so i bought a 4x8 sheet of 1/4" steel a while back.
finally got around to getting it cut and i got to welding it all up.
its still a work in progress, but ive got the welds ground down, and now its ready for the clevis ring brackets and the grill gaurd bars.
the grill/brush gaurd bars are 2"x 1/4"Wall... not easy to find places that can bend that...

heres an overview:
the middle is 8" wide- then it angles up to 4". the clevis rings will go on the angled pieces.

NOW FOR PICS!
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/acepmusic/67773e4ff369.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/acepmusic/06d6be241288.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/acepmusic/e28905012295.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/acepmusic/1fd79c181f5c.jpg
that last picture is actually the TOP of the bumper. i havnt cut the arch that goes around the body yet- i wanted to get it all welded up to reduce the chance of bowing.
im going to use roll-on bedliner to finish it.

im having pieces cut for a rear matching bumper as well- 6" in the center, going to 3.5" on the outer sides.

what do yall think?
ace

Holy shit... I just ran out to the garage, I swear you stole that off my truck

http://bronconine.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album55/DSC01024.jpg

I wouldnt use bedliner it'll get torn off the first time you hit something and will forever look like shit. Just spray paint it and touch up as necessary

Looks like a good start :thumbup

How far out from the grill is it going to be? Im not a fan of the texas-style bumpers that stick out a foot past the grill, but i like the shape ya got there so as long as its close then id give it a big :thumbup

The only thing i wouldnt recommend doing is painting it with roll-on bedliner. Well, the top would be nice for a grippy surface to stand, but like Todd said, youll scratch & cut the stuff on the sides/bottom when wheelin & peel it off, and it wont be easy to patch that up & make it look good again.

itll stick out 4" in the front. and about 2" on each side.
i wanted something i could stand on when im under the hood.

todd, i like the practicality of the design. the aproach angle and clearance is great. im putting 4" clevis rings on it. and the headlight/grill guard tubing will set my design away from yours a bit.

im really proud of it. i did most of the work myself, i had a couple of the pieces cut, but i used the plasma for most of it.
i used 6013 rod on the inside welds, and 7018 on the outside.
ace

itll stick out 4" in the front. and about 2" on each side.
i wanted something i could stand on when im under the hood.

todd, i like the practicality of the design. the aproach angle and clearance is great. im putting 4" clevis rings on it. and the headlight/grill guard tubing will set my design away from yours a bit.


I might do a grill guard similar to BroncoAir so I can mount some lights up front. Looks good so far keep up the good work. I'm interested in how it looks if it's wider than the truck body

Yours should look like this soon
http://fordtruckworld.tenmagazines.com/gallery/86RangerSTX/514550.jpg

hopfully itll look ok. i did it so i have a little extra protection for the front clip.
ace

Nice looking bumper, Ace!

I would like to recommend tying the tow points through the bumper into the frame rails. I'm not saying it won't be strong enough if you don't. But what the heck, why take the chance.

. . just my opinion. :beer

Nice looking bumper, Ace!

I would like to recommend tying the tow points through the bumper into the frame rails. I'm not saying it won't be strong enough if you don't. But what the heck, why take the chance.

. . just my opinion. :beer

i considered that.
but i think using two wedges of 1/4" for each of the clevis brackets- it will be pretty strong. ill use 7018 rod and do some monster bead to make sure its not going anywhere.

i have some 1"x 1/4"Wall tubing ill be using as bracing behind the bumper. itll prace the small sides to the angled pices (if that makes any sense)
ace

Holy shit... I just ran out to the garage, I swear you stole that off my truck

http://bronconine.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album55/DSC01024.jpg



Hey Todd what was we JUST talking about the other nite?:histerica :histerica :histerica :histerica

Hey Todd what was we JUST talking about the other nite?:histerica :histerica :histerica :histerica

Yeah, small world, huh

...texas-style...

I fawking HATE those...but yes, they are common in TX..........:cry:

im not a fan of the ones that stick out so much you could mount some chairs on it and use for a fishing platform.
but i like it to stick out far enough that i can stand on it comfortably and not worrying about losing my footing.

ive seen some really nice ranch hand bumpers on some f350s- but the fact that you could curl up and go to sleep on the top of the damn thing ruined it for me!
ace

UPDATE:

we got the arch cut out and the brackets fabbed up. now all we have to do is brace the back and add the grill gaurd- then itl be ready to hit some stuff...some BIG stuff!

