1985taylor1925
Senior Member
I know youre planning on painting everything black, but I gotta say I like the two tone. You dont see too many of them
My Build Thread for "Imogene"
- Thread starter Full_Throttle
- Start date
Full_Throttle
New member
uggh.
All I can say is UGGH.
Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you.:boxer:
On Thursday evening after work, I decided to install my Smittybilt winch into the ARB bumper. How hard could it be, right?
O.M.G.
8 hours later I drug my sorry butt into the house like a whipped dog. What should have been a straight forward install turned into a BIG pain in the :moon:!!
If you look back over my build thread HERE You will see how I had my tranny cooler mounted. I knew I would have to move it to make room for the winch. I decided to mount it flush to the A/C condenser. Once I did this, my lines were too short to reach it properly. I wanted to do it right so I was not going to just splice in hose, bur rather run new hose. I couldn't FIND the hose I knew I had lying around the house somewhere so Off to the parts store I go (10 miles 1 way).
Once i returned I went to work relocating the cooler. In order to mount it to the condenser, I used those push through zip ties. ( I hate those things). In order to get my hands behind the condenser, I had to unbolt it. This also required taking off the hood latch. This was a bi@#% to do, and I scratched up my hands good. FINALLY got that mess finished to my liking, and then I had difficulty getting the hood latch to mount up. (more on this later).
On to the winch..(you know, the REASON I have done all of this).
Have you ever tried to mount a winch to the inside of a bumper? The bumper has to be off the vehicle. PIA taking this bumper off and on.:gun5:
The FIRST thing I did was to clock the winch (Thanks to BigFishAllDay for THIS write-up) So I mount this bastage up and get it the way I want it. Next I muscle the NOW 1 MILLION POUND bumper onto my floor jack to help me get it back on the vehicle so I can mount it. After wrestling with it for what seemed like an eternity, I FINALLY got all the bolts back in and aligned up. WHEW.
Now I had planned on mounting the solenoid on top of the bumper in the center. The bumper comes with a bracket to do this, but granted it is for a warn winch. No biggie, I can make it fit, right?
I get ready to mount it to the bumper when I realize that the mounting bracket puts the solenoid too far back and I will have to either a) cut my grill or b) engineer a new bracket. I choose option b).
Time moves on and I get the solenoid mounted. yea. Now it is time to wire it up. This is when I realize I am in the hurt locker. The solenoids heavy gauge wire isn't long enough to reach the winch and bolt up! CRAP! I realize now that when I clocked the winch, I should have also clocked the motor side as well to move the connections to a more favorable position. I will have to remove it all and start over.:ybrick:. Did I mention it's late, I have to work tomorrow and my truck has no front bumper.:bash: So I do the only thing I can; Remove the bumper, un-mount the winch, clock the motor side, and begin this process over again.
I went to bed at 2am having started this around 6pm the previous evening.
I would like to say this is the end of the story.........it is not.
All I can say is UGGH.
Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you.:boxer:
On Thursday evening after work, I decided to install my Smittybilt winch into the ARB bumper. How hard could it be, right?
O.M.G.
8 hours later I drug my sorry butt into the house like a whipped dog. What should have been a straight forward install turned into a BIG pain in the :moon:!!
If you look back over my build thread HERE You will see how I had my tranny cooler mounted. I knew I would have to move it to make room for the winch. I decided to mount it flush to the A/C condenser. Once I did this, my lines were too short to reach it properly. I wanted to do it right so I was not going to just splice in hose, bur rather run new hose. I couldn't FIND the hose I knew I had lying around the house somewhere so Off to the parts store I go (10 miles 1 way).
Once i returned I went to work relocating the cooler. In order to mount it to the condenser, I used those push through zip ties. ( I hate those things). In order to get my hands behind the condenser, I had to unbolt it. This also required taking off the hood latch. This was a bi@#% to do, and I scratched up my hands good. FINALLY got that mess finished to my liking, and then I had difficulty getting the hood latch to mount up. (more on this later).
On to the winch..(you know, the REASON I have done all of this).
