AMC Eagle Den Forum
The Shop => Altered Eagles => Topic started by: eaglefreek on April 30, 2011, 10:22:06 PM
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As I mentioned in another post, I'm working on an "offroad" rear bumper with a spare tire carrier. I removed the rear bumper and ends. I leveled the car. I previously bought some clevis mounts and had a local shop weld some 1/4" plate to them. I temporarily installed them on the factory monuts and plumbed them with my level.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/th_utf-8BSU1HMDAyNzAtMjAxMTA0MzAtMTkwMi5qcGc.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/?action=view¤t=utf-8BSU1HMDAyNzAtMjAxMTA0MzAtMTkwMi5qcGc.jpg)
I purchased 6' of 2x6 1/8" rectangular tubing. Here are some pics of the slots I cut for the clevis mounts to pass through.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/th_utf-8BSU1HMDAyNjYtMjAxMTA0MzAtMTgzNy5qcGc.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/?action=view¤t=utf-8BSU1HMDAyNjYtMjAxMTA0MzAtMTgzNy5qcGc.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/th_utf-8BSU1HMDAyNjctMjAxMTA0MzAtMTgzNy5qcGc.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/?action=view¤t=utf-8BSU1HMDAyNjctMjAxMTA0MzAtMTgzNy5qcGc.jpg)
Here's the tubing slid onto the clevis mounts.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/th_utf-8BSU1HMDAyNjktMjAxMTA0MzAtMTg0NS5qcGc.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/?action=view¤t=utf-8BSU1HMDAyNjktMjAxMTA0MzAtMTg0NS5qcGc.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/th_utf-8BSU1HMDAyNjgtMjAxMTA0MzAtMTg0My5qcGc.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/?action=view¤t=utf-8BSU1HMDAyNjgtMjAxMTA0MzAtMTg0My5qcGc.jpg)
I'll cut the bumper at the ends on an angle and weld some 1/8" plate to take the place of the end caps. Also a spare tire carrier and a receiver hitch are going to be incorporated into the bumper similar to the one below, but the tire won't be as high.
(http://roxolidtrailarmor.com/images/off-road-products/crawler/Crawler-Rear-Bumper-Large-09.jpg)
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im looking forward to the finished product
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That's looking sweet so far EF. Are you going to weld it so the bumper can double as an air tank? I wonder what the PSI rating of 1/8" tubing would be if you did.
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That's looking sweet so far EF. Are you going to weld it so the bumper can double as an air tank?
Thanks, I actually entertained the idea of making it an air tank. However, I think I will be installing some tail lights and reverse lights into the bumper since the spare tire may block the view of the lights.
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I see. Well that will work nice as well. It's not a geat idea to make odd shaped air tanks anyway. Plus, having it be the first point of contact with something else (if you get rear ended etc.) makes it less desirable. Is the spare tire going to swing down or to the side?
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Side. I'm not going to spend a bunch of money on one of those spindle mounts with the bearings. I just don't see the need for bearings in something that will be opened 90* once a week. A solid shaft with some tubing pivoting on it should be fine. I will make it a snug fit with a zerk fitting for grease.
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I agree. And if you can keep water from enter at the top it would bel that much better too.
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I got little more done today. I cut the angles and cut out for the receiver hitch. I'll take some better pics with my camera instead of my phone when it's done.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/th_utf-8BSU1HMDAyNzEtMjAxMTA1MDEtMTc0OS5qcGc.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/?action=view¤t=utf-8BSU1HMDAyNzEtMjAxMTA1MDEtMTc0OS5qcGc.jpg)
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I like the direction you are going with this bumper, I don't know how well your mounting points are going to fair, but the design on the bumper its self seems like a good simple design. For your swing out I would highly recommend spending a few bucks, and adding some grease fitting to your hinge Assembly, I've built a bunch of this style of tire carriers, and it doesn't take a whole lot of rust to seize it up. And don't forget to provide a new licence plate mounting bracket, and a light for it.
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I like the direction you are going with this bumper, I don't know how well your mounting points are going to fair, but the design on the bumper its self seems like a good simple design. For your swing out I would highly recommend spending a few bucks, and adding some grease fitting to your hinge Assembly, I've built a bunch of this style of tire carriers, and it doesn't take a whole lot of rust to seize it up. And don't forget to provide a new licence plate mounting bracket, and a light for it.
I'm gonna tie the bumper into the unibody right behind the bumper where the gas tank splash guard bolts to and eventually incorporate a gas tank skid plate that will bolt into the rear subframe and to the rear bumper adding more support. I've already got an idea for a license plate bracket similar to this one http://www.northridge4x4.com/proddetail.php?prod=RH-4006.
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I like the direction you are going with this bumper, I don't know how well your mounting points are going to fair, but the design on the bumper its self seems like a good simple design. For your swing out I would highly recommend spending a few bucks, and adding some grease fitting to your hinge Assembly, I've built a bunch of this style of tire carriers, and it doesn't take a whole lot of rust to seize it up. And don't forget to provide a new licence plate mounting bracket, and a light for it.
I'm gonna tie the bumper into the unibody right behind the bumper where the gas tank splash guard bolts to and eventually incorporate a gas tank skid plate that will bolt into the rear subframe and to the rear bumper adding more support. I've already got an idea for a license plate bracket similar to this one http://www.northridge4x4.com/proddetail.php?prod=RH-4006.
that will be awsome...