PICS:

ready for operation:
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/acepmusic/7c9e0f2d9adc.jpg

mocked up:
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/acepmusic/e53f8258e0e0.jpg

bolted on (with celebration beer):
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/acepmusic/263fbd65af45.jpg

from the side:
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/acepmusic/dce7eda6bf4e.jpg


after christmas we'll get back on it and get it done. im borrowing a 12ton tubing bender to bend the 2"x1/4"wall tubing... hopfully that works out...

it sticks out more in the front than originally planned. its about 8" instead of 4"- yes its very "Texan"...but i like it. with the tubing on it- itll really only have about 5-6" of open space- with is fine with me because ive got a big foot.

what do yall think so far?
ace

I think you need smaller feet, Ace. :rofl:

Seriously though, I think you are doing an excellent job. But it simply sticks out toooooo far for my taste (and this local environment). But if you like it, and it'll work where you 'wheel, it's slick as goose grease 'cause your work appears to be top notch! :thumbup :thumbup

I like it but it is way too far out

thanks ct, this was an experiment to test all my metal fab skills- and so far so good!

todd, i know it sticks out alot, i didnt like it at first, but it grew on me. i think with the grill gaurd fabbed up on it- itll take some of the space up and make it look more proportional.

ill have it done after christmas, so we'll see!
ace

I like it but it is way too far out

http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/acepmusic/dce7eda6bf4e.jpg

Too far out? I disagree. :brownbag

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/254243/fullsize/89-bronco-before-paint-2.jpg

I think it sweet. :thumbup With the color of your truck, it probably looks like mine at a glance.

http://www.supermotors.net/getfile/400690/fullsize/installing-my-york-compressor-054.jpg

I think it's just right. Get one of those gardening pads and it will work out great when you want to work under the hood. Otherwise the steel is hard on the knees.

I like it but it is way too far out

I have the same feeling... Ill have to trust you on the Grille guard though, cuz I cant wait to see how it will tie together.

I think it's just right.

:stupid

Round these parts, we call those bumpers "front porches." I'll trade a little approach angle for something that sexy. Killer job Ace!...:rockon

Yeah, the approach angle would be way too compromised for what I do (and I prefer small bumpers anyway), but if it works for you then more power to you. The fab work looks very nice. Job well done!

Tommy

Yeah, the approach angle would be way too compromised for what I do (and I prefer small bumpers anyway), but if it works for you then more power to you. The fab work looks very nice. Job well done!

Tommy

At the rate you've been building stuff Tommy you should have a new front bumper in time for New Years

At the rate you've been building stuff Tommy you should have a new front bumper in time for New Years

HA! No way, Jose! I'm too pooped to pop. I'm just going to enjoy what I've got for awhile. ;)

Tommy

Looks good, but I agree with others about how far it sticks out. If that's the way you want it, then giv'er! :thumbup

Here's some pics of mine, which has a Warn M12 in behind it:

http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Projects/Front_Bumper/Front_Bumper_03.JPG

http://chrisb.users.superford.org/Bronco/Projects/Front_Bumper/Front%20Bumper%20Specs_02.JPG

well- since i got the bumper mounted and it sat over night- when i walked out this morning there was surface rust everywhere.
i decided to do something about that so...
WE HAVE PAINT!

first coat on:
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/acepmusic/47be217ca0c7.jpg

all dry from the front:
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/acepmusic/ffe93e71d721.jpg

from the side:
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q251/acepmusic/c3477eb6eff3.jpg

i think it looks good...
ace

Excellent work, Ace!

Tommy

Looks good, now use that big bumper to hit something..........

thanks tommy!

AC- once its done, a shopping cart will meet its doom- dont you worry!
ace

holy shnikes:drinkbud its a extra friggin tailgate!:drinkbud thats what i need to stop ppl from assplanting on the hood! either that or a lift...:toothless

yep- i did some sitting/standing on it today while i was waiting for some steer feed to be brought to me. its wide enough so you can get a good amount of cheek on it and be comfortable.
ace

All that time and work and no tow points? What do your mounts look like?

its not done todd- two 4.5" clevis rings will be mounted- no worries.

i only have one crappy pic of the mounts.
ill go out tomorrow morning and get pics

ace

thanks tommy!

AC- once its done, a shopping cart will meet its doom- dont you worry!
ace


Don't do it! I hit a few shopping carts when I first made my bumper, and nothing happened, then I hit one at a bad angle (and at about 30-40 mph). The pictures show the rest:

http://i13.tinypic.com/48wi9za.jpg

http://i13.tinypic.com/48wi9za.jpg

You might be a red neck if.................you put your one bedroom house on stilts. :histerica

You might be a red neck if............. your idea of a nice house with a view is a one bedroom house on stilts, with the only window facing the barn. :histerica

AC- once its done, a shopping cart will meet its doom- dont you worry!
ace


http://www.garmentdistrict.com/store/popculture/southpark/collectibles/sweet_stick.jpg

well hopfully the 2" tubing we're bending to use as a grill gaurd and head light gaurds will help prevent that.
im not new to the shopping cart game, ive hit them in all sorts of vehicles (old cars we planned on selling for scrap or cars that my budies dont care about. we either saw how much air we could get- or how much damage we could do) and i thought about things possibly bouncing upward toward the grill after initial impact off the bumper- i think the grill gaurd will help prevent that, i probably wont go 40mph into one though... i like my truck too much to see the effects!
ace

Have any pictures of the frame mounts?

How heavy did it come out to be?

does the front end sag, if so how much?

-Josh