Have you ever tried to mount a winch to the inside of a bumper? The bumper has to be off the vehicle. PIA taking this bumper off and on.:gun5:
The FIRST thing I did was to clock the winch (Thanks to BigFishAllDay for THIS write-up) So I mount this bastage up and get it the way I want it. Next I muscle the NOW 1 MILLION POUND bumper onto my floor jack to help me get it back on the vehicle so I can mount it. After wrestling with it for what seemed like an eternity, I FINALLY got all the bolts back in and aligned up. WHEW.
Now I had planned on mounting the solenoid on top of the bumper in the center. The bumper comes with a bracket to do this, but granted it is for a warn winch. No biggie, I can make it fit, right?
I get ready to mount it to the bumper when I realize that the mounting bracket puts the solenoid too far back and I will have to either a) cut my grill or b) engineer a new bracket. I choose option b).
Time moves on and I get the solenoid mounted. yea. Now it is time to wire it up. This is when I realize I am in the hurt locker. The solenoids heavy gauge wire isn't long enough to reach the winch and bolt up! CRAP! I realize now that when I clocked the winch, I should have also clocked the motor side as well to move the connections to a more favorable position. I will have to remove it all and start over.:ybrick:. Did I mention it's late, I have to work tomorrow and my truck has no front bumper.:bash: So I do the only thing I can; Remove the bumper, un-mount the winch, clock the motor side, and begin this process over again.
I went to bed at 2am having started this around 6pm the previous evening.
I would like to say this is the end of the story.........it is not.
Full_Throttle
New member
uggh part 2
So...it is now Sunday. I have rested and recovered from my ordeal of Thursday evening and the winch install from hell. When I finally got the front bumper back on, it was late and I didn't want to hook up the hot and ground to the winch, so I left that for another day. Today was that day. Now this, THIS will be easy, right?:snacker:
Guess what? Remember when I said I had trouble getting the hood latch mounted? Yep, I somehow screwed up and now my hood won't open.:barf:
ARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!
Ok. the only way I can get to the latch is to remove the grill. BECAUSE of my ARB bumpers design, it has to come off in order make room to remove the grill. I have to take of this stupid bumper again!
:whipping2 I am getting my butt handed to me. This isn't fun anymore.
After pouting for a spell, I got to work. I removed all of the bolts for the bumper and slid it out enough to remove the grill. After asking a few questions and researching I was able to get my hood open and fix the screw-up I had done to the latch. Re-aligned this bumper is getting to be 2nd nature now. Been there, done that.
I route the wires and FINALLY get the winch hooked up. Woohoo!! I go to test it and.... and.... and..... it doesn't work. Nada, nothing, zip.
My heart has just crashed through my feet. Are you kidding me!? The winch is BAD!?!? Why didn't I test it first?!?! OMG!! These are the thoughts running through my head. Then it hits me. Go read. Turns out the winch is fine, I just wasn't twisting the remote connector in the solenoid. Common rookie mistake. Fate was laughing at me and taking pictures!
FINALLY I have a working winch. Pictures will come, but I am too darn tired to post them up today.
:happens:
At least I have a whole list of what NOT to do.
So...it is now Sunday. I have rested and recovered from my ordeal of Thursday evening and the winch install from hell. When I finally got the front bumper back on, it was late and I didn't want to hook up the hot and ground to the winch, so I left that for another day. Today was that day. Now this, THIS will be easy, right?:snacker:
Guess what? Remember when I said I had trouble getting the hood latch mounted? Yep, I somehow screwed up and now my hood won't open.:barf:
ARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!
Ok. the only way I can get to the latch is to remove the grill. BECAUSE of my ARB bumpers design, it has to come off in order make room to remove the grill. I have to take of this stupid bumper again!
:whipping2 I am getting my butt handed to me. This isn't fun anymore.
After pouting for a spell, I got to work. I removed all of the bolts for the bumper and slid it out enough to remove the grill. After asking a few questions and researching I was able to get my hood open and fix the screw-up I had done to the latch. Re-aligned this bumper is getting to be 2nd nature now. Been there, done that.
