53 AM »

We've used snap-on grill guard covers or the famous cardboard inserts since I was a kit when we hit the sub-zero's. Allows everything to heat up faster but still allows everything to breathe when driving.

If there is a fix for the heating element, I'm definitely interested as well. I've already purchased the upgraded blower motor mod.

craigp29690 · « **Reply #32 on:** January 12, 2012, 09:41:27 AM »

Quote from: GRONK on January 12, 2012, 07:11:53 AM

We've used snap-on grill guard covers or the famous cardboard inserts since I was a kit when we hit the sub-zero's. Allows everything to heat up faster but still allows everything to breathe when driving.

If there is a fix for the heating element, I'm definitely interested as well. I've already purchased the upgraded blower motor mod.

What's the upgraded blower motor mod? I need more heat to keep my cafe mocha latte warm since I'm not driving the Miata.

GRONK · « **Reply #33 on:** January 12, 2012, 10:19:34 AM »

Jeep/AMC use a VERY similar blower motor to the Late 70's Early 80's Chevy/GMC K-5 Blazers. The K-5 blowers are double the CFM and 1/3 the price. Most are a direct fit, some require you to make a 1/2" spacer (very simple) and the K-5 version is always in stock and available. You can move some serious air with this simple "fix"

Zoro · « **Reply #34 on:** January 12, 2012, 12:56:19 PM »

Every AMC I've ever owned have all had great heaters. The only complaints I've got are that they sometimes take awhile to warm up on a sub zero day or that the heater valve seems to sometimes have a mind of its own.

I've often wondered about the K5 blower motor swap into an Eagle. It's now on the to-do list!

83Eagle! · « **Reply #35 on:** January 12, 2012, 06:00:19 PM »

When mine was having heat issues it was a problem where it wouldn't change over from cool to heat. I forwarded you the repair message Jurjen sent me for you to check out. Hope it helps.

Pat · « **Reply #36 on:** January 12, 2012, 06:27:17 PM »

Hey Brandon, want to send me that too in case I ever get my Eagle back?

Zoro · « **Reply #37 on:** January 15, 2012, 10:28:18 AM »

Quote from: craigp29690 on September 30, 2011, 11:47:49 AM

Here's mine. Was from 2000+ model S-10.

Just thinking about this car the other day and a thought came to mind. How cool would it look to replace the Eagle grille with the late 70's Concord grille with the round 'boobie' marker lights. Instead of the 'boobie' lights install a set of amber military Humvee turn signal lights.