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Made some progress today. In this pic I have a side piece tacked in:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/utf-8BSU1HMDAyOTEtMjAxMTA1MDctMTQ1My5qcGc.jpg)
Here it is with most of the bumper welded together. I still have to finish the swingout where the wheel will mount and then a bunch of grinding and sanding then painting.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/utf-8BSU1HMDAyOTUtMjAxMTA1MDgtMTcxNy5qcGc.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/utf-8BSU1HMDAyOTYtMjAxMTA1MDgtMTcxNy5qcGc.jpg)
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Looking good! The metal end pieces definitely help tie the looks of the bumper into the body.
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I got a little more done today. I would have gotten more done but ran out of 4 1/2" cutoff wheels. Used 13 of them so far.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/utf-8BSU1HMDAyOTktMjAxMTA1MTEtMTY1NC5qcGc.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/utf-8BSU1HMDAzMDAtMjAxMTA1MTEtMTY1NC5qcGc.jpg)
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wow thats a beefy looking bumber. im sure that will hold up for sure
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It's done and I'm exhausted!!!!!!!! Yesterday I told myself I was going to finish the bumper today no matter what. I went into the garage at 8:00am and 13 hours later I was done. I'll get better pics tomorrow.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/utf-8BSU1HMDAzMDItMjAxMTA1MTQtMjA0OS5qcGc.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/utf-8BSU1HMDAzMDEtMjAxMTA1MTQtMjA0OS5qcGc.jpg)
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That's looking sweeeet man !! Who needs those pesky plastic end caps when you can do such a sweet job fabbing them up!!I like the way you have it blended into the sides.
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That's looking sweeeet man !! Who needs those pesky plastic end caps when you can do such a sweet job fabbing them up!!I like the way you have it blended into the sides.
Thanks. ;D
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/AMCEaglerearbumper1.gif)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/AMCEaglerearbumper2.jpg)
Here's the pivot. A one inch solid bar was welded in to the rectangular tubing. I drilled a hole down the center and 2 cross way to make a path for grease. I drilled and tapped the bolt for a zerk fitting. I still need to add 2 bolts to the strap that is a stop for the swingout.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/AMCEaglerearbumper3.jpg)
Here is the T bolt I made to secure it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/AMCEAGLErearbumper4.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/AMCEaglerearbumper5.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/AMCEaglerearbumper5.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v637/svoman2300/AMCEaglerearbumper6.jpg)
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I like that EF. Nice to see it completed. You had mentioned adding some lights to it at some point. Maybe graft some backup lights in the bumper since they are covered quite a lot?
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I mounted the tire a little higher than I wanted to make room for a receiver mounted winch that I have. Since doing that the reverse lights are visible from behind with the tire there.
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Wow. Let me know when this is for sale!
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Wow. Let me know when this is for sale!
HaHA. NEVER!!!
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Lol. Thought not. We need to mass produce these
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Lol. Thought not. We need to mass produce these
I'll let you handle that. It was fun but a lot of work. I have to do a front to match now.
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EF do you have a guess as to how much it weighs? Not counting the spare since you'd have that anyway.
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I meant to weigh it before installing and totally forgot. :banghead: If I were to guess probably in the 60-70lb range.
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Holy freak, that looks like a lot of work. Looks great though. Nice job, eggs to you!
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Holy crap. That bumper/spare tire carrier is amazing. Nice work. I am not sure how I missed this thread. Definitely going to show it to Eddie Jr. who's making the spare carrier for my Eagle. Especially the plate holder portion.
Thanks for posting the pictures for me, espeially the pictures of the wiring.
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Wow there have been other custom bumpers made, but this is by far the best one I've seen because of how well you replaced the end caps. Its beautiful work. I hope you eventually keep going and replace the rubber rocker panel covers and front end caps too. You could also make custom fender covers that mimic the original lines of the car and allow for 33x9.5 R15 tires without a lift. It would be amazing to see an Eagle with all of the rubber parts replaced with steel, yet still maintaining the intended styling the factory was going for. Great job!
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Man that looks great! The end caps are incredible!
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Man that looks great! The end caps are incredible!
Thanks. In my many hours of searching for ideas, I saw another vehicle that had the bumper wrap around and that's when I finally got the idea of incorporating the steel end caps. If I were to do it again I would try to figure out a way to bolt them on instead of welded. It's a bear to mount the bumper and I damaged the paint in a couple places in the process.
Wow there have been other custom bumpers made, but this is by far the best one I've seen because of how well you replaced the end caps. Its beautiful work. I hope you eventually keep going and replace the rubber rocker panel covers and front end caps too. You could also make custom fender covers that mimic the original lines of the car and allow for 33x9.5 R15 tires without a lift. It would be amazing to see an Eagle with all of the rubber parts replaced with steel, yet still maintaining the intended styling the factory was going for. Great job!
Thanks for the compliments. It was my first time attempting to fab something out of metal and I'm happy with the results. The many years experience I have as a finish carpenter helped with the project. Eventually, I am going to do a front bumper to match, however that will be the extent of it. I wouldn't mind having slightly larger tires but don't plan on going any bigger. I don't want to cut any of the body or go through the expense of another gear change.