I route the wires and FINALLY get the winch hooked up. Woohoo!! I go to test it and.... and.... and..... it doesn't work. Nada, nothing, zip.
My heart has just crashed through my feet. Are you kidding me!? The winch is BAD!?!? Why didn't I test it first?!?! OMG!! These are the thoughts running through my head. Then it hits me. Go read. Turns out the winch is fine, I just wasn't twisting the remote connector in the solenoid. Common rookie mistake. Fate was laughing at me and taking pictures!
FINALLY I have a working winch. Pictures will come, but I am too darn tired to post them up today.
:happens:
At least I have a whole list of what NOT to do.
blcktpgsr
New member
Well now you know..lol, i'm glad you got everything worked out in the end of all that fiasco. yep I had the same thing happen to me when I did my brothers XRC8. When I tried to test it out I got nothing, I thought I must have messed up the wiring or something I was scared...darn connector!
Full_Throttle
New member
Sport hood progress
No pics yet, but I have spent the last few days doing prep work on the sport hood getting ready for paint. After I got it home I noticed that it had been "dinged" on the side causing a dimple that I would have to look at forever, so I did a little bit of body work on it. I spent this evening applying the black code 202 basecoat then cleared the hood and scoop. It turned our real well. Only problem is I now have a bunch of permanent bugs in the clear
(I expected it really...I don't have a paint booth). Not a big deal as I will wetsand, then rub and buff the paint and most of the bugs will be gone. I will post up pics in a few days of the finished hood and then of the install. :thumb3:
On another note, I have ordered a full roof rack, BAMF sliders (w/ kickout) and a 1" body lift :bravo:
I am NOT looking forward to taking that darn bumper off and modifying the mount to match up with a body lift. :whipping2
I hope I still fit in the garage when this is all said and done ( I don't think I will):lmao:
No pics yet, but I have spent the last few days doing prep work on the sport hood getting ready for paint. After I got it home I noticed that it had been "dinged" on the side causing a dimple that I would have to look at forever, so I did a little bit of body work on it. I spent this evening applying the black code 202 basecoat then cleared the hood and scoop. It turned our real well. Only problem is I now have a bunch of permanent bugs in the clear
(I expected it really...I don't have a paint booth). Not a big deal as I will wetsand, then rub and buff the paint and most of the bugs will be gone. I will post up pics in a few days of the finished hood and then of the install. :thumb3:On another note, I have ordered a full roof rack, BAMF sliders (w/ kickout) and a 1" body lift :bravo:
I am NOT looking forward to taking that darn bumper off and modifying the mount to match up with a body lift. :whipping2
I hope I still fit in the garage when this is all said and done ( I don't think I will):lmao:
BrianSD_42
New member
Hi,
My truck used to look a lot like yours. I think your truck would look really great if you matched the flares (expensive depending on your resources) and painted or PC'd the stock 5-stars. (EDIT: you are clearly on this path already!)
Subscribed & good luck with the build. Nice job on the tow hitch mod. :jump:
My truck used to look a lot like yours. I think your truck would look really great if you matched the flares (expensive depending on your resources) and painted or PC'd the stock 5-stars. (EDIT: you are clearly on this path already!)
Subscribed & good luck with the build. Nice job on the tow hitch mod. :jump:
Last edited:
curtperry
New member
Nice looking truck and a fun build you have going here.
You probably don't want to hear this now but to get to the back of the AC condenser you can just take out the few bolts that secure the radiator and push it a couple inches toward the engine (without taking any hoses off or anything). That gives enough room to reach down and shove the plastic zip-mounts through for the tranny cooler.
Headache avoided :ybrick:
You probably don't want to hear this now but to get to the back of the AC condenser you can just take out the few bolts that secure the radiator and push it a couple inches toward the engine (without taking any hoses off or anything). That gives enough room to reach down and shove the plastic zip-mounts through for the tranny cooler.
Headache avoided :ybrick:
Full_Throttle
New member
You know, that really makes perfect sense. Why didn't I even consider that??
Sometimes I amaze even myself.:jaw drop: Well, at least I learned how the hood latch works :nerd:
Full_Throttle
New member
Thanks for the kind words. :cheers:
highcountry
New member
Nice build 'Throttle! We must have a cosmic connection. I sold my Valk to buy my '00 Sport. Sad to see it go but my arthritis has gotten too bad to comfortably ride anymore.
Here she is right after I bought her.
Here she is right after I bought her.
Full_Throttle
New member
I bought my hood from a local place in St Louis, it is aftermarket...I can't remember the name. Search t4r.org and you will find the name of the place, it is a very common place to buy.
Feel free to "copy" what I did....that is why I posted it
Full_Throttle
New member
Nice build 'Throttle! We must have a cosmic connection. I sold my Valk to buy my '00 Sport. Sad to see it go but my arthritis has gotten too bad to comfortably ride anymore.
Here she is right after I bought her.
Wow and holy crap
I loved my Valk, but I also have enjoyed spending the $$ I got from its sale :reddance:
Full_Throttle
New member
highcountry
New member
Sweet!
BigFishAllDay
New member
Coming right along man. It looks wierd to me seeing it w/the limited flares, but good @ the same time. Definitely more good than wierd. The paint job looks pretty clean too.
Full_Throttle
New member
Thanks for all of the positive responses.
As for the limited flares, They are next on my list of things to paint. :hungry:
I have to decide if I want to go through the trouble of taking them off (PITA) or paint them on the truck. The only thing I am not sure about is the small "rubberish" piece
that is between the flares and the body. I don't think the paint will stick to it very well.
I haven't really looked into seeing if I can buy these "rubberish" pieces in black and not even paint them.
Anyway, The hood turned out real well, I am pleased with it. I should be adding the 1" body lift soon as well as a new roof rack that should be here next week.
Stay tuned, same bat-time; same bat-channel :bat:
As for the limited flares, They are next on my list of things to paint. :hungry:
I have to decide if I want to go through the trouble of taking them off (PITA) or paint them on the truck. The only thing I am not sure about is the small "rubberish" piece
that is between the flares and the body. I don't think the paint will stick to it very well.
I haven't really looked into seeing if I can buy these "rubberish" pieces in black and not even paint them.
Anyway, The hood turned out real well, I am pleased with it. I should be adding the 1" body lift soon as well as a new roof rack that should be here next week.
Stay tuned, same bat-time; same bat-channel :bat:
Full_Throttle
New member
Full_Throttle
New member
more goodies
My 1" body lift arrived yesterday from a fellow forum member(SCRunner12) and the roof rack from Whitson Metalworks showed up at my workplace.:hungry:
I work at a bank, so you should have seen the eyebrows raised as this semi-truck pulled into the parking lot to unload this full-sized roof rack.:wow:
hehe...I love this stuff.
Anyway, I got it home and I will begin the prep work to primer and paint it. I need to figure out just what accessories I want to mount to it, and make the associated mounting tabs.
Hi-lift jack and small shovel come to mind. Jerry can holders also spring into my head.
because I have enough paint supplies, I MIGHT, might i say, just have to basecoat/clearcoat this bad boy when I paint my limited flairs.....decisions, decisions....
Here is a pic of the rack as it arrived off the truck.
My 1" body lift arrived yesterday from a fellow forum member(SCRunner12) and the roof rack from Whitson Metalworks showed up at my workplace.:hungry:
I work at a bank, so you should have seen the eyebrows raised as this semi-truck pulled into the parking lot to unload this full-sized roof rack.:wow:
hehe...I love this stuff.
Anyway, I got it home and I will begin the prep work to primer and paint it. I need to figure out just what accessories I want to mount to it, and make the associated mounting tabs.
Hi-lift jack and small shovel come to mind. Jerry can holders also spring into my head.
because I have enough paint supplies, I MIGHT, might i say, just have to basecoat/clearcoat this bad boy when I paint my limited flairs.....decisions, decisions....
Here is a pic of the rack as it arrived off the truck.
